cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Primary oat cell carcinoma of the larynx: a case report and review of the literature.

A case of an extrapulmonary oat cell carcinoma arising in the larynx of a 45-year-old male is described. Ultrastructural study demonstrated numerous neurosecretory granules in the tumor cells identical to those described in oat cell carcinomas of the lung. Primary oat cell carcinomas of the larynx are highly malignant neoplasms. Of six previously reported acceptable cases of this rare entity, with adequate followup, all but one has died of tumor within 14 months of diagnosis. The present patient is alive without evidence of tumor 15 months following diagnosis. Aggressive therapy consisting of a combination of surgery, radiation therapy and systemic chemotherapy was utilized in this case. The use of such aggressive combination therapy appears indicated in cases of primary oat cell carcinoma of the larynx if improved survival is to be achieved. Cancer 43:711–717, 1979.
THE CHANGING NATURE OF PARTISAN DIVISIONS IN THE WEST: TRENDS IN DOMESTIC POLICY ORIENTATIONS IN TEN PARTY SYSTEMS

The nature of partisan divisions in the West has been a continuing source of controversy for several decades. This article seeks to improve our understanding of those divisions by examining how Western parties have changed their positions on major domestic policy issues in recent decades. The research employs longitudinal data developed through content analysis on the parties of ten Western nations: Australia, Austria, France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden, the United States, and West Germany. Analysis of the data shows that, as expected, partisan divisions have declined in almost all of the party systems, although the decline has unexpectedly been accompanied by a slight tendency toward leftward movement, belying suggestions of a “conservative turn” in Western politics. The paper also considers the possibility that new issues may develop to supplant the declining traditional issues. The paper concludes that a revival of pronounced partisan divisions is unlikely, but that a revival probably is not necessary for the continued viability of Western parties.
Ethical and human rights imperatives to ensure medication-assisted treatment for opioid dependence in prisons and pre-trial detention

Opioid dependence is a complex medical condition affecting neurocognitive and physical functioning. Forced or abrupt opioid withdrawal may cause profound physical and psychological suffering, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, extreme agitation and/or anxiety. Opioid-dependent individuals are especially vulnerable at the time of arrest or initial detention, when they may, as a result of their chemical dependency, be coerced into providing incriminating testimony, or be driven to engage in risky behaviour (such as sharing needles in detention) in order to avoid painful withdrawal symptoms. Upon incarceration, many opioid-dependent prisoners are forced to undergo abrupt opioid withdrawal (both from legally prescribed agonist therapy such as methadone as well as illicit opioids). Physical and psychological symptoms attendant to withdrawal may impair capacity to make informed legal decisions, and cause prisoners to risk HIV and other blood-borne diseases by sharing injection equipment. Although prisons must provide at least the standard of care to prisoners that is available in the general population, medication-assisted treatment, endorsed by international health and drug agencies as an integral part of HIV prevention and care strategies for opioid-dependent drug users, is unavailable to most prisoners. Medication-assisted treatment is a well-studied and validated pharmacological therapy for the medical condition known as opioid dependence. The failure to ensure prisoner access to this medical therapy threatens fundamental human rights protections against cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and rights to health and to life. It also poses serious ethical problems for health care providers, violating basic principles of beneficence and non-maleficence (i.e., do good/do no harm). Governments must take immediate action to ensure access to opioid substitution to prisoners to ensure fulfilment of ethical and human rights obligations.
Geologic implications of seawater circulation through peridotite exposed at slow-spreading mid-ocean ridges

Peridotite denuded by tectonic extension and exposed at the seafloor adjacent to slow-spreading centers hosts hydrothermal circulation of seawater. The reaction of seawater with peridotite causes serpentinization, which generates a high-pH, strongly reducing fluid rich in methane and hydrogen, and is accompanied by as much as 40% volume expansion. Complete serpentinization of peridotite requires tectonic activity to open fluid paths sealed by volume expansion. Diffuse venting of serpentinization fluids causes lithification of calcareous ooze on the seafloor to chalk-like limestone. This may be the main mechanism of deposition of ophicarbonates common in ophiolites. The degree of induration is a function of the fluid flux through the sediment column. Calcareous ooze infiltrates faults and fractures and can be deformed following lithification. Focused venting of serpentinization fluids may lead to deposition of large chimneys composed of calcite, aragonite, and brucite, such as those in the recently documented Lost City vent field (30°N, Mid-Atlantic Ridge). Geophysical implications of serpentinization include (1) creation of magnetic anomalies due to growth of magnetite in serpentinite and (2) lowered seismic velocity. Integrated studies of geologic and geophysical effects of serpentinization may aid in a more complete understanding of the structure of oceanic lithosphere and the mechanisms that expose mantle peridotite at the seafloor.
The development of morphine antinociceptive tolerance in nitric oxide synthase-deficient mice.

Abstract Elevations in nitric oxide (NO) have been implicated in the development of morphine antinociceptive tolerance. This study was conducted to establish the role of specific isoforms of NO synthase (NOS) in morphine tolerance development using genetically modified mice. Methods : Three groups of mice (endothelial NOS [eNOS]-deficient, neuronal NOS [nNOS]-deficient, and NOS-competent) were used in this experiment. On Day 1, the analgesic response (radiant heat tail-flick) to a challenge dose of morphine (4 mg/kg) was determined over 3 hr. Tolerance was induced on Days 1–5 by administering morphine subcutaneously (10 mg/kg) or l -arginine, a NO precursor, intraperitoneally (200 mg/kg), twice daily. Analgesic response to the challenge dose was determined again on Day 6. Results : Following sustained morphine administration, nNOS-deficient mice exhibited less tolerance development when compared to the control group, although measurable tolerance still occurred. Mice deficient in eNOS evidenced a degree of tolerance similar to that of control. Prolonged l -arginine administration produced significant functional tolerance to morphine in NOS-competent and eNOS-deficient mice. The loss of morphine responsivity after l -arginine administration was similar to that after morphine pretreatment. l -Arginine did not affect the antinociceptive response to morphine in mice deficient in nNOS, suggesting that the small degree of morphine-induced tolerance in this group occurs through an alternate pathway. Conclusions : These data demonstrate the pivotal role of the neuronal isoform of NOS in development of morphine antinociceptive tolerance. Furthermore, tolerance development appears to be predominantly a NO-mediated process, but likely is augmented by a secondary (non-NO) pathway.
Realpolitik or Concert Diplomacy: The Debate over Austrian Foreign Policy in the 1860's

The third quarter of the nineteenth century witnessed momentous changes in the style of European diplomacy and statecraft. The generation of Klemens von Metternich, Alexander I, and Viscount Castlereagh gave way to that of Louis Napoleon, Viscount Palmerston, Camillo Benso di Cavour, and Otto von Bismarck. The previous conservative consensus among the great powers that had feared war and revolution and valued harmony, peace, and stability succumbed to other ideas and attitudes that accentuated the diversity and the rivalry of the European family of states. The precepts of Concert diplomacy that had formerly regulated relations between the powers were no longer obeyed or respected. Between 1854 and 1871 Europe experienced five wars involving great powers; from 1815 to 1854 there had been only two. Obviously the old european system that had discouraged direct challenges and confrontations was crumbling.
Estimation of the variance-time and covariance-time curves of a stationary point process

Cox and Lewis (1966) propose estimators of the variance-time and covariance-time curves of a stationary point process. Continuous analogues of these estimators are considered in this paper. Asymptotic distributions of these statistics are obtained under the null hypotheses that the observations are generated by circular uniform and Poisson processes. In the first case, the statistics considered are generalizations of a statistic considered by Ajne (1968) and Watson (1967) as a test of circular uniformity. In the latter, these estimators are shown to be asymptotically normal. Numerical comparisons and computing formulas are given in the final section.
Structure-activity relationships among monoterpene inhibitors of protein isoprenylation and cell proliferation.

Abstract The monoterpene d-limonene inhibits the post-translational isoprenylation of p21ras and other small G proteins, a mechanism that may contribute to its efficacy in the chemoprevention and therapy of chemically induced rodent cancers. In the present study, the relative abilities of 26 limonene-like monoterpenes to inhibit protein isoprenylation and cell proliferation were determined. Many monoterpenes were found to be more potent than limonene as inhibitors of small G protein isoprenylation and cell proliferation. The relative potency of limonene-derived monoterpenes was found to be: monohydroxyl = ester = aldehyde > thiol > acid = diol = epoxide > triol = unsubstituted. All monoterpenes that inhibited protein isoprenylation did so in a selective manner, such that 21–26 kDa proteins were preferentially affected. Perillyl alcohol, one of the most potent terpenes, reduced 21–26 kDa protein isoprenylation to 50% of the control level at a concentration of 1 mM, but had no effect on the isoprenylation of 67, 47 or 17 kDa proteins. In particular, p21ras farnesylation was inhibited 40% by 1 mM perillyl alcohol. At the same concentration, perillyl alcohol completely inhibited the proliferation of human HT-29 colon carcinoma cells. The structure-activity relationships observed among the monoterpene isoprenylation inhibitors support a role for small G proteins in cell proliferation, and suggest that many limonene-derived monoterpenes warrant further investigation as antitumor agents.
Many-body effects in the luminescence of highly excited indirect superlattices

Experimental and theoretical investigations of the optical-excitation-dependent spatially indirect photoluminescence of GaAs/AlAs type II superlattices are reported. Simultaneous blue and red shifts of the indirect photoluminescence peaks are observed and analyzed, using many-body theory. The relevant microscopic mechanisms are exchange and correlation effects in the excited electron and hole plasmas as well as energy renormalizations due to the optically induced space-charge potential, the latter being the dominant effect. Comparison of theory and experiment allows us to extract the individual renormalization effects in the electron and hole plasmas.
A Note on Chance-Constrained Optimization of Analog Integrated Circuit

As the design-manufacturing interface becomes increasingly complicated with IC technology scaling, the corresponding process variability poses great challenges for nanoscale analog design. In this paper we propose to formulate the analog IC design with variability problem as a specific type of chance-constrained optimization problem, namely chance-constrained posynomial programming, in which statistical variations in both the process parameters and design variables can be explicitly incorporated. Using such constrained optimization approach, automated statistical design can be obtained with very suboptimal design cost, and parametric yield of each specfication can be guaranteed. Finally, the method is illustrated by considering the example of a ring oscillator.
The rotating molecular core in G10.6 - 0.4: Synthesis maps in (12)C(18)O

Using the Owens Valley Radio Observatory millimeter-wave interferometer, the compact molecular cloud core surrounding the H II region G10.60-0.4 has been resolved in the C(18)O J = 1-0 transition. Since this line is most likely optically thin, it is an excellent tracer of the total column density. We find a centrally condensed and flattened (12.6 sec x 4.2 sec ; 0.3 pc x 0.1 pc) core, which is rotating rapidly with a substantial velocity gradient (17 +/- 2 km/s pc) along the major axis. The core is quite bright (greater than 10K), dense (greater than (10(exp 6)/cu cm), massive (10(exp 3) solar mass), and embedded in a more extended (greater than 60 seconds) envelope. There is no evidence for absorption, implying that the C(18)O emitting gas is both optically thin and substantially hotter than the equivalent continuum temperature at 3 mm. The systemic velocity of the rotating core is -2.5 +/- 0.5 km/s, the same as the systemic velocity of the extended cloud.
A mechanism for active transport of coenzyme-like substances with possible reference to auxin transport in plants.

A geometrically constrained enzyme system is presented which is capable of driving a substance, which acts as a coenzyme to one of the enzymes of the system, against a concentration gradient. The energy for the process would be derived from the breakdown of the substrate for the enzyme-coenzyme system. If auxin-like substances act in the manner of a coenzyme in plants, then the mechanism presented might serve as a model to explain the polar transport of such substances in plants.
Diagnosing prion diseases: needs, challenges and hopes

Prion diseases are among the most intriguing infectious diseases and are associated with unconventional proteinaceous infectious agents known as prions. Prions seem to lack nucleic acid and propagate by transmission of protein misfolding. The nature of prions and their unique mode of transmission present challenges for early diagnosis of prion diseases. In this article, state-of-the-art prion diagnostic techniques, together with the new strategies that are being used to develop sensitive, early and non-invasive diagnoses for these diseases are reviewed.
Location-centric storage and query in wireless sensor networks

Location-centric storage (LCS) is envisioned as a promising scheme for robust and user-friendly on-demand data storage in networking environments such as the roadway sensor networks [Xing K et al. J Parallel Distributed Comput 67:336---345, 2007; Xing K et al. in: IEEE wireless communication and networking conference (WCNC), 2005]. In this paper, we analyze the performance of LCS in terms of storage and query overheads. This study indicates that LCS utilizes network resource efficiently and achieves good scalability. In particular, the storage overhead of sensors is independent of the network size, and is evenly distributed across the network. We also propose two algorithms for data retrieval in LCS-enabled one-dimensional and two-dimensional sensor networks. Our algorithms guarantee that acquiring the stored data of any event only takes a small number of communication hops to query a small number of sensors.
The contested terrain of American bioethics.

Le terrain conteste de la bioethique americaineLa bioethique a vu le jour aux Etats-Unis a la fin des annees 1960. En tant que premier centre de recherche au monde consacre a la bioethique. ceux d’entre nous qui sommes arrives de bonne heure dans ce domaine avons eu a faire face a un scepticisme general quant au fait que le domaine de l’ethique pouvait proposer une direction et des conseils utiles. il fallait egalement faire face a la resistance des medecins. Avec le temps, diverses luttes ont eu lieu concernant le role de la theorie ethique, l’influence de l’ideologie sur le domaine de la bioethique et les traits particuliers de la culture americaine qui est hautement individualiste et peu encline a se confronter aux ultimes questions humaines. Une bioethique globale a emerge et le domaine de la bioethique, malgre les luttes internes, continue a croitre et a prosperer.
The Use of Problem-Solving Heuristics in the Playing of Games Involving Mathematics.

In recent years research on problem solving in mathematics has accelerated. In particular, several investigations have examined the processes used by students while solving mathematical problems. Another area in which, until recently, there has been only a limited amount of research is the study of the cognitive effects of instructional mathematics games. This article reports two exploratory studies of one aspect of the relation between problem solving in mathematics and the cognitive effects of games on mathematics learning.
External beam radiotherapy with or without concurrent chemotherapy in advanced or recurrent non-anaplastic non-medullary thyroid cancer.

Background and Objectives To review clinical outcomes and toxicities in locally advanced differentiated thyroid cancer patients treated with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) with or without concurrent chemotherapy (CCRT). Methods Between 1990 and 2012, 66 patients with gross residual/unresectable non-anaplastic non-medullary thyroid cancer were treated with EBRT. Results The median overall survival was 42.0 months. The overall locoregional progression-free survival (LPFS) at 3 years was 77.3%. CCRT resulted in a non-significant improvement in LPFS (90.0% vs. 73.0%, P = 0.347). Poorly differentiated histology had significantly improved LPFS (89.4% vs. 66.1%, P = 0.020), despite a significantly worse distant metastasis-free survival (43.9% vs. 82.5%, P = 0.023). Acute treatment-related toxicity included dermatitis, mucositis, and dysphagia with grade three rates of 12.1%, 19.7%, and 16.7%, respectively. The incidence of late toxicity was low. CCRT was only associated with a significant greater rate of acute grade 3 hoarseness (10.0% vs. 0.0%, P = 0.033), but with no difference in the rate of grade 2 late toxicity. Conclusions EBRT is a safe and effective treatment modality with 90% LPFS at 3 years in patients with gross residual or unresectable non-anaplastic, non-medullary thyroid carcinoma treated with CCRT. Further incorporation of EBRT with concurrent chemotherapy may result in improved disease control. J. Surg. Oncol. 2014; 110:375–382. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
EVALUATION OF OXIDATION RATES FOR ALPHA ZIRCONIUM.

Abstract Theoretical evaluation of oxidation rates of α-zirconium at 850 °, 800 ° and 750 °C is given in terms of a unidirectional volume diffusion model for a two-phase system. The calculated results conform to the parabolic rate law, Δm A = k p √ t , and are in good agreement with experimental determinations. It is possible to express the parabolic rate constants, k p , for both the oxide phase and zirconium in terms of diffusion parameters. The amount of oxygen confined to the metal phase is about 98% of the total amount of oxygen consumed during oxidation of zirconium for periods up to 144 h.
Staff Perspectives on Juvenile Drug Court Operations: A Multi-Site Qualitative Study

Substance use is pervasive among youth, particularly among those involved in the juvenile justice system. Juvenile drug courts (JDCs) are a promising approach for delinquent youth with substance ab...
Intercomparison Study of the Land Surface Process Model and the Common Land Model for a Prairie Wetland in Florida

Abstract Common Land Model (CLM) and Land Surface Process (LSP) model simulations are compared to measured values for a 13-day dry-down period with a rapidly decreasing near-surface water table for a marsh wetland community in Florida. LSP was able to provide reasonable estimates without any modifications to the model physics. To obtain reasonable simulations using CLM, the baseline TOPMODEL baseflow generation and the bottom drainage mechanisms were not employed and the lower layers were allowed to remain saturated. In addition, several of CLM’s default wetland vegetation parameters were replaced with grassland parameters. Even after these modifications, CLM underestimated soil water storage. However, both model-simulated soil temperatures showed very good agreement as compared to measured temperatures, capturing both the soil warming during the study period and the diurnal fluctuations. Modeled surface energy fluxes also agreed well with measured values. LSP’s inability to consistently capture latent he...
A single administration of human umbilical cord blood T cells produces long-lasting effects in the aging hippocampus.

Neurogenesis occurs throughout life but significantly decreases with age. Human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (HUCB MNCs) have been shown to increase the proliferation of neural stem cells (NSCs) in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus and the subgranular zone of aging rats (Bachstetter et al., BMC Neurosci 9:22, 2008), but it is unclear which fraction or combination of the HUCB MNCs are responsible for neurogenesis. To address this issue, we examined the ability of HUCB MNCs, CD4+, CD8+, CD3+, CD14+, and CD133+ subpopulations to increase proliferation of NSCs both in vitro and in vivo. NSCs were first grown in conditioned media generated from HUCB cultures, and survival and proliferation of NSC were determined with the fluorescein diacetate/propidium iodide and 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine incorporation assays, respectively. In a second study, we injected HUCB cells intravenously in young and aged Fisher 344 rats and examined proliferation in the DG at 1 week (study 2.1) and 2 weeks (study 2.2) postinjection. The effects of the HUCB MNC fractions on dendritic spine density and microglial activation were also assessed. HUCB T cells (CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ cells) induced proliferation of NSCs (p < 0.001) and increased cell survival. In vivo, HUCB-derived CD4+ cells increased NSC proliferation at both 1 and 2 weeks while also enhancing the density of dendritic spines at 1 week and decreasing inflammation at 2 weeks postinjection. Collectively, these data indicate that a single injection of HUCB-derived T cells induces long-lasting effects and may therefore have tremendous potential to improve aging neurogenesis.
Assessment of the functional significance of coronary artery disease with atrial pacing and cardiokymography

Abstract Thirty-six patients were studied during the course of cardiac catheterization to assess the role of cardiokymography and atrial pacing in the functional evaluation of angiographic coronary arterial stenosis. Only 4 of 25 patients with greater than 50 percent diameter stenosis of at least one major vessel had 0.1 mv or greater S-T segment depression at a paced heart rate of 123 ± 25/min, and 2 of 11 normal patients revealed a similar response (P = not significant). In contrast, in 22 of 25 patients systolic outward motion developed as determined with cardiokymography during the same pacing period, whereas in only 1 of 11 normal patients a similar abnormality did develop (P These data are consistent with the view that regional wall motion abnormalities are highly sensitive and specific markers of ischemia and that such abnormalities may be detected noninvasively with cardiokymography. It is concluded that atrial pacing in conjunction with cardiokymography is applicable to the functional assessment of ischemic heart disease and may provide a means for objective evaluation of the significance of angiographically observed coronary stenosis.
New techniques for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy

New techniques for adenotonsillectomy offer reduced morbidity and improved recovery by limiting tissue injury. The authors review three new instrument-based approaches to adenotonsillectomy and offer data to demonstrate the prevalence of technique and device use across several different geographic regions.
Can politics be different? The Hungarian Green Party's entry into Parliament in 2010

The twentieth anniversary of the 1989–1990 Central European revolutions provided cause for celebrating the end of the ‘transition’ and ‘postcommunism’. But even the celebrations could not entirely ...
Bertrand equilibria and efficiency in markets for congestible network services

This paper is motivated by study of the economics of Quality of Service (QoS) of congestible services. We introduce a queueing game framework to study such problems. We consider multiple competing providers, each offering a queued service. Users are sensitive to both access price and expected delay, and pick providers with the smallest price plus delay cost. We study equilibrium of the pricing (Bertrand) game between the congestible network service providers. We establish the existence of a Nash equilibrium under some natural assumptions. We then consider a setting with multiple classes of differentiated service. Differentiated Services (DiffServ) technologies of the Internet that can provide QoS guarantees have failed to catch on, primarily due to economic impediments. Each provider is now modeled as operating a multi-class queue. We provide sufficient conditions for the existence of a Nash equilibrium in the Bertrand (pricing) game between the providers. We characterize the inefficiency (price of anarchy) due to strategic pricing to be 2/3. Surprisingly, the price of anarchy for the multi-class setting is the same as for the single-class setting.
Application note: M-DEC: A spreadsheet program for producing multiple decrement life tables and estimating mortality dynamics for insects

In the single decrement life table, an individual exits the table in only one way: through death undifferentiated by cause. In the multiple decrement life table (MDLT), an individual can exit the table through differentiated causes of death. Because of its structure, numerous calculations of demographic importance can be produced from the data in the MDLT, including estimates of the probability of death in the presence or absence of a combination of causes. Producing these life tables using manual calculations can be tedious and time consuming. Therefore, we present here a spreadsheet program, M-DEC, which automatically calculates many of the demographic variables in the MDLT for use with insects.
Deducing The Pattern Of Arthropod Phylogeny From Mitochondrial-dna Rearrangements

THE origins of arthropods and the phylogenetic relationships among their three major living groups (atelocerates, crustaceans and chelicerates) are vigorously contended. To help resolve this, we determined mitochondrial gene arrangements for a chelicerate, a myriapod, two crustaceans, an onychophoran, a mollusc and an annelid, and compared them with published gene orders of other species. The result strongly supports the monophyly of Arthropoda and of Mandibulata (atelocerates plus crustaceans) and refutes the Uniramia (atelocerates plus onychophorans). Gene arrangement comparisons are emerging as a powerful new tool for resolving ancient phylogenetic relationships.
Dissolution Rates of Biogenic Carbonates in Natural Seawater at Different pCO2 Conditions: A Laboratory Study

The bulk dissolution rates of six biogenic carbonates (goose barnacle, benthic foraminifera, bryozoan, sea urchin, and two types of coralline algae) and a sample of mixed sediment from the Bermuda carbonate platform were measured in natural seawater at pCO2 values ranging from approximately 3000 to 5500 μatm. This range of pCO2 values encompassed values regularly observed in porewaters at a depth of a few cm in carbonate sediments at shallow water depths (<15 m) on the Bermuda carbonate platform. The biogenic carbonates included calcites of varying Mg content (2–17 mol%) and a range of specific surface areas (0.01–2.7 m2 g−1) as determined by BET gas adsorption. Measured rates of dissolution increased with increasing pCO2 treatment for all substrates and ranged from 2.5 to 18 μmol g−1 h−1. The highest rates of dissolution were observed for the bryozoans and the lowest rates for the goose barnacles. The relative ranking in dissolution rates between different substrates was consistent at all pCO2 levels, indicating that substrates dissolve sequentially and that some substrates will be more vulnerable than others to rising CO2 and ocean acidification. Furthermore, dissolution rates were found to increase with increasing Mg content, though the relative dissolution rates were observed to be a function of both Mg content and microstructure (surface area).
Evolution of antivergent folds on a Paleozoic accretionary prism, Arkansas: An alternative view

Rocks around the western plunge of the Benton uplift in the Ouachita Mountains of western Arkansas show multiple periods of deformation during the Ouachita orogeny. Seismic-reflection interpretations and surface geology are consistent with a thick section of highly deformed Paleozoic rocks that are separated as thrust sheets by north-vergent regional-scale thrust faults. North-vergent folds develop in such a setting; however, south-vergent folds with the axial planes dipping opposite to the direction of underthrusting are also observed on the Benton uplift. Development of such folds has been explained by models such as mechanical decoupling along zones of low shear strength in trenches, backthrusting, and backfolding, but none explains the south-vergent folds of the Benton uplift, mostly because of lack of adequate field data. Geometrical analyses show that reactivation of thrust faults during a secondary phase of deformation tightened and reoriented open folds of an initial phase and, as a result, developed the macroscopic and mesoscopic antivergent folds in the Benton uplift. Curvilinear map traces of the thrust faults and broad open folds that refold earlier structures indicate that there was continuous deformation after the development of antivergent folds.
DOMpro: Protein Domain Prediction Using Profiles, Secondary Structure, Relative Solvent Accessibility, and Recursive Neural Networks

Protein domains are the structural and functional units of proteins. The ability to parse protein chains into different domains is important for protein classification and for understanding protein structure, function, and evolution. Here we use machine learning algorithms, in the form of recursive neural networks, to develop a protein domain predictor called DOMpro. DOMpro predicts protein domains using a combination of evolutionary information in the form of profiles, predicted secondary structure, and predicted relative solvent accessibility. DOMpro is trained and tested on a curated dataset derived from the CATH database. DOMpro correctly predicts the number of domains for 69% of the combined dataset of single and multi-domain chains. DOMpro achieves a sensitivity of 76% and specificity of 85% with respect to the single-domain proteins and sensitivity of 59% and specificity of 38% with respect to the two-domain proteins. DOMpro also achieved a sensitivity and specificity of 71% and 71% respectively in the Critical Assessment of Fully Automated Structure Prediction 4 (CAFASP-4) (Fisher et al., 1999; Saini and Fischer, 2005) and was ranked among the top ab initio domain predictors. The DOMpro server, software, and dataset are available at http://www.igb.uci.edu/servers/psss.html.
Laser accelerators: experiments, computations and prospects

Ever since the research on laser-based particle acceleration concepts began in earnest about a dozen years ago, there has been very significant progress in the field of Advanced Accelerator Research. Proof-of-principle experiments that demonstrate the physical principle of the various schemes have now been carried out. These experiments are guided by state-of-the-art computer simulations made possible by the recent revolution in computing power and techniques. The research is poised to move on to the next level where it will address both physics and technology issues that are at the very forefront of beam science.
Level‐cut inhomogeneous filtered Poisson field for two‐phase microstructures

Level-cut homogeneous filtered Poisson fields developed in (J. Appl. Phys. 2003; 94(6):3762-3770) to model two-phase microstructures are defined, and their properties are briefly reviewed. Filtered Poisson fields are sums of randomly scaled and oriented kernels that are centered at the points of homogeneous Poisson fields. The cuts of these fields above specified thresholds are called level-cut homogeneous filtered Poisson fields. It is shown that an arbitrary inhomogeneous Poisson field becomes homogeneous if observed in new coordinates, and that the mapping relating inhomogeneous and homogeneous Poisson fields can be constructed in a simple manner. This mapping and the model in (J. Appl. Phys. 2003; 94(6): 3762-3770) provide an efficient algorithm for generating arbitrary inhomogeneous two-phase microstructures. Developments in (Int. J. Numer. Meth. Engng 2008; DOI: 10.1002/nme.2340), using arguments essentially identical to those in (J. Appl. Phys. 2003; 94(6):3762-3770) to define and generate inhomogeneous Poisson fields, overlook the natural extension of results in (J. Appl. Phys. 2003; 94(6): 3762-3770) to these fields provided by the mapping constructed in this paper.
Identification of Oxidant-Sensitive Proteins: TNF-α Induces Protein Glutathiolation

Reactive oxygen species are thought to play a role in a variety of physiologic and pathophysiological processes. One possible mediator of oxidant effects at the molecular level is a subset of proteins containing reactive cysteine thiols that can be readily oxidized. The transient incorporation of glutathione into cellular proteins is an established response to oxidant stress and could provide a mechanism for reversible covalent modification in response to reactive oxygen species. To better understand the function of protein S-glutathiolation in vivo, a biotinylated membrane-permeant analogue of glutathione, biotinylated glutathione ethyl ester, was developed and used to detect proteins into which glutathione is incorporated under oxidant stress. Oxidant stress from exogenous hydrogen peroxide or generated in response to TNF-α was found to increase incorporation of biotinylated glutathione ethyl ester into several HeLa cell proteins. The identity of two of these proteins was determined by peptide sequencin...
LLRF requirements for APT

As part of the Accelerator Production of Tritium (APT) program, a normal conducting (NC)-superconducting (SC) 100 mA continuous wave (CW), 1030 MeV accelerator is being designed. Maintaining the RF cavities in this linac at their proper resonant frequency, rf field amplitude and phase during commissioning (low duty factor pulse mode) and operation (high current continuous beam) is the function of the Low Level Radio Frequency (LLRF) system. This paper describes the linac characteristics that determine the LLRF system requirements with the corresponding control functions, and an overview of the techniques proposed to meet these requirements.
Disparities in trauma: the impact of socioeconomic factors on outcomes following traumatic hollow viscus injury

Abstract Background This piece aims to examine the relationships between hollow viscus injury (HVI) and socioeconomic factors in determining outcomes. HVI has well-defined injury patterns with complex postoperative convalescence and morbidity, representing an ideal focus for identifying potential disparities among a homogeneous injury population. Materials and methods A retrospective review included patients admitted to a level I trauma center with HVI from 2000–2009, as identified in the Trauma Registry of the American College of Surgeons. Patients with concomitant significant solid organ or vasculature injury were excluded. US Census (2000) median household income by zip code was used as socioeconomic proxy. Demographic and injury-related variables were also included. Endpoints were mortality and outcomes associated with HVI morbidity. Results A total of 933 patients with HVI were identified and 256 met inclusion criteria. There were 23 deaths (9.0%), and mortality was not associated with race, gender, income, or payer source. However, lower median household income was significantly associated with longer intervals to ostomy takedown (P = 0.032). Additionally, private payers had significantly lower rates of anastomotic leak (0% [0/73] versus 7.1% [13/183], P = 0.019) and fascial dehiscence (5.5% [4/73] versus 16.9% [31/183], P = 0.016), while self-payers had significantly higher rates of abscess formation, both overall (24% [24/100] versus 10.2% [16/156], P = 0.004) and among penetrating injuries (27.4% [23/84] versus 13.6% [12/88], P = 0.036). Conclusions Socioeconomic status may not impact overall mortality among trauma patients with hollow viscus injuries, but private insurance appears to be protective of morbidity related to anastomotic leak, fascial dehiscence, and abscess formation. This supports that socioeconomic disparity may exist within long-term outcomes, particularly regarding payer source.
A Practical Strategy for Teaching a Child with Autism to Attend to and Imitate a Portable Video Model

Video modeling is an effective and efficient methodology for teaching new skills to individuals with autism. New technology may enhance video modeling as smartphones or tablet computers allow for p...
Composition of the plant nuclear envelope: theme and variations

The nuclear envelope is the hallmark of all eukaryotic cells, separating the nucleoplasm from the cytoplasm. At the same time, the nuclear envelope allows for the controlled exchange of macromolecules between the two compartments through nuclear pores and presents a surface for anchoring and organizing cytoskeletal components and chromatin. Although our molecular understanding of the nuclear envelope in higher plants is only just beginning, fundamental differences from the animal nuclear envelope have already been found. This review provides an updated investigation of these differences with respect to nuclear pore complexes, targeting of Ran signalling to the nuclear envelope, inner nuclear envelope proteins, and the role and fate of the nuclear envelope during mitosis.
Franchising In China: The Case Of Medicine Shoppe

As franchising becomes more favorable in China, both foreign and local franchisers and franchisees will benefit from the successful business model developed by Medicine Shoppe.
Biology of Metamasius mosieri (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae), with a description of larval and pupal stages

Abstract The biology of the bromeliad-eating weevil Metamasius mosieri Barber (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) was studied under laboratory conditions of 25°C, 50–60% RH, and a photoperiod of 14:10 (L:D) h. Mean duration of the egg, larval, and pupal stages was 8.2, 59.6, and 9.7 d, respectively. Mean adult longevity was 36.1 wk for females and 50.2 wk for males. Females produced on average 39.2 eggs during their lifetime. The larval and pupal stages are described, and characters for distinguishing the pupae of M. mosieri and Metamasius callizona (Chevrolat) are contrasted and illustrated. Oviposition behavior is described. The weevil is known to be present in 13 south Florida counties.
The influence of VKORC1 and CYP2C9 mutations on warfarin response after total hip and knee arthroplasty

Aims This study characterizes the influence of genotype at two loci on warfarin response after arthroplasty.
Islamic Banking: Wrong Answer to the Wrong Question (اسلامی بینکاری: غلط سوال کا غلط جواب)

Urdu Abstract: جس بینکاری نظام کے اندر اسلامی بینکاری کا تجربہ کیا گیا وہ جزواثاثہ جاتی بینکاری نظام پر مبنی ہے جس میں بینک کے پاس بغیر کسی عوض کرنسی تخلیق کرنے کی صلاحیت موجود ہوتی ہے۔ درج ذیل مقالے میں اس نظام کی نوعیت پر گفتگو کی گئی ہےںنیز یہ واضح کرنے کی کوشش کی گئی ہے کہ سود کو چند شرعی معاہدات سے تبدیل کردینے سے اس مسئلے پر کوئی فرق نہیں پڑتا۔English Abstract: This paper deals with the operation of fractional reserve banking within Islamic banking system. The paper shows in detail that modern banking system does not work on the principle of savings-create-deposits model as understood by most Islamic economists, rather it works on loans-create-deposits principle. The paper shows that changing the operational rule of banking from interest to profit and loss sharing cannot overcome the issue of fraudulent money creation process within banking system.
Black-White differences in the effect of baseline depressive symptoms on deaths due to renal diseases: 25 year follow up of a nationally representative community sample.

Introduction: More studies are needed to examine whether race moderates the effect of baseline depressive symptoms on cause-specific mortality including deaths due to renal diseases in the United States. Objectives: The present longitudinal study compared Blacks and Whites for the effect of baseline depressive symptoms on deaths due to renal diseases over a 25-year period in a nationally representative community sample. Patients and Methods: Data came from the Americans’ Changing Lives (ACL) study, a nationally representative cohort that followed 3361 Black (n = 1156) or White (n = 2205) adults 25 and older for up to 25 years from 1986 to 2011. Month, year and cause of death were extracted from death certificates or national death index reports and coded based on ICD-9 or ICD-10 codes, depending on the year of death. We used Cox proportional hazards models for data analysis. Time to death due to renal diseases over a 25-year period was the outcome, baseline depressive symptoms (11-item Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression [CES-D]) was the predictor, demographic characteristics, socio-economic status and chronic medical conditions (CMC) (hypertension, diabetes, chronic lung disease, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and arthritis) at baseline were controls, and race was the focal moderator. Results: In the pooled sample, race and baseline depressive symptoms showed a significant interaction, suggesting a stronger effect of baseline depressive symptoms on deaths due to renal diseases for Whites compared to Blacks. In race-specific models, high depressive symptoms at baseline increased risk of death due to renal diseases among Whites but not Blacks. Conclusion: The Black-White difference in the predictive role of baseline depressive symptoms on deaths due to renal diseases over a 25-year period found here provides support for the Black-White health paradox.
Changing Medical School IT to Support Medical Education Transformation.

AbstractProblem: Many medical schools are modifying curricula to reflect the rapidly evolving health care environment, but schools struggle to provide the educational informatics technology (IT) support to make the necessary changes. Often a medical school's IT support for the education mission derives from isolated work units employing separate technologies that are not interoperable. Intervention: We launched a redesigned, tightly integrated, and novel IT infrastructure to support a completely revamped curriculum at the Vanderbilt School of Medicine. This system uses coordinated and interoperable technologies to support new instructional methods, capture students' effort, and manage feedback, allowing the monitoring of students' progress toward specific competency goals across settings and programs. Context: The new undergraduate medical education program at Vanderbilt, entitled Curriculum 2.0, is a competency-based curriculum in which the ultimate goal is medical student advancement based on performanc...
I Dare to Hope

(1992). I Dare to Hope. The Black Scholar: Vol. 22, The Clarence Thomas Confirmation, pp. 22-24.
Loss of human disease protein retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator (RPGR) differentially affects rod or cone-enriched retina

It is unclear how genes, such as RPGR (retinitis pigmentosa guanine triphosphatase regulator) that are expressed in both rods and cones, cause variable disease pathogenesis. Using transcriptomic analysis, we show that loss of RPGR in a rod-dominant mouse retina (Rpgr(ko)) results in predominant alterations in genes involved in actin cytoskeletal dynamics, prior to onset of degeneration. We validated these findings and found an increase in activated RhoA-GTP levels and polymerized F-actin in the Rpgr(ko) mouse retina. To assess the effect of the loss of RPGR in the all-cone region of the human retina, we used Nrl(-/-) (neural retina leucine zipper) mice, to generate Rpgr(ko)::Nrl(-/-) double-knock-out (Rpgr-DKO) mice. These mice exhibited supranormal cone response to light and substantially retained retinal architecture. Transcriptomic analysis revealed predominant up-regulation of retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE)-specific genes associated with visual cycle, whereas fatty acid analysis showed mild decrease in docosahexaenoic acid in the retina of the Rpgr-DKO mice when compared with the Nrl(-/-) mice. Our data reveal new insights into distinct intracellular pathways that are involved in RPGR-associated rod and cone dysfunction and provide a platform to design new treatment modalities.
Use of a proactive duplex ultrasound protocol for hemodialysis access.

Objective Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation is the preferred approach for hemodialysis access; however, the maturation of AVFs is known to be poor. We established a proactive early duplex ultrasound (DUS) surveillance protocol for evaluating AVFs before attempted access. This study determined the effect of this protocol related to improving AVF maturation. Methods From 2008 to 2013, 153 patients received new upper extremity AVFs and an early DUS surveillance protocol at a single academic institution. The protocol involved an early DUS evaluation before hemodialysis cannulation of the AVF at 4 to 8 weeks after AVF creation. A positive DUS result was identified as a peak systolic velocity of >375 cm/s or a >50% stenosis on gray scale imaging, along with decreased velocity in the outflow vein. Patients with positive DUS findings underwent prophylactic endovascular or open intervention to assist with AVF maturation. Nature of secondary interventions, as well as AVF patency and maturation, were assessed. Overall clinical outcomes and fistula patency were investigated. Results During the study period, 183 upper extremity AVFs were created in 153 patients, including 82 radiocephalic, 63 brachiocephalic, and 38 brachiobasilic AVFs. A mortality rate of 43% (n = 66) was observed in a median follow-up period of 34.5 months (interquartile range, 19.6-46.9). A total of 164 early DUS were performed at a median of 6 weeks (interquartile range, 3.4-9.6 weeks) after the initial creation. Early DUS showed nine AVFs were occluded and were excluded from further analysis. Hemodynamically significant lesions were found in 62 AVFs (40%); however, only 17 (11%) were associated with an abnormal physical examination. Positive DUS finding prompted a secondary intervention in 81% of the patients. Among those with positive early DUS findings, AVF maturation was 70% in those undergoing a secondary intervention compared with 25% in those not undergoing a prophylactic intervention ( P = .011). Primary-assisted patency for AVFs with early positive and negative DUS findings were 83% and 96% at 6 months, 64% and 89% at 1 year, and 52% and 82% at 2 years, respectively ( P Conclusions Early DUS surveillance of AVFs before initial access is reasonable to identify problematic AVFs that may not be reliably detected on clinical examination. Although DUS criteria for AVFs have yet to be universally accepted, proactive early postoperative DUS interrogation assists in the early detection of dysfunctional AVFs and improvement of fistula maturation. Despite improved patency in those with positive DUS findings who undergo prophylactic secondary intervention, overall patency remains inferior to those without an abnormality detected on early DUS imaging.