cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessing the threat of firearms: new threat formula, resources, and ontological linking algorithms

The present work is part of an ongoing larger project. 2, 3, 11, 12 The goal of this project is to develop a system capable of automatic threat assessment for instances of firearms use in public places. The main components of the system are: an ontology of firearms; 1, 14 algorithms to create the visual footprint of the firearms, 1, 14 to compare visual information, 2, 3, 11, 12 to facilitate search in the ontology, and to generate the links between the conceptual and visual ontologies; as well as a formula to calculate the threat of individual firearms, firearms classes, and ammunition types in different environments. One part of the dual-level ontology for the properties of the firearms captures key visual features used to identify their type or class in images, while the other part captures their threat-relevant conceptual properties. The visual ontology is the result of image segmentation and matching methods, while the conceptual ontology is designed using knowledge-engineering principles and populated semi-automatically from Web resources. The focus of the present paper is two-fold. On the one hand, we will report on an update of the initial threat formula, based on the substantially increased population of the firearm ontology, including ammunition types and comparisons to actual incidents, and allowing for an overall more accurate assessment. On the other hand, the linking algorithms between the visual and conceptual ontologies are elaborated for faster transfer of information leading to an improvement in accuracy of the threat assessment.
Outcomes of initiation of therapy with once-daily combination of a thiazolidinedione and a biguanide at an early stage of type 2 diabetes.

Context: Utilization of the biguanide metformin and a thiazolidinedione (TZD) with new onset diabetes has the benefit of lowering A1cs into the normal range without the problem of severe hypoglycaemia. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of once-daily combined metformin and TZD therapy compared with other therapeutic regimens typically utilized at later stages of type 2 diabetes. Methods: A random chart review of 300 type 2 diabetic patients and extraction of data for body mass index (BMI), duration of diabetes and C-peptide and A1c was performed. In the 210 type 2 diabetic subjects in whom this information was currently available, the data were analysed. Results: Eighty-six patients on once-daily metformin and rosiglitazone had an average A1c of 6.2% (group A), and 58 subjects on triple therapy (metformin, rosiglitazone and glimepiride) (group B) had an average haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) of 6.9%. The 22 subjects on one injection of insulin per day in addition to triple therapy (group C) had an average HbA1c of 7.6%, and the 44 subjects on more than one insulin injection per day plus metformin and/or rosiglitazone (group D) had an average HbA1c of 8.3%. HbA1cs below 7.0% were found in 91.9% of group A, 21.7% of group B, 36.4% of group C and 56.8% of group D. HbA1cs below 6.5% were found in 78.2% in group A, 15.5% in group B, 22.7% in group C and 31.8% in group D. HbA1cs below 6.0% were found in 41.9% in group A, 6.9% in group B, 9.1% in group C and 13.6% in group D. On univariate analyses, the HbA1c was positively associated with the duration of diabetes and the BMI and negatively associated with random C-peptide levels. Alternatively, on multiple regression analysis, there was no statistical correlation between the duration of diabetes or BMI with the HbA1c. However, there was a strong statistical correlation between the random C-peptide level and the HbA1c (p = 0.002). Conclusion: Early initiation of therapy for type 2 diabetes with a once-daily combination of metformin and rosiglitazone provides the greatest opportunity to achieve A1cs within the normal range. The level of achieved glycaemic control is not dependent on the number or potency of the therapies utilized but is dependent on the level of endogenous insulin production. The use of a TZD as part of initial therapy of type 2 diabetes with its documented ability to preserve or improve β-cell function has the potential to achieve prolonged normoglycaemia in the type 2 diabetic patient.
Evaluation of an experimental mainstream cellular phone feature to allow use by individuals with moderate to severe cognitive disabilities

This proof-of-concept study evaluated the ability of individuals with moderate to severe cognitive impairments to use a mainstream cellular phone that was programmed with two new experimental interfaces (Flip and Picture modes). Success in placing a call was measured following a brief demonstration or instruction in phone use and again after a brief distraction. Sixteen individuals with Mini-Mental State Examination scores ranging from 6 to 19 (mean = 12.31, SD = 4.39) participated. The success rate using the Standard dialing mode was 12.5% during the instruction phase and 6.3% in the carryover phase. The Flip mode resulted in a 100% success rate for both the Instruction and Carryover phases; the Picture mode resulted in a 100% success rate in the Instruction phase and 81.3% success rate during Carryover phase. A potential application of this work is that mainstream cellular phones could be designed to include a simple feature that would make them usable by people with moderate to severe cognitive disabilities.
IMPROVEMENT OF CdMnTe DETECTOR PERFORMANCE BY MnTe PURIFICATION

Residual impurities in manganese (Mn) are a big obstacle to obtaining high- performance CdMnTe (CMT) X-ray and gamma-ray detectors. Generally, the zone-refining method is an effective way to improve the material’s purity. In this work, we purified the MnTe compounds combining the zone-refining method with molten Te that has a very high solubility. We confirmed the improved purity of the material by glow-discharge mass spectrometry (GDMS). We also found that CMT crystals from a multiple refined MnTe source, grown by the vertical Bridgman method, yielded better performing detectors.
Experimentation in social psychology: A reappraisal

Psychological inquiry into social phenomena has become virtually indistinguishable from controlled experimentation. Although the assets and liabilities of psychological experiments have been subject to periodic debate, a continued increase in the reliance placed experiments is evidenced. The present paper re-examines the adequacy of experimentation in light of major features of social interaction. Significant failures of the experiment emerge when the following characteristics of social events are considered: their imbeddedness in broader cultural patterns, their position within extended sequences, their open competition within real-life settings, their reliance on psychological confluences, and their complex determination. The additional consideration of social phenomena within historical context indicates that all reasonable hypotheses are valid and that critical testing between hypotheses about social behaviour is fruitless. Criteria for the productive usage of experiments are detailed.
Genotyping of cytochrome P450 2D6*3 and *4 mutations using conventional PCR.

Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) mixed-function mono-oxygenases, consisting of more than 30 enzymes, are responsible for the metabolism of a large number of drugs and metabolites. With the rapid advances in the human genome project, the role of genetic polymorphism in drug metabolism may become an important adjunct for rational drug therapy, and for the explanation of drug toxicity and interactions. This preliminary study modified a previously described procedure for genotyping CYP2D6*3 and *4. An additional step included uracil-DNA glycosylase for the prevention of “carry-over” contamination. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood using PureGene DNA Isolation kit. CYP2D6*3 and *4 sequences were amplified by PCR, followed by digestion with restriction endonuclease Msp1 and Mva1, respectively. Resulting fragments were analyzed by electrophoresis and visualized by ethidium bromide staining. Poor metabolizers of *3 mutation showed 168-, 82- and 20-bp bands, while those of *4 showed a single 355-bp band. Using these protocols, 22 individuals were genotyped, showing the following prevalence for *3 and *4: 0 and 3, respectively—comparable to those of the general population. This method provides a reliable means of genotyping CYP2D6*3 and *4.
Relative base composition of initiation sites for transcription in developing frog embryos

The use of an inhibitor (0.4 N (NH4)2SO4) and an activator (sodium polydextran sulfate) of initiation of transcription in nuclei of frog embryos in vitro indicated that initiation sites for transcription are relatively A--T-rich. Comparison of incorporation of labeled ATP, UTP, and GTP, when initiation of transcription is prevented, indicates that initiation sites become relatively less A--T-rich as development proceeds. Inhibition of initiation of transcription in isolated nuclei blocks the normal increase in rate of transcription that occurs when cells enter the S phase, showing that an increased level of transcription depends upon a greater number of initiation sites.
Atypical localization of myenteric neurons in the opossum lower esophageal sphincter

This study investigated sphincter-body differences in neuronal density and morphometry between the esophageal sphincter and body with a view to determining whether previously reported differences are authentic. The anatomical limits of the opossum lower esophageal sphincter were correlated with its physiological behavior by manometric demarcation. Following this, peeled whole mounts and paraffin and cryosections were used to study the morphology and morphometry of the esophageal myenteric plexus. Thirty animals were used and seven quantitated. The plexus of the esophageal body was located as usual in a plane between the longitudinal and circular muscle, which coincided with the plane of cleavage when these muscle layers were peeled apart for studying the plexus in whole mounts. In contrast, the plexus was located in several planes in the lower esophageal sphincter, which had no cleavage plane. Therefore, peeling the sphincter removes neurons and yields falsely low counts, making peel preparations of this region unsuitable for neuronal quantitation. In paraffin sections, the neuron density in the esophageal body 7 cm above the sphincter was 6,353 +/- 850/cm2, but decreased significantly to 2,254 +/- 353/cm2 at the 1-cm segment. In the lower esophageal sphincter, the neuronal count increased again to 8,530 +/- 1,606/cm2. Flash-frozen cryosections, which produced neuronal morphology similar to the in vivo condition, showed that there was no difference in neuronal size between esophageal body and sphincter. These studies show that atypical myenteric plexus localization causes spuriously low neuronal counts reported in the lower esophageal sphincter and that reported neuronal size differences are technique-dependent.
Ellipsometric observation of the adsorption of sodium dodecyl sulfate

Etude par ellipsometrie de l'adsorption de sulfate de lauryl de sodium sur une electrode de platine. Formation de multicouche en fonction du potentiel d'electrode
Studies on the active transfer of reducing equivalents into mitochondria via the malate-aspartate shuttle

Abstract 1. The effects of mitochondrial energy states on the extramitochondrial NADH/NAD ratio via a reconstituted malate-aspartate shuttle have been investigated. 2. The transfer of reducing equivalents into isolated mitochondria is stimulated by ATP and by electron transport. The effect of ATP is inhibited by oligomycin. The effect of electron transport is inhibited by uncouplers. 3. Uncoupling of the mitochondria is required for rapid transfer of reducing equivalents out of the mitochondria. 4. A glutamate-stimulated entry of aspartate into energized mitochondria suggests that the malate-aspartate shuttle is to some extent reversible even in a high energy state of the mitochondria. 5. It is concluded that the malate-aspartate shuttle contributes to the formation of the skewed redox situation across the inner mitochondrial membrane, which has a more reduced inside.
Odour-induced antipredator behaviour of the water flea, Ceriodaphnia reticulata, in varying predator and prey densities

1. A new marking technique was developed and used to track individual water flea behaviour. A single clone of Ceriodaphnia reticulata exhibited no significant differences in mean depth, mean activity (antennae beats used in swimming), and mean travel (total vertical displacement) for fast-green dyed and control animals (n = 30, each treatment). 2. Individual and group antipredator responses were recorded in three vertebrate predator densities (three odour concentrations of green sunfish Lepomis cyanellus; 0.00, 0.03 and 0.10 fish L–1) and four water flea group sizes (1, 5, 15 and 25), with n = 18 for each of the twelve treatment combinations. Water flea groups were probably mixtures of clones. Differences in behaviour after addition of predator odour showed that increasing predator density increased mean depth of marked individuals and mean proportion of water fleas descending. Additionally, increasing prey density decreased both mean depth of marked individuals and mean proportion of water fleas descending. 3. Predator density and prey density had opposing affects on activity and travel for marked individuals. Higher predator density decreased mean activity (antennae beats), yet increased mean travel. Higher prey density increased mean activity, but decreased mean travel. Descending animals altered their swimming pattern by using fewer swimming beats to travel greater vertical distances in the presence of predator odour.
Statistical Approaches to Measurement Invariance

Roger E. Millsap. New York, NY: Routledge, 2011, 355 pages, $44.95 (Softcover). In Statistical Approaches to Measurement Invariance, Roger Millsap has provided a detailed summary of a comprehensive...
Tourmaline chemistry and the IIIB site

Based on a large database of tourmaline crystal-structure refinements and associated electron microprobe analyses, the bond length in the triangular (BO 3 ) groups was found to be reasonably constant for all tourmaline species, but the B-O2 and B-O8 are variable as a function of the crystal chemistry. Tourmalines, such as elbaite, tend to have B-O2 distances significantly shorter than the B-O8 distances, whereas others, like povondraite, tend to have B-O2 distances that are longer than their B-O8 bonds. Statistical analysis of the bond-valence contributions for the nine-coordinated X-02, and the six-coordinated Y-O2, Z-08, and Z'-08 bonds-as they relate to the B-O2/B-O8 bond valence-suggest that the Z'-08 bond has the most influence over the geometry of the (BO 3 ) triangle. This study highlights variations in what has otherwise been assumed to be a static site in the crystal structure of tourmaline-group minerals.
Applications of order statistics to queueing and scheduling

We prove several basic combinatorial identities and use them in two applications: the queue inference engine and earliest due date (EDD) scheduling. We generalize the standard order statistics result for Poisson processes, and show how to sample a busy period in the M/M/c system. We obtain simple expressions for the variance of the total waiting time in the M/M/c and M/D/1 queues given that n Poisson arrivals and departures occur during a busy period of length t. We also perform a probabilistic analysis of the EDD heuristic for a one machine scheduling problem with earliness/tardiness penalties. The schedule is without preemption and with no inserted idle time. The jobs are independent and each may have a different due date. For large n, our result shows that the variance of the performance of the EDD heuristic is linear in n. The average-case performance of the EDD heuristic is known to be proportional to the square root of n.
Assessment of the Effectiveness of Biofeedback in Children with Dyssynergic Defecation and Recalcitrant Constipation/Encopresis: Does Home Biofeedback Improve Long-Term Outcomes

The purpose of this study was to determine whether biofeedback benefits children with dyssynergic defecation and constipation/encopresis, and whether home biofeedback improves long-term outcomes. Thirty-six patients with chronic constipation who had failed at least 6 months of conventional treatment and demonstrated dyssynergic defecation at anorectal manometry were randomized to biofeedback in the laboratory alone (group 1, n=24) or in the laboratory and at home (group 2, n=12) and followed up at 2, 4, and a mean of 44 months. Thirty patients were available for long-term follow-up. Bowel movements increased in all from a mean of 1.4/week to 5.1, 5.8, and 5.1 per week at 2 months, 4 months, and long-term, respectively (p ≤0.001). Soiling decreased in all from a mean of 5.5/week to 0.6, 0.1, and 1 per week at 2 months, 4 months, and long-term, respectively (p ≤0.001). Laxative use decreased from a mean of 4.1 days/week to 0.6, 0.3, and 0.7 per week at 2 months, 4 months, and long-term, respectively (p ≤0.0...
Application-layer anycasting

The anycasting communication paradigm is designed to support server replication by allowing applications to easily select and communicate with the "best" server, according to some performance or policy criteria, in a group of content-equivalent servers. We examine the definition and support of the anycasting paradigm at the application layer, providing a service that maps anycast domain names into one or more IP addresses using anycast resolvers. In addition to being independent from network-layer support, our definition includes the notion of filters, functions that are applied to groups of addresses to affect the selection process. We consider both metric-based filters (e.g., server response time) and policy-based filters.
Fluorometric Determinations Comparable to Eye Response

A filter-photomultiplier tube system approaching the spectral response of the human eye has been selected, its spectral response recorded, and the system evaluated with a series of model fluorescent compounds.
Inflammation, organomegaly, and muscle wasting despite hyperphagia in a mouse model of burn cachexia

Background Burn injury results in a chronic inflammatory, hypermetabolic, and hypercatabolic state persisting long after initial injury and wound healing. Burn survivors experience a profound and prolonged loss of lean body mass, fat mass, and bone mineral density, associated with significant morbidity and reduced quality of life. Understanding the mechanisms responsible is essential for developing therapies. A complete characterization of the pathophysiology of burn cachexia in a reproducible mouse model was lacking. Methods Young adult (12–16 weeks of age) male C57BL/6J mice were given full thickness burns using heated brass plates or sham injury. Food and water intake, organ and muscle weights, and muscle fiber diameters were measured. Body composition was determined by Piximus. Plasma analyte levels were determined by bead array assay. Results Survival and weight loss were dependent upon burn size. The body weight nadir in burned mice was 14 days, at which time we observed reductions in total body mass, lean carcass mass, individual muscle weights, and muscle fiber cross-sectional area. Muscle loss was associated with increased expression of the muscle ubiquitin ligase, MuRF1. Burned mice also exhibited reduced fat mass and bone mineral density, concomitant with increased liver, spleen, and heart mass. Recovery of initial body weight occurred at 35 days; however, burned mice exhibited hyperphagia and polydipsia out to 80 days. Burned mice had significant increases in serum cytokine, chemokine, and acute phase proteins, consistent with findings in human burn subjects. Conclusions This study describes a mouse model that largely mimics human pathophysiology following severe burn injury. These baseline data provide a framework for mouse-based
DEGRADATION OF FISH MUSCLE DURING MECHANICAL DEBONING AND STORAGE WITH EMPHASIS ON LIPID OXIDATION

Deterioration of mechanically separated fish flesh as measured by extent of lipid oxidation and color change was studied using fresh mullet (Mugil spp.). The parameters studied included contact with iron surfaces, mechanical stress applied to the muscle during deboning, temperature of deboning drum, washing of deboned fish flesh, and postdeboning treatments including addition of antibiotic, sparging with nitrogen gas, cooking, freezing and thawing. TBA value was used as an index of lipid oxidation and the reflectance ratio of metmyoglobin to oxymyoglobin as an index of color change was determined using reflectance spectrophotometry. The degree of stress applied during deboning did not cause any significant variations in TBA value, whereas increased temperature of the deboning drum showed an adverse effect which became significant with prolonged storage. Contact of flesh with iron parts of the deboner resulted in a pronounced increase in TBA value of the flesh within the short span of time involved in the deboning process. Washing improved significantly product quality when the product was frozen for an extended period, but appeared to have no major advantage when stored under refrigeration and immediately processed. A marked rise in TBA value occurred during thawing with the effect being more pronounced with increased thawing time. The effect of thawing also became more pronounced with extended frozen storage. Ambient oxygen and microbial activity appear to have an insignificant role in lipid oxidation during storage. The lateral tissue (red muscle), tissue along the visceral cavity, and bone marrow exudate appeared to be the most susceptible to the development of oxidative rancidity. Rate of TBA value change was very rapid when these muscles had contact with iron surfaces.
Impact of Soil Moisture Aggregation on Surface Energy Flux Prediction During SGP'97

prediction of surface water and energy fluxes within the land surface component of a weather prediction model. Using data from the 1997 Southern Great Plains Hydrology Experiment (SGP’97), a conceptual link is presented between the impact of soil moisture aggregation on surface energy flux prediction and the spatial scaling properties of soil moisture fields. INDEX TERMS: 1833 Hydrology: Hydroclimatology, 1866 Hydrology: Soil moisture, 1878 Hydrology: Water/energy interactions
Analysis of faults in an N-version software experiment

The authors have conducted a large-scale experiment in N-version programming. A total of 27 versions of a program were prepared independently from the same specification at two universities. The results of executing the versions revealed that the versions were individually extremely reliable but that the number of input cases in which more than one failed was substantially more than would be expected if they were statistically independent. After the versions had been executed, the failures of each version were examined and the associated faults located. It appears that minor differences in the software development environment would not have a major impact in reducing the incidence of faults that cause correlated failures. >
Transfer of Hessian fly resistance from ‘Chaupon’ rye to hexaploid wheat via a 2BS/2RL wheat-rye chromosome translocation

Four wheat-rye lines derived from a cross between hexaploid wheat ‘ND 7532’ and ‘Chaupon’ rye were homogeneous for resistance to biotype L of the Hessian fly,Mayetiola destructor. Because the wheat parent was susceptible and the rye parent was resistant to larval feeding, resistance was derived from rye. Resistance of ‘Chaupon’ and the wheat-rye lines was expressed as larval antibiosis. First-instar larvae died after feeding on plants. Chromosomal analyses using C- and N-banding techniques were performed on plants of each line to identify genomes and structural changes of chromosomes. Results showed that two of the resistant lines were chromosome addition lines carrying either the complete rye chromosome,2R, or only the long arm of2R. The other two resistant lines were identified as being2BS/ 2RL wheat-rye translocation lines. It was concluded, therefore, that the long arm of rye chromosome2R carries a gene or gene complex that conditions antibiosis to Hessian fly larvae and, in the2BS/2RL translocation lines, this rye chromatin is cytologically stable and can be used directly in wheat breeding programs.
Text Mining for Systems Biology and MetNet

iv Chapter 1. Background: text mining of biological literature for interaction extraction 1 1.1 Review of interaction extraction methods 3 1.2 Existing problems 9 Chapter 2. Research method and result 11 2.1 Text empirics research overview 11 2.2 Advancing text empirics and its application for extracting biomolecular interactions from the literature 12 2.2.1 Previous work on sentence structure properties 12 2.2.2 Interaction terms and probability that an interaction is described 15 2.2.2.1 Interaction term properties for interaction extraction 15 3.2.2.2 Training corpus creation and analysis 19 2.2.3 Applying the results of section 2.2.2.2 to identify interactions between biomolecules and create interaction network 58 2.2.3.1 Methods for identifying interactions between two biomolecules 58 2.2.3.2 Interaction network creation 60 2.2.3.3 Assessment of the interaction network 63 2.2.3.4 Discussion of the interaction network result 68 2.2.4 Interaction-indicating terms extraction based on text empirics 71 2.2.4.1 Extraction method 73 2.2.4.2 Results and analysis 86 2.3 Conclusion and future research 95 2.3.1 Conclusion and discussion 95 2.3.2 Interactions involving several interaction-indicating terms 98 2.3.2 Hidden interaction extraction and integration into interaction networks 100 Appendix I Text empirics data sample Text empirics data sample table “ATP” & “Myosin” 104 Appendix II Results of proportion of different pairs in sentences, phrases, interaction indicating terms investigation 110
Opportunistic broadcast of event-driven warning messages in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks with lossy links

Multi-hop broadcast is a key technique to disseminate time-sensitive event-driven safety warning messages (WMs) in Vehicular Ad hoc Networks (VANETs). Due to the lossy nature of the vehicular wireless environment and the fact that the implementation of broadcast at the link layer uses unreliable transmissions (i.e., lack of positive ACKs), highly reliable, scalable, and fast multi-hop broadcast protocol is particularly difficult to design in VANETs with lossy links. Schemes that use redundant network layer broadcasts have been proposed. However, the tradeoff between reception reliability and transmission count in such schemes needs to be carefully considered. In this paper (The preliminary version of this paper appeared in [1], IEEE MASS 2009.,) we propose an opportunistic broadcast protocol (OppCast) that aims at simultaneously achieving high WM packet reception ratio (PRR) and fast multi-hop message propagation while minimizing the number of transmissions. A double-phase broadcast strategy is proposed to achieve fast message propagation in one phase and to ensure high PRR in the other. OppCast exploits opportunistic forwarding in each transmission to enhance the WM reception reliability and to reduce the hop delay, and to carry out reliable and efficient broadcast coordination, we propose the use of explicit broadcast acknowledgements (BACKs) which effectively reduces the number of redundant transmissions. OppCast is also extended to handle sparse and disconnected VANETs, where the protocol adaptively switches between fast opportunistic forwarding and the store-carry-and-forward paradigm. Extensive simulation results show that, compared with existing competing protocols, OppCast achieves close to 100% PRR and faster dissemination rate under a wide range of vehicular traffic densities, while using significantly smaller number of transmissions.
Emerging Therapies for Noninfectious Uveitis: What May Be Coming to the Clinics

Corticosteroids along with other immunomodulatory therapies remain as the mainstay of treatment tor all patients with noninfectious uveitis (NIU). However, the systemic side effects associated with the long-term use of these drugs has encouraged the development of new therapeutic agents in recent times. This review article discusses upcoming therapeutic agents and drug delivery systems that are currently being used to treat patients with NIU. These agents mediate their actions by blocking specific pathways involved in the inflammatory process. Agents discussed in this review include full or recombinant monoclonal antibodies against interleukins such as IL-17 (secukinumab), IL-l (gevokizumab), and IL-6 (tocilizumab and sarilumab), antibody fragments against inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α (ESBA 105) and T-cell inhibitors such as fusion proteins (abatacept), and next generation calcineurin inhibitors (voclosporin). In addition, administration of immune modulatory therapies using methods such as iontophoresis (EGP-437) and intravitreal injection (sirolimus) for the treatment of NIU' uveitis has also been discussed.
A right-sided aortic arch and aberrant left subclavian artery with proximal segment hypoplasia

The right-sided thoracic aortic arch is a rare congenital malformation occurring during embryologic development. A majority of the cases present with two anatomic variations, one of which is an aberrant left subclavian artery (LSA) originating off the distal descending aortic arch. This aberrant LSA courses across and compresses thoracic structures on its way to the left thoracic outlet. While this aberrant vessel causes mostly benign symptoms, patients may first present with rupture of a thoracic aneurysm. This thoracic aneurysm is commonly known as Kommerell's diverticulum. This paper presents a case of an aberrant LSA originating off Kommerell's diverticulum with a proximal long-segment hypoplasia, a very rare anatomic variation.
Is race a positive predictor of cancer on repeat prostate biopsy

Purpose: High grade intraepithelial neoplasia and atypical small acinar proliferation increase the probability of cancer on a subsequent prostate biopsy. We investigated whether race is prognostic for detecting cancer in patients undergoing repeat prostate biopsies.Materials and Methods: At a single institution 416 men underwent 2 or more prostate biopsies from January 1993 through June 2003 for a total of 1,023 biopsies. We retrospectively examined multiple factors, including patient age, race, total number of biopsy cores total number of previously negative biopsy cores, prostate specific antigen, prostate specific antigen slope, digital rectal examination and family history of prostate cancer. Previous high grade intraepithelial neoplasia, atypical small acinar proliferation and Gleason score in positive biopsies were recorded from the histopathology review. Clinical variables were compared between black and white men using the Wilcoxon rank sum and Fisher exact tests. The Cox proportional hazards mode...
Enzymes for liberation of pantothenic acid in blood: use of plasma pantetheinase.

Reported normal concentrations for human whole-blood total pantothenic acid vary from 1.1 to 12 mumol/L. This wide range may partly arise from the various enzymes used for liberation of pantothenic acid from coenzyme A, particularly the source of pantetheinase. A purified pantetheinase from pig kidney had greater than 100 times the specific activity and less than 0.01 times the pantothenate content of other commonly used extracts. Endogenous pantetheinase activity in human plasma was identified (11.2 +/- 2.0 mumol pantothenate .min-1.L-1, n = 29) and found comparable to the activity usually added from exogenous sources for liberation of pantothenate from whole blood (1-13 mumol.min-1.L-1). Alkaline phosphatase alone liberated as much pantothenate from hemolyzed whole blood as did alkaline phosphatase with pantetheinase. Previous reports of total blood pantothenate may be elevated by pantothenate in the pantetheinase extracts, an unnecessary source of error. Whole-blood total pantothenate concentrations less than 4.6 mumol/L are normal and do not indicate deficiency, as is often currently quoted.
Modulation of adenylate cyclase toxin production as Bordetella pertussis enters human macrophages.

Abstract During the course of human infection, Bordetella pertussis colonizes sequential niches in the respiratory tract that include intracellular and extracellular environments. In vitro the expression of virulence factors such as the adenylate cyclase toxin is coordinately regulated by the bvg locus, which is an example of a two-component sensory transduction system. With this toxin as a reporter, enzyme activities were compared between a wild-type and an altered strain to determine whether bacterial entry into human macrophages affected gene expression. BPRU140, a strain containing an inducible expression vector, produced enzyme activity independent of bvg. Samples of the parent, the induced, and the uninduced BPRU140 were incubated individually with macrophages for 30 min. Extracellular bacteria were then killed by gentamicin. The number of viable intracellular bacteria and the internalized bacterial enzyme activity were measured over time. By 2.5 hr all samples reached a steady-state concentration of 10(5) bacteria per 10(6) macrophages. Following an initial peak of enzyme activity, adenylate cyclase values for the parent and the uninduced BPRU140 decreased to a basal level, while the values for the induced strain remained at least 3-fold greater. Therefore, compared with the persistence of enzyme in the induced strain BPRU140, the decrease in enzyme production by the parent and the uninduced BPRU140 upon entry into macrophages indicates in vivo down-modulation of gene expression. These observations support the hypothesis that sensory transduction contributes to adaptations for bacterial survival in the infected host.
The Use of Contrast- enhanced Ultrasonography for Imaging of Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaques Current Evidence, Future Directions

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) is a rapidly evolving modality for imaging carotid artery disease and systemic atherosclerosis. CEUS coupled with diagnostic ultrasonography predicts the degree of carotid artery stenosis and is comparable with computed tomography and magnetic resonance angiography. This article reviews the literature on the evolving role of CEUS for the identification and characterization of carotid plaques with an emphasis on detection of intra-plaque neovascularization and related high-risk morphologic features notably present in symptomatic patients. CEUS carotid imaging may play a prominent additive role in risk stratifying patients and serve as a powerful tool for monitoring therapeutic interventions.
Delivering Justice Today: A Problem-Solving Approach

The Chief Judge of the State of New York explains how and why New York's state courts adopted a problem-solving approach to delivering justice in certain categories of cases. That approach aims to achieve more constructive interventions than conventional case resolutions, which often do not solve the underlying problem (such as drug addiction or domestic violence) that brings the same people back to court again and again. The examples of community courts, drug courts, and domestic violence courts illustrate how the problem-solving concept is applied in New York. The article also addresses two questions that have been raised about a problem-solving approach--its effectiveness and its fairness--and includes a discussion of studies that have been done to date, acknowledging the need for further evaluation and research. In conclusion, Judge Kaye explains why this approach may be worth pursuing and expanding.
Peter's ‘Hypocrisy’ and Paul's: Two ‘Hypocrites’ at the Foundation of Earliest Christianity?*

In an infamous passage in his Letter to the Galatians (2.11–14), Paul called out Peter as a ‘hypocrite’. This passage, especially when read in light of Paul's own appeal to himself as ‘all things to all people’ in 1 Cor 9.19–23, was to cause deep trouble for later Christian interpreters, who sought to defend their movement against charges from outsiders that it had a cracked and unstable foundation in dual ‘hypocrites’. This essay will introduce this ‘pagan’ critique and the cultural force it had, and the various solutions to the inherited dilemma from their scriptures that were offered by patristic authors (Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Jerome and Augustine). In light of this context, we turn to a sustained analysis of an untranslated homily by John Chrysostom, hom. in Gal 2.11 (In faciem ei restiti), which addresses not just the hypocrisy of Peter and Paul, but also the sticky problem of the hypocrisy of the Christian who reads this text approvingly as Paul's ‘in your face’ to Peter. Chrysostom does this by engaging in a convoluted pretence of his own.
Excess sucrose and glucose ingestion acutely elevate blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were fed 6 different diets. The baseline diet (I) derived equal calories from sucrose, proteins, and fats. Three other diets (II, III, VI) derived the majority of calories from refined CHO, sucrose or glucose, with decreases in calories from proteins or fats. The last two diets (IV, V) were relatively low in sucrose with a higher percentage of the total calories from proteins and fats, respectively. From 3 to 15 weeks on the diets, the highest average BP was in rats consuming high concentrations of sucrose or glucose (II, III, VI). Urinary excretory rates of norepinephrine (NE) at 5, 10 and 15 weeks and epinephrine at 5 and 10 weeks were significantly elevated in rats ingesting diets high in refined CHO, and NE positively correlated with blood pressure (BP) at 5 and 10 weeks of the study. At the end of the study, serum insulin levels were not different, but plasma renin and serum glucagon levels were lower in SHR consuming the diets with high CHO concentrations. We conclude that equally elevated BP are seen with relatively high intakes of either sucrose or glucose, whether the balance of calories is derived from lessening fat or protein. This is secondary, at least in part, to alterations in NE metabolism.
31 TOBACCO INTERVENTION IN DAVENPORT, WASHINGTON.

Purpose of Study Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, taking almost half a million lives each year. While rates of tobacco use in the literature are comparable between rural and urban communities, rural towns such as Davenport, Washington are significantly less targeted for tobacco intervention, in terms of both education and policy. The goal of this project was to educate health care providers about tobacco cessation strategies they might use with their patients. Methods Through a 1-hour workshop, local physicians were provided with the latest findings and information regarding the effects of tobacco use on individual and community levels. In addition, innovative methods were provided that could be used to educate and support patients in terminating tobacco use. Along with the workshop, the Davenport clinic was supplied with anti-tobacco posters, health-provider reference cards comparing various forms of nicotine-replacement therapy, and “tar jars” to use as props when talking to patients about the harmful effects of tobacco. Results In total, four primary care providers, the Lincoln Hospital administrator, and a representative from the Davenport Health Office attended the workshop. There appeared to be enthusiasm for the information presented, and eagerness to make changes in both hospital policy and in the physician-patient dialogue during a clinic appointment in order to decrease tobacco use in Davenport. Conclusion Due to decreased access to local continuing education, rural health care agencies and personnel—clinics, hospitals, physicians, and nurses—are left with a larger role in tobacco use prevention and intervention. This project provided support to health care providers for their responsibility to promote tobacco cessation.
Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships and Molecular Orbitals in Medicinal Chemistry

Seeking to attain the ultimate goal of rational drug design and to aid in the postulation of drug-action mechani sms at the molecular level , investigators have emp loyed two distinctly different techniques of particular interest to us. in the first techni que, statistical methods have been applied to the corre lati on of biological activity data with either the arbitrary parameters of the mathematical mode ls such as that reported by Free and Wilson [1] or linear free-energy-re lated physi cochemical properties ascribed to portions of the molecule, such as the wide lyapplied model of Hansch [2,3,4]. Although gradual changes in chemical structure and correspond ing changes in biological activity have intrigued sci ent ists for about 100 years [5], signifi cant progress in quantitative correlation techniques has developed only in the past fifteen years or so [6,7,8].
Effect of new and reused CIDRs on serum progesterone concentrations in lactating dairy cows

Despite the common practice of re-using a popular intravaginal progesterone releasing device by United States cattle producers, there is little published scientific evidence whether this practice is effective as an aid in synchronizing oestrus. The study was conducted to determine the effect of new and reused CIDRs containing 1.38 g progesterone on the serum progesterone concentrations in cows that received the same CIDR twice in succession. 40 cows were divided into three treatments as T1 (n=18), T2 (n=15) and T3 (n=7). Prior to the start of each trial, 5.0 ml dinoprost was injected to each cow, then serum samples were collected for progesterone measurement on the same day. Results revealed that 37 samples had serum progesterone concentrations of >1.1 ng/ml and the average serum progesterone concentrations of T1, T2 and T3 were 2.7243, 4.0973 and 2.7027, respectively. It was observed that the mean serum progesterone concentrations on days 2 and 3, days 5 and 6 and days 8 and 9 were significantly different and varied between trials. Serum progesterone concentrations associated with used CIDRs were statistically similar to baseline progesterone concentrations obtained from cows before new CIDR insertion. It is suggested that there is either significant loss of progesterone in the CIDR insert after one use or decrease absorption of progesterone available from the used CIDRs, and the reuse of 1.38 g CIDRs to aid in synchronization of oestrus in lactating dairy cattle is not recommended.
Breaking the Correlation between Energy Costs and Kinetic Barriers in Hydrogen Evolution via a Cobalt Pyridine-Diimine-Dioxime Catalyst

A central challenge in the development of inorganic hydrogen evolution catalysts is to avoid deleterious coupling between the energetics of metal site reduction and the kinetics of metal hydride formation. In this work, we combine theoretical and experimental methods to investigate cobalt diimine-dioxime catalysts that show promise for achieving this aim by introducing an intramolecular proton shuttle via a pyridyl pendant group. Using over 200 coupled-cluster-level electronic structure calculations of the Co-based catalyst with a variety of pyridyl substituents, the energetic and kinetic barriers to hydrogen formation are investigated, revealing nearly complete decoupling of the energetics of Co reduction and the kinetics of intramolecular Co hydride formation. These calculations employ recently developed quantum embedding methods that allow for local regions of a molecule to be described using high-accuracy wavefunction methods (such as CCSD(T)), thus overcoming significant errors in the DFT-level descr...
Percutaneous extrapedicular vertebroplasty with expandable intravertebral implant in compression vertebral body fracture in pediatric patient-technical note.

Purpose The aim of the article is to present the new extrapedicular percutaneous technique for posttraumatic vertebral column fracture.
Child Maltreatment and Risky Sexual Behavior: Indirect Effects Through Trauma Symptoms and Substance Use

Risky sexual behavior is a serious public health problem. Child sexual abuse is an established risk factor, but other forms of maltreatment appear to elevate risky behavior. The mechanisms by which child maltreatment influence risk are not well understood. This study used data from 859 high-risk youth, followed through age 18. Official reports of each form of maltreatment were coded. At age 16, potential mediators (trauma symptoms and substance use) were assessed. At age 18, risky sexual behavior (more than four partners, unprotected sex, unassertiveness in sexual refusal) was assessed. Neglect significantly predicted unprotected sex. Substance use predicted unprotected sex and four or more partners but did not mediate the effects of maltreatment. Trauma symptoms predicted unprotected sex and mediated effects of emotional maltreatment on unprotected sex and on assertiveness in sexual refusal and the effects of sexual abuse on unprotected sex. Both neglect and emotional maltreatment emerged as important factors in risky sexual behavior. Trauma symptoms appear to be an important pathway by which maltreatment confers risk for risky sexual behavior. Interventions to reduce risky sexual behavior should include assessment and treatment for trauma symptoms and for history of child maltreatment in all its forms.
Identification of methylation haplotype blocks aids in deconvolution of heterogeneous tissue samples and tumor tissue-of-origin mapping from plasma DNA

Adjacent CpG sites in mammalian genomes can be co-methylated owing to the processivity of methyltransferases or demethylases, yet discordant methylation patterns have also been observed, which are related to stochastic or uncoordinated molecular processes. We focused on a systematic search and investigation of regions in the full human genome that show highly coordinated methylation. We defined 147,888 blocks of tightly coupled CpG sites, called methylation haplotype blocks, after analysis of 61 whole-genome bisulfite sequencing data sets and validation with 101 reduced-representation bisulfite sequencing data sets and 637 methylation array data sets. Using a metric called methylation haplotype load, we performed tissue-specific methylation analysis at the block level. Subsets of informative blocks were further identified for deconvolution of heterogeneous samples. Finally, using methylation haplotypes we demonstrated quantitative estimation of tumor load and tissue-of-origin mapping in the circulating cell-free DNA of 59 patients with lung or colorectal cancer.
Expediting TSA Exits to Enable Strategic Transformation

Transition services agreements or TSAs are seen as paths to post-divestiture business continuity. They can support the smooth separation of two independent entities. However, TSAs may also have a downside. They can lock up assets and contribute to stranded cost. With growing pressure on IT departments to reduce stranded costs, some chief information officers (CIOs) are exiting TSAs to preempt their negative operational and financial impacts. Despite their utility in ensuring business continuity, TSAs are binding agreements that prevent both the third-party vendor and the contracting entity from making changes to IT applications and infrastructure covered under the agreements.