cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Compressible Turbulence and Shock Waves

If the velocity scale associated with the turbulent fluctuations is a substantial fraction of the mean speed of sound, compressibility effects are expected to arise. This direct effect of compressibility, which is also the most well documented, appears to be responsible for the reduced spreading rate of turbulent mixing layers under compressible conditions, and the slower decay of hypersonic wakes. A different circumstance where the compressibility effects can become significant occurs when an otherwise quasi-incompressible turbulent flow is subjected to a rapidly changing environment. For example a turbulent flow passing through a shock wave or a steep expansion wave may suddenly enter in a state of disequilibrium. The sudden change may also generate significant fluctuations of acoustic and entropy modes. Thus the recovery of the turbulence from this disequilibrium may also exhibit compressibility effects. Other phenomena where the global behavior of the flow is strongly affected by compressibility include shock induced separations of a turbulent flow, phenomena involving the Ranque-Hilsh effect and other effects requiring chemical or thermodynamic nonequilibrium. The problem of shock wave boundary layer interaction in a hypersonic free-stream involves all of the above processes.
Design of a 2-Bit Sigma-Delta Modulator for Scintillation Waveform Capture

Sigma-delta modulation is a common technique used in analog-to-digital conversion. It has been shown that it can be implemented in a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) using minimal external analog components. Zhao et al. demonstrated that energy of scintillation pulses can be computed by adding up all the elements on the output from a conventional 1-bit sigmadelta modulator. However, for parameters selected for a suitable resolution and dynamic range, the system passes through a period of saturation. During saturation, information about the shape of the pulse is lost even though the integrated energy remains preserved. We present the design of a 2-bit version of the sigmadelta modulator that makes use of a nonlinear adaptive digital-toanalog converter (DAC) that keeps the system unsaturated. Each output bit is scaled by one of the four possible values the DAC can take, resulting in a 2-bit modulation. We have demonstrated that the 2-bit modulation retains information about the pulse shape.
Re-Imagining Law School Clinics: Leveraging Resources to Do More, for More, Under a Hybrid Model

As law schools determine how to comply with ABA Standards 303(a) and (b), this article describes a way to provide an outstanding in-house clinical experience to all of a law school’s students, including their part-time evening students, through a hybrid clinic model. The model is structured to combine the best features of simulation courses, field placements, and in-house clinics, and operate like a mini-law firm and think tank. Through this hybrid clinic model, the scope and quality of student training is enhanced, the legal assistance to clients is improved, and wider access to justice for low income individuals and other vulnerable communities can be achieved. Through leveraging resources, this clinic model can also enable law schools to pay their full-time clinical faculty on a par with doctrinal faculty and still operate the clinic at “revenue neutral” or even a slight surplus. The hybrid clinic model explained in this article was developed by the first author and inspired by Richard Susskind’s re-thinking of how law firms and the way they deliver legal services can be structured to provide “better, faster, cheaper” legal services. Susskind’s ideas have contributed to the current “disruption” to how law firms provide legal services and it is hoped that this article will stimulate a similar positive “disruption” (re-conception) of how law schools can provide experiential training to each of their students.
Framing Effect and Loss Aversion

Claire was a 57-year-old woman who presented with the acute onset of right-sided weakness and word-finding difficulties. She arrived to the ER within 60 min and a head CT was normal. She was diagnosed with an acute, ischemic stroke. The doctor, Dr. Jones, was prepared to treat her with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). It helps break down blood clots, and had been approved several months prior for the treatment of acute strokes. However, Dr. Jones was dissuaded from doing so when the nurse told her, “don’t you know that six percent of patients who get that medicine bleed in their brains?”
Progression of frailty in young adult survivors of childhood cancer: St. Jude Lifetime Cohort.

10057Background: Childhood cancer survivors are at risk for premature aging; over 8% (ages18-60 years) meet Fried Frailty Criteria (≥3 of low lean muscle mass, muscle weakness, slow walking speed, ...
Sonoporation as an Approach for siRNA delivery into T cells

Delivery of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) into primary T cells is quite challenging because they are non-proliferating cells and are difficult to transfect with non-viral approaches. Because sonoporation is independent of the proliferation status of cells and siRNA acts in the cell cytoplasm, we investigated whether sonoporation could be used to deliver siRNA into mouse and human T cells. Cells mixed with Definity microbubbles and siRNA were sonicated with a non-focused transducer of center frequency 2.20 MHz producing ultrasound at a 10% duty cycle, pulse repetition frequency of 2.20 kHz and spatial average temporal average ultrasound intensity of 1.29 W/cm2 for 5 s and then examined for siRNA fluorescence by flow cytometry analysis. These sonoporation conditions resulted in high-efficiency transfection of siRNA in mouse and human T cells. Further, the efficacy of siRNA delivery by sonoporation was illustrated by the successful visualization of decreased methylation-controlled J protein expression in mouse and human CD8 T cells via Western blot analysis. The results provide the first evidence that sonoporation is a novel approach to delivery of siRNA into fresh isolated mouse and human T cells in vitro, and might be used for in vivo studies in the future.
Investigation of Thermoresponsive Microgel Polymer Swelling Theory

This review details the challenges with the canonical polymer swelling theory in its ability to accurately estimate realistic polymer swelling behavior. It is important to quantify this behavior si...
Microglia Dynamics and Interactions with Motoneurons Axotomized After Nerve Injuries Revealed By Two-Photon Imaging

The significance of activated microglia around motoneurons axotomized after nerve injuries has been intensely debated. In particular, whether microglia become phagocytic is controversial. To resolve these issues we directly observed microglia behaviors with two-photon microscopy in ex vivo spinal cord slices from CX3CR1-GFP mice complemented with confocal analyses of CD68 protein. Axotomized motoneurons were retrogradely-labeled from muscle before nerve injuries. Microglia behaviors close to axotomized motoneurons greatly differ from those within uninjured motor pools. They develop a phagocytic phenotype as early as 3 days after injury, characterized by frequent phagocytic cups, high phagosome content and CD68 upregulation. Interactions between microglia and motoneurons changed with time after axotomy. Microglia first extend processes that end in phagocytic cups at the motoneuron surface, then they closely attach to the motoneuron while extending filopodia over the cell body. Confocal 3D analyses revealed increased microglia coverage of the motoneuron cell body surface with time after injury and the presence of CD68 granules in microglia surfaces opposed to motoneurons. Some microglia formed macroclusters associated with dying motoneurons. Microglia in these clusters display the highest CD68 expression and associate with cytotoxic T-cells. These observations are discussed in relation to current theories on microglia function around axotomized motoneurons.
Evolving insights into the genomic complexity and immune landscape of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: opportunities for novel biomarkers

Recently, comprehensive genomic analyses have allowed a better molecular characterization of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), offering novel opportunities in patient risk stratification and management. In the era of precision medicine, this has allowed us to move closer toward a more promising therapeutic outcome in the setting of DLBCL. In this review, we highlight the newly reported heterogeneous mutational landscapes of DLBCL (from two whole-exome sequencing studies, and from a more recent work targeting a 293-gene of a hematologic malignancy-designed panel. Altogether, these studies provide further evidence of the clinical applicability of genomic tests. We also briefly review established biomarkers in DLBCL (e.g., MYC and TP53), and our understanding of the germinal center cell reaction, including its epigenetic regulation, emphasizing some of the key epigenetic modifiers that play a role in lymphomagenesis, with available therapeutic targets. In addition, we present current data regarding the role of immune landscapes in DLBCL (inflamed versus non-inflamed), how the recently defined molecular DLBCL subtypes may affect the cellular composition of the tumor microenvironment and the function of the immune cells, and how this new knowledge may result in promising therapeutic approaches in the near future.
Elucidation of resistance signaling and identification of powdery mildew resistant mapping loci (ClaPMR2) during watermelon-Podosphaera xanthii interaction using RNA-Seq and whole-genome resequencing approach.

Watermelon is an important vegetable crop and is widely cultivated in USA with an approximate global production of > 100 million tons. Powdery mildew (PM) caused by Podosphaera xanthii is a major production-limiting factor on watermelon and other cucurbits. Numerous PM and multiple disease resistant (MDR) watermelon germplasm lines have been developed by the USDA in Charleston, SC. To gain a better understanding of the innate and activated molecular defense mechanisms involved during compatible and incompatible PM-watermelon interactions, we inoculated PM susceptible (USVL677-PMS) and resistant (USVL531-MDR) watermelon plants with 105 conidia ml−1 of P. xanthii. RNA-seq profiling was done on leaf samples collected at 0, 1, 3, and 8 days post inoculation (DPI). A total of 2,566 unique differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between compatible and incompatible interactions with P. xanthii. The compatible interactions resulted in distinct plant gene activation (> twofold unique transcripts, 335:191:1762 :: 1:3:8 DPI) as compared to incompatible interaction (> twofold unique transcripts, 314:681:487 :: 1:3:8 DPI). Further, comparative whole-genome resequencing analysis of USVL531-PMR, USVL677-PMS and four introgressed PM resistant recombinant inbred lines (RIL, USVL531-PMR × USVL677-PMS) were performed to identify the region of PM resistance introgressed break points along with other traits inherent by USVL531-PMR by comparing the SNPs and InDels. Based on SNPs identification and CAPS markers, the resistance gene was identified as ClaPMR2, Citrullus lanatus PM Resistance gene 2 {Chr2 : 26750001 .. 26753327 (−)}, a NBS-LRR resistance protein (R) with homology to the Arabidopsis thaliana PM resistance protein, RPW8. The transcriptome data also revealed a complex regulatory network associated with the introgressed junctions mediated by PM resistance R proteins (R genes) that may involve multiple signal regulators and transducers, carbohydrate metabolism, cell wall modifications and the hormone-signaling pathway.
Influence of Caretakers' Health Literacy on Delays to Traumatic Brain Injury Care in Uganda.

Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a life-altering condition, and delays to care can significantly impact outcomes. In Uganda, where nurse shortages are prevalent, patients' family members are the primary caretakers of these patients and play an important role in ensuring patients' access to timely care. However, caretakers often have little or no knowledge of appropriate patient care. Caretakers' ability to navigate the healthcare system and find and use health information to support their patients can impact delays in seeking, reaching, and receiving care. Objectives This study seeks to determine the factors that impact TBI patient caretakers' health literacy and examine how these factors influence delays in care. Methods This study was carried out in the Mulago National Referral Hospital neurosurgical ward, where 27 adult caretakers were interviewed using semi-structured, in-depth, qualitative interviews. "The Three Delay Framework" was utilized to understand participants' experiences in seeking, reaching, and receiving care for TBI patients. Thematic content analysis and manual coding was used to analyze interview transcripts and identify overarching themes in participant responses. Findings The main health literacy themes identified were Extrinsic, Intrinsic and Health System Factors. Nine sub-themes were identified: Government Support, Community Support, Financial Burdens, Lack of Medical Resources, Access to Health Information, Physician Support, Emotional Challenges, Navigational Skills, and Understanding of Health Information. These components were found to influence the delays to care to varying degrees. Financial Burdens, Government Support, Emotional Challenges, Physician Support and Lack of Medical Resources were recurring factors across the three delays. Conclusion The health literacy factors identified in this study influence caretakers' functional health literacy and delays to care in a co-dependent manner. A better understanding of how these factors impact patient outcomes is necessary for the development of interventions targeted at improving a caretaker's ability to maneuver the healthcare system and support patients in resource-poor settings.
Widening volume and persistent outcome disparity in valve operations: New York statewide analysis, 2005-2016.

OBJECTIVES Volume concentration of complex noncardiac operations to high-volume centers has been observed, but whether this is also occurring in cardiac surgery is unknown. We examined the relationship between volume concentration and mortality rates for valve surgery and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) between 2005 and 2016 in New York State. METHODS We analyzed publicly available, hospital-level case volume and risk-adjusted mortality rates (RAMRs) from 2005 to 2016 for isolated CABG and isolated or concomitant valve operations performed in New York. We identified hospitals in the top- and bottom-volume quartiles for each procedure type and compared changes in percent market share and outcomes. Bivariate and univariate longitudinal analysis was used to evaluate the statistical significance of the temporal trend. RESULTS Among 36 centers, percent market share of the top-volume quartile increased for valve cases from 54.4% to 59.4%, whereas CABG share increased from 41.4% to 44.3%. No significant changes were noted in market share for the bottom quartile. The top-volume quartile demonstrated significant trends in improving outcomes over the study period for both valve procedures (RAMR: -0.261%/year, P < .001) and CABG (RAMR: -0.071%/year, P = .018). No significant trends were noted in the bottom quartile for either procedure. CONCLUSIONS In New York, over the last decade, highest-volume hospitals increased their market share for valve operations while maintaining lower mortality rates than lowest-volume hospitals. Valve volume is regionalizing in the setting of a persistent outcome gap between the highest- and lowest-volume hospitals, suggesting that volume-based referrals for specialized cardiac procedures may improve surgical mortality.
Multi-resolution deep network ensembles for cervical intervertebral disc segmentation are biased by trainer

The diagnosis of cervical spinal canal stenosis currently relies on radiological reports, based largely on subjective interpretation of magnetic resonance images (MRIs). This leads to a high degree of variation in diagnosis and treatment of pathology in the cervical spine. Despite the capabilities of MRI to provide high contrast and high spatial resolution 3D images, the prevalence of inconsistent diagnosis has presented a challenge for delivering necessary care. Recently, deep learning (DL) based segmentation algorithms have demonstrated great potential for automating the measurement and segmentation of cervical spine anatomy. We show the results of a Deep-U-Net ensemble based automated pipeline to detect and segment intervertebral discs at the C1-C7 level in sagittal spine MRIs. Training was done using scans from (n = 50) individuals wherein discs were segmented by a trained human rater (R1). Validation was performed on (n = 50) scans by comparing automated segmentations to those performed by two human raters (R1 and R2). We show that the average Dice similarity coefficient was 0.79 when comparing algorithm to R1, 0.76 when comparing algorithm to R2, and 0.78 when comparing R1 to R2. Further, segmentations by R1, R2 and algorithm differed (ANOVA with p ≤.0002), and the median Dice score comparing algorithm to R1 was greater than that comparing algorithm to R2, indicating bias toward R1. Thus, our preliminary demonstration highlights the potential of using deep learning techniques to create reliable, quantitative biomarkers to diagnose and measure cervical spine pathology. Our work additionally cautions us to the challenges posed by rater-specific bias induced by the training process in deep learning segmentation algorithms.
Massage for Combat Injuries in Veteran with Undisclosed PTSD: a Retrospective Case Report.

Introduction: Massage has shown promise in reducing symptoms related to dissociation and anxiety that can exacerbate chronic pain and suffering. The combat wounded, veteran population is increasing and requires a multidisciplinary approach for comprehensive treatment. This case study examines massage therapy use to improve veteran combat injury rehabilitation and recovery experience through purposive, retrospective, and comprehensive SOAP note review. Methods: A 31-year-old White male received seven, 60-min, full body massages for combat related shoulder injury complications incurred approximately six years before presentation. The right shoulder sustained a broken humeral head and complete dislocation during a defensive maneuver in a life-threatening attack. This case study utilized data from three different assessments: goniometric measurements for shoulder range of motion, observation and documentation for environmental comfort behaviors, and client self-report for treatment goal attainment. Six weekly, full body, 60-min massages were completed sequentially. A follow-up 60-min treatment was completed at Week 8. Treatment to the injured area included focused trigger point therapy, myofascial release, and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation to the neck, shoulder, and chest. Results: Total percent change for active flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal rotation, and external rotation were 12.5, 150, 40, 167, 14.3, and 0%, respectively. Total percent change for passive flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal rotation, and external rotation were 63.6, 350, 66.7, 450, 133, and 77.8%, respectively. Environmental comfort behaviors were reduced. Client treatment goals were attained. Conclusions: Massage therapy provided meaningful benefit to a combat injury for a veteran with PTSD.
Outcomes of anti-PD-(L1) therapy in combination with chemotherapy versus immunotherapy (IO) alone for first-line (1L) treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with PD-L1 score 1-49%: FDA pooled analysis.

9001Background: IO + chemotherapy ± anti-angiogenics comprise FDA-approved 1L regimens for metastatic NSCLC, with IO-only therapy approved only for PD-L1-positive NSCLC. Patients with PD-L1 scores ...
Strategic Surrogates or Sad Sinners: U.S. Taxation of Bartering in Digital Services

The COVID-19 pandemic caused both a surge in technology use and a deterioration in government finances. At the same time, big tech companies are under scrutiny by lawmakers for tax avoidance, antitrust issues, and other concerns. These realities call for governments to reassess tax policy towards tech companies and for tech companies to reassess legal strategy towards taxes. State and federal governments’ tax bases are eroding because of the non-cash, barter nature of modern transactions. When a taxpayer uses “free” digital services like email, social media, or search engines, she pays via access to her personal data or attention. From a legal and policy standpoint, these barter transactions should be taxed just as if cash had changed hands, but because it is not practicable to identify, value, and tax the data and time of each user, they have escaped taxation, giving many tech companies an unintended tax advantage. To address this unfairness, this article proposes a surrogate tax, where the tech company acts as a proxy to pay the tax that is technically the liability of its users. In contrast to Digital Services Taxes (DSTs), which have been the main focus of policymakers and the extant literature, surrogate taxes adhere closely to standards of good tax policy, providing an administrable means of capturing untaxed digital barter while advancing fairness across the industry’s business models. From a legal strategy standpoint, this article argues that tech companies themselves should support surrogate taxes, to avoid facing more onerous, “sin”-like taxes, such as DSTs.
Molecular Imaging of Protein–Protein Interactions and Protein Folding

Abstract In the last 2 decades, there has been significant interest in the field of reporter gene imaging, with the aim of determining the location(s), duration, and extent of gene expression within living subjects. An important application of this is in molecular imaging of interacting protein partners and protein conformational changes, an area that could pave the way to functional proteomics in living animals and provide a tool for whole-body evaluation of new pharmaceuticals targeted to modulate protein–protein interactions and protein misfolding. We review the three general methods currently available for imaging protein–protein interactions in living subjects using reporter genes, namely a modified mammalian two-hybrid system, a bioluminescence resonance energy transfer system, and split reporter protein complementation and reconstitution strategies.
Trends in Waste Production at a Community Hospital during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction As of September 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to 42,500,000 cases and 680,000 deaths in the United States. In Rhode Island, there have been 170,000 cases and 2,820 deaths. Investigating resource utilization and waste production during disease outbreaks can inform efforts at disaster preparedness. The purpose of this study was to examine trends in waste production during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This is a descriptive study examining trends in waste production during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was conducted at a suburban community hospital in Rhode Island. Data was collected on regulated medical waste (RMW) and linen use from October 2019-July 2021. Adjusted patient days (APD) values were calculated using hospital census and revenue data. Total weight and weight/APD were calculated for each month of the study period. Data was then compared with overall COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Rhode Island. This data was gathered from the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) COVID Response Data Hub. Results Regulated Medical Waste (RMW) by total weight was lowest in April 2020, when the hospital census and adjusted patient days (APD) were at their lowest. In contrast, linen use remained largely consistent with pre-pandemic levels during the initial months of the pandemic despite a decrease in hospital census. The highest linen weight/APD value (23.32 lbs/APD) was in April 2020. Both RMW and linen use (weight/APD) decreased during the study period. Linen use was highest during months with increased COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Conclusions This study examined trends in waste production at a community hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. Linen use was highest during months of increased COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, while RMW production decreased. There was a particular increase in linen use in April 2020, when the pandemic was in its initial phases.
“Lighting Up” NMR and MRI in Colloidal and Interfacial Systems

By means of optical pumping with laser light, the nuclear spin polarization of gaseous xenon can be enhanced by many orders of magnitude. The enhanced polarization has allowed an extension of the pioneering experiments of Fraissard and coworkers to novel applications of NMR and MRI in chemistry, materials science and biomedicine. Examples are presented of developments and applications of laser-polarized xenon NMR and MRI on distance scales from nanometers to meters. The size of the xenon atom is similar to that of small organic molecules, such as methane, yet the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal from xenon proves a more sensitive probe for the local environment. Laser-polarized xenon NMR has been used, in collaboration with Sozzani and coworkers, to investigate the interactions present in an effectively one- dimensional gas phase inside nanochannels. Small changes in channel size and/or structure lead to very different modes of diffusion. Optically pumped Xe NMR can distinguish between these different diffusion modes out to unparalleled time scales (several tens of seconds). These studies are particularly useful for gaining a fundamental understanding of the laws that govern heterogenous mass transport such as gas transport into porous catalysts or molecular sieves, or liquid transport through pore-forming transmembrane proteins in biological systems. The understanding of mass transport inside microporous materials is crucial for many industrial and commercial processes. Recent experiments will also be described in which xenon has been used to investigate the cavities of biological nanosystems and in which polarization has been transferred to molecules on surfaces and in solution. As an example, in collaboration with Wemmer and coworkers, xenon has been used as a molecular probe to investigate the hydrophobic surfaces and interiors of macrocyclic molecules and proteins; recent results show evidence for binding of xenon to the outside of a protein, a proposed cause of the anesthetic mechanism of xenon. Indeed, localized injection of polarized xenon solutions into human blood has provided observations of the real-time process of xenon penetrating red blood cells. The injection technique also makes it possible to provide enhanced magnetic resonance images of localized areas in living organisms. Furthermore, the use of laser-polarized xenon also opens an exciting new frontier in the possibility of “functionalized xenon” as a biosensor of analytes and metabolites in chemistry, materials science and biomedicine. The novel biosensor offers advantages of multiplexing capabilities and the possibility of detection in-vivo.
Human myocardial ATP content and in vivo contractile function

The study was designed to characterize the relationship between the metabolite content of human cardiac muscle and in vivo cardiac function. ATP, total adenine nucleotides, and NAD were quantified in human myocardial biopsies using high performance liquid chromatography. Right ventricular endomyocardial biopsies were obtained from 43 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, 6 with restrictive cardiomyopathy, 10 with normal systolic and diastolic function, and from 24 cold preserved human donor hearts. Transmural samples of failing right and left ventricular free walls were obtained during cardiac transplantation surgery in 8 patients. ATP, total adenine nucleotides, and NAD were similar in the cold-preserved donor hearts and in right ventricular endomyocardial biopsies from the 10 individuals with normal systolic and diastolic function. In contrast, these values were significantly depressed in tissue samples from patients with dilated or restrictive cardiomyopathy. There was a significant correlation between ATP and pulmonary capillary wedge pressures but not ejection fractions. Declines in the sizes of myocardial ATP, adenine nucleotide, and pyridine nucleotide pools in the human myocardium are associated primarily with diastolic but not systolic dysfunction. (Mol Cell Biochem 180: 171–177, 1998)
Influences of Ambiguity of Constitutional Provisions on the Administrative System of Iraq

When the organizers of the University of Pennsylvania’s Conference on the Rule of Law in Iraq and Afghanistan asked me to present on one of the most important challenges facing Iraq during the coming decade, I chose to examine the ambiguity of the provisions of Iraq’s Constitution that relate to Iraq’s administrative system. The ambiguity in these provisions is one of the most complicated problems facing Iraq, and it is rooted in the fervent discussions between new Iraqi politicians and leaders about the shape that the Republic of Iraq should adopt: the simple or the federal shape. Although the Iraqi Constitution has adopted a binary system with a federal authority when it comes to the relations with the Kurdistan region, and a decentralized administration when it comes to the relation between the central government and the governorates that are not incorporated into a region, the Constitution’s unclear provisions have caused several types of conflicts in different fields. In this present brief, I will focus on two examples to prove the influence of the ambiguous provisions on the administrative system of Iraq.
Process‐based approach to CO2 leakage detection by vadose zone gas monitoring at geologic CO2 storage sites

A critical issue for geologic carbon sequestration is the ability to detect CO2 in the vadose zone. Here we present a new process-based approach to identify CO2 that has leaked from deep geologic storage reservoirs into the shallow subsurface. Whereas current CO2concentration-based methods require years of background measurements to quantify variability of natural vadose zone CO2, this new approach examines chemical relationships between vadose zone N2, O2, CO2, and CH4 to promptly distinguish a leakage signal from natural vadose zone CO2. The method uses sequential inspection of the following gas concentration relationships: 1) O2 versus CO2to distinguish in-situ vadose zone background processes (biologic respiration, methane oxidation, and CO2 dissolution) from exogenous deep leakage input, 2) CO2 versus N2 to further distinguish dissolution of CO2 from exogenous deep leakage input, and 3) CO2 versus N2/O2 to assess the degree of respiration, CH4 oxidation and atmospheric mixing/dilution occurring in the system. The approach was developed at a natural CO2-rich control site and successfully applied at an engineered site where deep gases migrated into the vadose zone. The ability to identify gas leakage into the vadose zone without the need for background measurements could decrease uncertainty in leakage detection and expedite implementation of future geologic CO2 storage projects.
Women Don't Run? Election Aversion and Candidate Entry

To study gender differences in candidate emergence, we conduct a laboratory experiment in which we control the incentives potential candidates face, manipulate features of the electoral environment, and measure beliefs and preferences. We find that men and women are equally likely to volunteer when the representative is chosen randomly, but that women are less likely to become candidates when the representative is chosen by an election. This difference does not arise from disparities in abilities, risk aversion, or beliefs, but rather from the specific competitive and strategic context of campaigns and elections. Thus, we find evidence that women are election averse, whereas men are not. Election aversion persists with variations in the electoral environment, disappearing only when campaigns are both costless and completely truthful
Special Education Teachers’ Perceptions and Instructional Practices in Response to Intervention Implementation:

This study reports on the perceptions and instructional practices of Grades 3 through 5 special education teachers in a school district that implemented a multitiered response to intervention (RTI)...
A Tale Meant to Inform, Not to Amuse

Oryx and Crake A Novel. by Margaret Atwood. Nan A. Talese (Doubleday), New York, 2003. 393 pp. $26. ISBN 0-385-50385-7. Set in an indeterminate future devastated by a virulent plague, Atwood9s most recent novel presents a dystopia that arose through unintended consequences of bioengineering, cloning, and agricultural hybridization.
La ciencia política en Guatemala: el reto de la consolidación como disciplina independiente

La ciencia politica surgio en Guatemala a finales de los anos 60 y durante mas de una decada, tuvo que desarrollarse con las limitaciones impuestas por los regimenes autoritarios de turno. No obstante, desde su surgimiento las escuelas de ciencia politica promovieron activamente la democratizacion del pais. Al iniciarse el proceso democratizador a mediados de los 80, se abrio el espectro de los temas de estudio e investigacion. Algo similar ocurrio con el proceso de paz en los anos 90. A lo largo de tres decadas la disciplina ha contribuido en forma importante a la construccion de la democracia y la paz en Guatemala. Como disciplina, sin embargo, se ha visto limitada por los fuertes vinculos que ha mantenido con otras ciencias sociales y con el derecho. Durante 35 anos los centros academicos que dan formacion en ciencia politica han enfrentado disyuntivas en cuanto al tipo de programas que deben ofrecerse a los estudiantes (grados tecnicos, licenciatura o maestria), el perfil de los profesionales que egresan de los mismos vis–a–vis el mercado laboral y el enfasis en el estudio de la problematica guatemalteca vis–a–vis una perspectiva mas global.
Solution of mixed boundary value problems with local error bound by the finite element method

Abstract A method of analysis using finite element techniques is presented for second order, mixed boundary value problems in the plane. The technique focuses computational effort on specific points in the domain and provides absolute solution error bounds at those points by applying the hypercircle method. Solution error of less than 0.0003% and solution error bounds of ± 0.012% are obtained in sample problems. The solution accuracy is notably superior to what is obtained in the traditional finite element method with equivalent discretization. Two problems are presented to illustrate both the strengths and weaknesses of the method.
Assessment of repeated application of poultry litter on phosphorus and nitrogen dynamics in loblolly pine: implications for water quality.

Abstract The Southeastern United States has a robust broiler industry that generates substantial quantities of poultry litter as waste. It has historically been applied to pastures close to poultry production facilities, but pollution of watersheds with litter-derived phosphorus and to a lesser extent nitrogen have led to voluntary and in some areas regulatory restrictions on application rates to pastures. Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) forests are often located in close proximity to broiler production facilities, and these forests often benefit from improved nutrition. Accordingly, loblolly pine forests may serve as alternative land for litter application. However, information on the influence of repeated litter applications on loblolly pine forest N and P dynamics is lacking. Results from three individual ongoing studies were summarized to understand the effects of repeated litter applications, litter application rates, and land use types (loblolly pine forest and pasture) on N and P dynamics in soil and soil water. Each individual study was established at one of three locations in the Western Gulf Coastal Plain region. Annual applications of poultry litter increased soil test P accumulation of surface soils in all three studies, and the magnitude of increase was positively and linearly correlated with application rates and frequencies. In one study that was established at a site with relatively high soil test P concentrations prior to poultry litter application, five annual litter applications of 5 Mg ha−1 and 20 Mg ha−1 also increased soil test P accumulation in subsurface soils to a depth of up to 45 cm. Soil test P accumulations were greater in surface soils of loblolly pine stands than in pastures when both land use types received similar rates of litter application. In one study which monitored N dynamics, lower soil organic N, potential net N mineralization, potential net nitrification, and soil water N was found in loblolly pine stands than pastures after two annual litter applications. However, increases in potential net N mineralization, net nitrification, and soil water N with litter application were more pronounced in loblolly pine than in pasture soils. Loblolly pine plantations can be a viable land use alternative to pastures for poultry litter application, but litter application rate and frequency as well as differences in nutrient cycling dynamics between pine plantations and pastures are important considerations for environmentally sound nutrient management decisions.
Phytochemical induction of cell cycle arrest by glutathione oxidation and reversal by N-acetylcysteine in human colon carcinoma cells.

Cancer prevention by dietary phytochemicals has been shown to involve decreased cell proliferation and cell cycle arrest. However, there is limited understanding of the mechanisms involved. Previously, we have shown that a common effect of phytochemicals investigated is to oxidize the intracellular glutathione (GSH) pool. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate whether changes in the glutathione redox potential in response to dietary phytochemicals was related to their induction of cell cycle arrest. Human colon carcinoma (HT29) cells were treated with benzyl isothiocyanate (BIT) (BIT), diallyl disulfide (DADS), dimethyl fumarate (DMF), lycopene (LYC) (LYC), sodium butyrate (NaB) or buthione sulfoxamine (BSO, a GSH synthesis inhibitor) at concentrations shown to cause oxidation of the GSH: glutathione disulfide pool. A decrease in cell proliferation, as measured by [ 3 H]-thymidine incorporation, was observed that could be reversed by pretreatment with the GSH precursor and antioxidant N-ac...
Porcine small intestinal submucosa as a dural substitute

BACKGROUND The continuing search for the ideal dural substitute is currently directed toward collagen preparations. Xenogeneic porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS), a naturally occurring extracellular matrix rich in collagen, has been successfully used as a soft tissue graft in several body organ systems, including preliminary studies as a dural substitute in the rat. METHODS Eight dogs underwent temporoparietal craniotomy and dural resection with replacement by SIS. Five dogs had contralateral procedures without SIS grafting. Three dogs had contralateral SIS grafts placed 2 months after the initial procedure. Histologic assessment was obtained at 7, 30, 60, 90, and 120 days. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytological examination and routine serum chemistry preceded sacrifice. RESULTS Histologic evaluation showed initial graft infiltration by mononuclear round cells, spindle-shaped cells within an eosinophilic staining extracellular matrix, and neovascularity. Complete resorption of the graft was evident by 60 days. This pattern is consistent with the previously described incorporation and remodeling of the SIS graft at other sites. CSF cytology and routine serum chemistry at the time of sacrifice were normal. Response to repeat grafting was identical to that of initial exposure. There was no clinical or histologic evidence of sensitization or graft rejection. No evidence of adverse effect on the underlying cerebral cortex was observed. CONCLUSIONS Porcine small intestinal submucosa demonstrates a favorable biologic response as a dural substitute in the canine model. It is a promising biomaterial for dural replacement.
Generative models for access control policies: applications to role mining over logs with attribution

We consider a fundamentally new approach to role and policy mining: finding RBAC models which reflect the observed usage of entitlements and the attributes of users. Such policies are interpretable, i.e., there is a natural explanation of why a role is assigned to a user and are conservative from a security standpoint since they are based on actual usage. Further, such "generative" models provide many other benefits including reconciliation with policies based on entitlements, detection of provisioning errors, as well as the detection of anomalous behavior. Our contributions include defining the fundamental problem as extensions of the well-known role mining problem, as well as providing several new algorithms based on generative machine learning models. Our algorithms find models which are causally associated with actual usage of entitlements and any arbitrary combination of user attributes when such information is available. This is the most natural process to provision roles, thus addressing a key usability issue with existing role mining algorithms.We have evaluated our approach on a large number of real life data sets, and our algorithms produce good role decompositions as measured by metrics such as coverage, stability, and generality We compare our algorithms with traditional role mining algorithms by equating usage with entitlement. Results show that our algorithms improve on existing approaches including exact mining, approximate mining, and probabilistic algorithms; the results are more temporally stable than exact mining approaches, and are faster than probabilistic algorithms while removing artificial constraints such as the number of roles assigned to each user. Most importantly, we believe that these roles more accurately capture what users actually do, the essence of a role, which is not captured by traditional methods.
Analysis of the expression of CD5 by human B cells and correlation with functional activity

B cells expressing the CD5 marker in the mouse have been suggested to be a separate lineage and a major source of autoantibody production. In man, this relationship is less clear. Studies were therefore undertaken to determine whether human CD5+ B cells represent a distinct lineage of cells that differ in patterns of antibody production from CD5- B cells. In normal B cell populations, CD5 was expressed by a mean of 24.0 +/- 2.8% (n = 10) of CD20+ B cells. Of note, an increased frequency of CD5+ B cells was not found in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (mean of 17.9 +/- 2.8%, n = 16). Analyzing CD5+ B cells for cell membrane Ig isotype expression demonstrated similar frequencies of IgG and IgA expressing cells as were found on the CD5- B cell population, although the frequency of IgM+ cells was slightly increased. Incubation of CD20+ B cells with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) for 72 hr increased the frequency of CD5 expressing B cells by more than threefold. CD5 expression was also increased by coculture with anti-CD3-activated T cells and most markedly by simultaneous stimulation with both PMA- and anti-CD3-activated T cells (greater than 50% positive). Analysis of CD5- B cells clearly indicated that stimulation with PMA or anti-CD3-activated T cells induced the majority to become CD5+ transiently. Functional analysis of Ig production by CD5+ and CD5- B cells stimulated with anti-CD3-activated T cells indicated that both populations in normals produced IgM and a variety of autoantibodies in comparable amounts, whereas the CD5- B cells produced greater quantities of IgG. B cells were activated with anti-CD3-stimulated T cells followed by separation into CD5+ and CD5- populations. The largest amount of Ig was produced by CD5- B cells that were induced to express CD5, although all populations produced some Ig. These data suggest that CD5 behaves as an activation marker on human B cells rather than as a marker for a distinct lineage of cells. Moreover, CD5 expression does not appear to identify a population of resting B cells with a greater capacity to produce antibodies to DNA or other autoantibodies.
FURTHER STUDIES OF PLASMA TYROSINE IN PATIENTS WITH ALTERED THYROID FUNCTION.

Studies were undertaken to characterize the elevated levels of plasma tyrosine observed in patients with hyperthyroidism and in normal people ingesting thyroid hormones. When plasma free amino acid concentrations were determined in 8 thyrotoxic patients, only tyrosine and glutamic acid were found to be significantly altered. Elevation of plasma tyrosine levels could be rapidly produced (within 24 hr) by T3 administration to normal volunteers, and reverted to normal within 2 to 3 days after T3 was discontinued. When oral loads of tyrosine were given to 9 thyrotoxic, 13 euthyroid and 5 myxedematous subjects, the peak levels of tyrosine were the highest (109 μg/ml ±9.0 se) in the thyrotoxic group, significantly elevated above normal (39.0±4.8) in subjects given T3 (50.3±2.0), and lower than normal in myxedema patients (24.0±6.0). There was no difference in oral tolerance curves of tryptophan and, phenylalanine before and after T3 treatment of 7 normal subjects, nor did the oral tryptophan tolerance in 6 thyr...
The CLEO III drift chamber

Abstract The CLEO group at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring has constructed and commissioned a new central drift chamber. With 9796 cells arranged in 47 layers ranging in radius from 13.2 to 79 cm , the new drift chamber has a smaller outer radius and fewer wires than the drift chamber it replaces, but allows the CLEO tracking system to have improved momentum resolution. Reduced scattering material in the chamber gas and in the inner skin separating the drift chamber from the silicon vertex detector provides a reduction of the multiple scattering component of the momentum resolution and an extension of the usable measurement length into the silicon. Momentum resolution is further improved through quality control in wire positioning and symmetry of the electric fields in the drift cells which have provided a reduction in the spatial resolution to 88 μm (averaged over the full drift range).
Erratum for "metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: critical review of enzalutamide".

ERRATUM: The abstract and keywords in Joelle El-Amm, Nihar Patel, Ashley Freeman, and Jeanny B. Aragon-Ching. Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Critical Review of Enzalutamide. Clinical Medicine Insights: Oncology 2013:7 235–245 contain an error. Enzalutamide was previously known as MDV3100, not MDV300 or MDV30.
Interaction of Autonomic Drugs on Isolated Mouse Intestine

The isolated mouse intestine as a tool for studying the actions of autonomic drugs was investigated in some detail. A comparatively simple method for studying the action of these drugs in the lumen, or with the lumen excluded, is described. In general, the mouse intestine is comparable to other isolated intestines in its reaction to these drugs. Of the drugs studied, only acetylcholine was totally inactive when confined to the lumen and none was destroyed in the lumen.