cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical and cytogenetic responses to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in therapy-related myelodysplasia.

We treated 10 patients with a therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome with escalating doses of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF; sargramostim) in a phase II trial and used sequential cytogenetic analyses to determine whether there was stimulation of nonclonal hematopoiesis. The GM-CSF was administered by continuous intravenous infusion over 2 hours daily for 14 days, followed by a 14- day rest period. The initial starting dose was 60 micrograms/m2/d. The GM-CSF dose was escalated within individual patients to 125 micrograms/m2, 250 micrograms/m2, and then 500 micrograms/m2/d until the peripheral blood neutrophil count at least doubled and exceeded 1,000/microL. GM-CSF treatment then continued in monthly maintenance cycles. During 57 treatment courses, the neutrophil count increased in 52 but only doubled and exceeded 1,000/microL in 21. Mild eosinophilia was stimulated in five patients, but only two had greater than 1,000 eosinophils/microL. In only three patients was any stimulation of platelet or red blood cell production observed, and thus, little change in transfusion requirements occurred. The bone marrow karyotypes from individual patients either remained completely abnormal or became increasingly abnormal over the course of treatment. We found no evidence that GM-CSF preferentially stimulated normal marrow stem cells to proliferate or had the ability to eradicate the cytogenetically abnormal clone by inducing terminal differentiation. Although the effect on granulopoiesis was transient and dependent on continued GM- CSF treatment, the increase in the neutrophil count was clinically important in some patients, allowing more effective control of ongoing infections.
The Quantitative Anatomy of the Dorsal Scapholunate Interosseous Ligament

Background: The anatomy of the scapholunate interosseous ligament (SLIL) has been described qualitatively in great detail, with recognition of the dorsal component’s importance for carpal stability. The purpose of this study was to define the quantitative anatomy of the dorsal SLIL and to assess the use of high-frequency ultrasound to image the dorsal SLIL. Methods: We used high-frequency ultrasound imaging to evaluate 40 wrists in 20 volunteers and recorded the radial-ulnar (length) and dorsal-volar (thickness) dimensions of the dorsal SLIL and the dimensions of the scapholunate interval. We assessed the use of high-frequency ultrasound by comparing the length and thickness of the dorsal SLIL on ultrasound evaluation and open dissection of 12 cadaveric wrists. Student’s t test was used to assess the relationship between measurements obtained on cadaver ultrasound and open dissection. Results: In the volunteer wrists, the mean dorsal SLIL length was 7.5 ± 1.4 mm and thickness was 1.8 ± 0.4 mm; the mean sc...
Identification of multi-dimensional elastic and dissipative properties of elastomeric vibration isolators

Abstract Experimental methods must be adopted to characterize the dynamic properties of elastomeric isolators, especially their multi-dimension elastic and dissipative properties. To facilitate a tractable problem statement a rigid body isolation system (under a weight-type preload) is proposed and reduced to a planar problem with 3 degrees of freedom that can be replicated in any vertical plane. First, this article employs modal methods in tandem with analytical, lumped-parameter models to experimentally characterize the dynamic stiffness matrix, including off-diagonal terms. Fundamental stiffness properties are identified about the elastic center, facilitating a clear relationship between component- and system-level dynamics. Dissipative properties are analyzed in terms of global, structural type and mode-dependent viscous type damping formulations. Modal decomposition is employed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the dissipative models for both coupled and uncoupled motions. The proposed characterization method is validated by comparing predicted dynamic properties of a multi-isolator system with measured responses in multiple directions. Finally, physical insight into the underlying behavior of elastomeric interfacial elements is sought by highlighting the role of the elastic center, comparing structural loss factor and viscous damping matrix models, identifying the correlation between surface hardness and Young’s Modulus, and briefly comparing non-resonant and resonant methods. Several annular or cylindrical elastomeric devices with varying size and material demonstrate the proposed method’s breadth of application; subsequently, two production mounts are utilized for validation purposes. Various identification issues such as uniqueness of the identified stiffness, damping and elastic center properties are discussed throughout the article.
Modular Organization and Assembly of SWI/SNF Family Chromatin Remodeling Complexes

Mammalian SWI/SNF (mSWI/SNF) ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes are multi-subunit molecular machines that play vital roles in regulating genomic architecture and are frequently disrupted in human cancer and developmental disorders. To date, the modular organization and pathways of assembly of these chromatin regulators remain unknown, presenting a major barrier to structural and functional determination. Here, we elucidate the architecture and assembly pathway across three classes of mSWI/SNF complexes—canonical BRG1/BRM-associated factor (BAF), polybromo-associated BAF (PBAF), and newly defined ncBAF complexes—and define the requirement of each subunit for complex formation and stability. Using affinity purification of endogenous complexes from mammalian and Drosophila cells coupled with cross-linking mass spectrometry (CX-MS) and mutagenesis, we uncover three distinct and evolutionarily conserved modules, their organization, and the temporal incorporation of these modules into each complete mSWI/SNF complex class. Finally, we map human disease-associated mutations within subunits and modules, defining specific topological regions that are affected upon subunit perturbation.
Economic Inequality, Poverty, and Democracy in Athens

This chapter explores the relationship between participatory democracy and poverty in democratic Athens. It reviews Athenian ideas about poverty, and draws on recent debates within Greek history and the social sciences, in order to examine the relationship between the economic prosperity of Athenians and the democratic system, with particular emphasis on the role of direct democracy in the amelioration of poverty. Social scientists have frequently argued that democracy has a greater chance of success in wealthier polities: is this the case in Athens—a city that recent research suggests was affluent, had experienced long-term economic growth, had relatively high wages and robust democratic institutions? The Athenian experience is used to explore how participatory democracy can be viewed as a tool for social flourishing to empower, enrich, and improve the capabilities and well-being of the poor. However, although direct democracy was the principle way that poverty was mediated for some, it was also a key factor in the reproduction of poverty for others in Athens.
The Software Arts

The modern digital computer is the invention of two distinguished mathematicians, Alan Turing and John von Neumann, working in the heyday of a rich debate about numbers and logic and a grand search for the "laws of thought," which they then tried to introduce—perhaps it would be better to say "translate"—into the workings of a new kind of machine, the computer.
Computational Optimization Study of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Leaflet Design Using Porcine and Bovine Leaflets.

In this study, a Bayesian optimization based computational framework is developed to investigate the design of transcatheter aortic valve (TAV) leaflets and to optimize leaflet geometry such that its peak stress under the blood pressure of 120 mmHg is reduced. A generic TAV model is parametrized by mathematical equations describing its 2D shape and its 3D stent-leaflet assembly line. Material properties previously obtained for bovine (BP) and porcine pericardium (PP) via a combination of flexural and biaxial tensile testing were incorporated into the finite element (FE) model of TAV. A Bayesian optimization approach was employed to investigate about 1000 leaflet designs for each material under the nominal circular deployment and physiological loading conditions. The optimal parameter values of the TAV model were obtained, corresponding to leaflet shapes that can reduce the peak stress by 16.7% in BP and 18.0% in PP, compared with that from the initial generic TAV model. Furthermore, it was observed that while peak stresses tend to concentrate near the stent-leaflet attachment edge, optimized geometries benefit from more uniform stress distributions in the leaflet circumferential direction. Our analysis also showed that increasing leaflet contact area redistributes peak stresses to the belly region contributing to peak stress reduction. The results from this study may inspire new TAV designs that can have better durability.
The Online Learning Initiative: Training the Early Adopters

According to Wolf (Journal of Computing in Higher Education, 17(2), 2006), a modicum of technological skill, active administrative support, motivated faculty, and the intent to create a specific online course are all requirements for developing online courses. An online learning initiative at a community college considered models such as the technology-adoption lifecycle to identify a target group of potential participants for what they saw to be a means of creating a culture that would support the expansion of quality online courses; they developed a purposeful initiative to train faculty to create and teach online course sections. This chapter discusses critical components that contributed to the ongoing success of this initiative such as the mentor-mentee relationship, and how student engagement and producing a well-crafted online course were non-negotiable goals.
k-server via multiscale entropic regularization

We present an O((logk)2)-competitive randomized algorithm for the k-server problem on hierarchically separated trees (HSTs). This is the first o(k)-competitive randomized algorithm for which the competitive ratio is independent of the size of the underlying HST. Our algorithm is designed in the framework of online mirror descent where the mirror map is a multiscale entropy. When combined with Bartal’s static HST embedding reduction, this leads to an O((logk)2 logn)-competitive algorithm on any n-point metric space. We give a new dynamic HST embedding that yields an O((logk)3 logΔ)-competitive algorithm on any metric space where the ratio of the largest to smallest non-zero distance is at most Δ.
Sarcopenic obesity in liver cancer: it is SO complicated

Sarcopenia is defined as a generalized and progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength and function (1). Sarcopenia, while initially described in the aging general population, affects many patients with various chronic diseases in all age groups. Diminished muscle volume and performance is associated with lower endurance, frailty, disability, and poor disease outcomes.
National Institutes of Health Support of Digital Health Behavior Research.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has increasingly supported research in digital health technologies to advance research and deliver behavior change interventions. We highlight some of the re...
Labor epidural analgesia and the risk of postpartum depression: A meta-analysis of observational studies

Abstract Study objective This study aims to systematically review the literature to evaluate the association between labor epidural analgesia (LEA) and postpartum depression (PPD). Design Meta-analysis. Setting Obstetric patients delivering vaginally with or without LEA in a hospital. Interventions This study aimed to investigate the effects of providing LEA on developing PPD. Measurements Pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using the random effects model. Results A total of 356 full text articles were reviewed. Eleven articles studying 85,928 patients met inclusion criteria. The pooled unadjusted OR 1.03 and 95% CI (0.77, 1.37) suggest that LEA is not associated with a decreased risk of developing PPD. Conclusions Labor epidural analgesia was not shown to confer protection against developing PPD according to this meta-analysis. Future studies are needed to explore whether other aspects of LEA, beyond its presence or absence, influence the onset of PPD.
Kalman Filter Based Prediction of Remaining Useful Life of Aerial Bundled Cables

Aerial Bundled Cables (ABC) are increasingly overtaking the traditional based overhead low voltage power transmission system. These cables are not only safer as compared to the bare wires but are also very useful in reducing the electricity pilferage. However, the maintenance agencies need to know the viability of the ABC in all-weather conditions and require proper solutions for degradation assessment of such electrical infrastructure. This paper studies the thermography data of live ABC in varying temperature conditions to analyze a changing trend of healthy cable to unhealthy one. Further this paper discusses the application of Kalman filter on acquired trend to predict remaining useful life of ABC. The suggested method will help to maintain and plan replacement of cables prior power failure.
Structural basis for the HMGCR interaction with UBIAD1 mutants causing Schnyder corneal dystrophy

Schnyder corneal dystrophy (SCD) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by abnormal deposition of cholesterol and lipid in the cornea. The molecular mechanism underlying this process, which involves the interaction between UBAID1 and HMGCR, remains unclear. Here we investigate these events with in silico approaches. We built the homology models of UBIAD1 and HMGCR based on the existing crystal and cryo-EM structures. The UBIAD1 and HMGCR models are docked and their binding interactions are interrogated by MD simulation. We find that the transmembrane helices of UBIAD1 bind to sterol sensing domain of HMGCR. Upon binding of the GGPP substrate, UBIAD1 shows lower structural flexibility in the TM regions binding to HMGCR. The N102S and G177R mutations disrupts GGPP binding, thereby lowering the binding affinity of HMGCR. Overall, our modeling suggests that SCD mutations in UBIAD1 or lower GGPP concentration increase the structural flexibility of UBIAD1, thereby facilitating its association with HMGCR.
Continuous Ilioinguinal Nerve Block for Treatment of Femoral Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Cannula Site Pain.

Abstract Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used for oxygenation or circulatory support and can provide a bridge-to-transplantation in critically ill patients. In awake patients on ECMO, ambulation is important for preoptimization prior to transplantation but may be prohibited by discomfort from the cannula sites. A 47-year-old-female with severe cardiopulmonary dysfunction resulting from progression of interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, and right heart failure required initiation of veno-arterial ECMO. When extubated, she complained of significant pain at the femoral arterial cannulation site. Despite escalating doses of oral and intravenous opioids, the pain remained difficult to control. A continuous ilioinguinal nerve block was performed resulting in excellent analgesia. This allowed the patient to ambulate and participate in physical therapy until she underwent double lung transplantation. This case suggests a continuous ilioinguinal nerve block may be considered as part of a multimodal analgesic strategy for pain associated with femoral ECMO cannulas in awake patients awaiting transplantation to facilitate physical therapy and reduce opioid requirements.
Intrastate Sequencing with Historical Examples

The underlying economic model set out in Chapter 2 is shown to yield two sets of historically stable equilibria—empire and tranquility—and two transitional equilibria—war of secession and non-resisted secession. Each of the four categories is then populated with examples from recent history. This approach is easily applied to categorize events in any historical period.
A Focus on Congestive Heart Failure-Related Patient Education After Open Heart Surgery: A Quality Improvement Project.

BACKGROUND After open heart surgery patients often develop symptoms associated with congestive heart failure (CHF), or fluid volume overload. To prevent heart failure-related symptoms in the postoperative period patients must be educated on heart failure self-care. OBJECTIVE To decrease the percentage of postoperative open heart surgical patients with CHF-related questions and concerns from 44% to 30% by March 2020. METHODS A cardiac surgery educational booklet and an educational electronic health record template were identified to guide a CHF educational pathway. Intensive care staff nurses provided patient education after surgery. PDSA cycles were performed in succession to roll out the quality improvement (QI) initiative. RESULTS Of patients experiencing postoperative issues, 44% of patients developed symptoms or concerns related to heart failure. Upon implementation of the CHF-focused pathway 15% of patients were exhibiting symptoms or concerns related to CHF, out of all patients with postoperative issues. CONCLUSIONS CHF, and fluid volume overload continues to be a difficult pathology requiring close management and follow up. After open heart surgery, providing concise, CHF-focused education results in reduced CHF-related patient concerns after discharge. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING By providing a disease-focused patient education nurses can reduce the complications that patients develop after an inpatient hospital.
Index Design: Hedging and Manipulation

This paper studies optimal index design to both facilitate hedging and alleviate illegal manipulation in a competitive equilibrium paradigm, modified to deal with manipulation. Specifically, a large trader is trading both derivatives and stocks, and effectively hides her trades behind the competitive market clearing mechanism. Unlike the strategic game paradigm, a volume-weighted average pricing (VWAP) index both introduces basis risk and encourages manipulation because of the additional randomness in volume weight and the greater price impact enjoyed by the large trader. In contrast, an equal-weighted average pricing (EWAP) index both preserves market completeness and discourages manipulation.
Multi-time Scale Control of Dual-Stage Nanopositioning Systems

Abstract In this paper, a novel multi-time scale control technique is applied to a serial dual-stage nanopositioning system. Dual-stage nanopositioning systems combine a high-speed, short-range actuator and a low-speed, long-range actuator to achieve long-range and high-speed positioning. This results in a system that has relatively complicated dynamics due to the physical interaction between the two actuators and their different time-scales. In addition, models of these actuators can be ill-conditioned, which can lead to issues with numerical simulations and controller design. These issues make dual-stage nanopositioning systems well suited to multi-time scale control algorithms. In the proposed algorithm, the system is split (decoupled) into a set of subsystems, where each subsystem has an individual time scale and is independently controlled via state feedback. This alleviates the issues associated with ill-conditioning and simplifies controller design. This paper introduces the novel multi-time scale control design concept and its application to single-axis dual-stage nanopositioners - although it can be easily expanded to more complex systems, e.g., multi-axes, nanopositioning devices. The proposed control technique is validated through simulations of an experimentally obtained serially coupled dual-stage nanopositioning model.
NRT2.1, a major contributor to cadmium uptake controlled by high-affinity nitrate transporters.

Abstract Management of nitrogen fertilizer is a good strategy for controlling cadmium (Cd) accumulation in plants. Some progress has already been made but much remains to be done. Here, we show that mutants with loss of function of nitrate transporter1.1 (NRT1.1) or nitrate transporter2.1 (NRT2.1) had lower Cd concentrations than wild-type plants under low-nitrate conditions. However, this was eliminated when plants were cultivated in nitrate-free medium or supplied with Cd and nitrate alternately. These findings indicate that inhibition of NRT1.1 or NRT2.1 activity reduces Cd accumulation in plants, and depends on the presence of nitrate. The results showing that nrt2.1–2 mutants had the lowest Cd concentrations compared with Col-0, nrt1.1 and nrt2.4 plants, proves that NRT2.1 is the major contributor to Cd uptake controlled by nitrate high-affinity transporters. NRT2.1 acts as the major contributor to nitrate uptake under Cd stress in low-nitrate conditions, and contributes about 50% to nitrate uptake, while NRT1.1 contributes only 10%, and little is known regarding the role of NRT2.2 and NRT2.4 on nitrate uptake in medium with 200 μM nitrate. Positive correlations between nitrate uptake and Cd concentration in plants were also observed. Collectively, NRT2.1 acts as the major contributor to Cd uptake by controlling nitrate uptake in nitrate high-affinity systems.
InteraChem: Virtual Reality Visualizer for Reactive Interactive Molecular Dynamics

Interactive molecular dynamics in virtual reality (IMD-VR) simulations provide a digital molecular playground for students as an alternative or complement to traditional molecular modeling kits or 2D illustrations. Previous IMD-VR studies have used molecular mechanics to enable simulations of macromolecules such as proteins and nanostructures for the classroom setting with considerable success. Here, we present the InteraChem molecular visualizer, intended for reactive IMD-VR simulation using semiempirical and ab initio methods. InteraChem visualizes not only the molecular geometry but also (1) isosurfaces such as molecular orbitals and electrostatic potentials and (2) two-dimensional graphs of time-varying simulation quantities such as kinetic/potential energy, internal coordinates, and user-applied force. Additionally, InteraChem employs speech recognition to facilitate user interaction and introduces a novel “atom happiness” visualization using emojis to indicate the energetic feasibility of a particular bonding arrangement. We include a set of accompanying exercises that we have used to teach chemical reactivity in small molecular systems.
A composite sleep and pulmonary phenotype predicting hypertension.

Abstract Background Multiple aspects of sleep and Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) have been linked to hypertension. However, the standard measure of SDB, the Apnoea Hypopnea Index (AHI), has not identified patients likely to experience large improvements in blood pressure with SDB treatment. Methods To use machine learning to select sleep and pulmonary measures associated with hypertension development when considered jointly, we applied feature screening followed by Elastic Net penalized regression in association with incident hypertension using a wide array of polysomnography measures, and lung function, derived for the Sleep Heart Health Study (SHHS). Findings At baseline, n=860 SHHS individuals with complete data were age 61 years, on average. Of these, 291 developed hypertension ~5 years later. A combination of pulmonary function and 18 sleep phenotypes predicted incident hypertension (OR=1.43, 95% confidence interval [1.14, 1.80] per 1 standard deviation (SD) of the phenotype), while the apnoea-hypopnea index (AHI) had low evidence of association with incident hypertension (OR =1.13, 95% confidence interval [0.97, 1.33] per 1 SD). In a generalization analysis in 923 individuals from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, aged 65 on average with 615 individuals with hypertension, the new phenotype was cross-sectionally associated with hypertension (OR=1.26, 95% CI [1.10, 1.45]). Interpretation A unique combination of sleep and pulmonary function measures better predicts hypertension compared to the AHI. The composite measure included indices capturing apnoea and hypopnea event durations, with shorter event lengths associated with increased risk of hypertension. Funding This research was supported by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) contracts HHSN268201500003I, N01-HC-95159, N01-HC-95160, N01-HC-95161, N01-HC-95162, N01-HC-95163, N01-HC-95164, N01-HC-95165, N01-HC-95166, N01-HC-95167, N01-HC-95168, and N01-HC-95169 and by National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences grants UL1-TR- 000040, UL1-TR-001079, and UL1-TR-001420. The MESA Sleep ancillary study was supported by NHLBI grant HL-56984. Pulmonary phenotyping in MESA was funded by NHLBI grants R01-HL077612 and R01-HL093081. This work was supported by NHLBI grant R35HL135818 to Susan Redline.
Health-related quality of life outcomes in adults with nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer receiving a mitomycin-containing reverse thermal gel as a primary treatment (Optima II: Phase 2b, single-arm, open-label trial).

270Background: The standard of care for low-grade non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer (LG NMIBC) is transurethral resection of the bladder tumor, which can worsen health‐related quality of life (HRQ...
Reactivating Hippocampal-Mediated Memories to Disrupt the Reconsolidation of Fear

Abstract Memories are stored in the brain as cellular ensembles activated during learning and reactivated during retrieval. Using the Tet-tag system, we labeled dorsal dentate gyrus (dDG) neurons activated by positive, neutral or negative experiences with channelrhodopsin-2. Following fear-conditioning, these cells were artificially reactivated during fear memory recall. Optical stimulation of a competing positive memory was sufficient to disrupt reconsolidation, thereby reducing conditioned fear acutely and enduringly. Moreover, mice demonstrated operant responding for reactivation of a positive memory, confirming its rewarding properties. These results show that interference from a rewarding experience can counteract negative affective states. While interference induced by memory reactivation involved a relatively small set of neurons, we also found that activating a large population of randomly labeled dDG neurons was effective at disrupting reconsolidation. Importantly, reconsolidation-interference was specific to the fear memory. These findings implicate the dDG as a potential therapeutic node for modulating memories to suppress fear.
A Guide to Hematology in Dogs and Cats

1 HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE 2 HEMATOLOGY IN PRACTICE Indications for Hematology In-Clinic Versus Outside Laboratory Communicating the Need for Hematology Communicating the Results The Economics of Laboratory Testing 3 LABORATORY METHODS IN HEMATOLOGY Blood Collection Handling the Sample Blood Films Staining Common Artifacts/Issues Sample Evaluation Morphological Assessment Quantitative Methods Packed Cell Volume Total Plasma Protein Hemoglobin Concentration Manual Cell Counts Automated Cell Counters 4 ERYTHROCYTES Overview Production Destruction Function Physiology Morphology Normal Morphology: Dog Normal Morphology: Cat Morphology in Disease Artifacts Quantity Anemia Regenerative Anemia Non-Regenerative Anemia Polycythemia 5 NEUTROPHILS Overview Origin Function Quantity Neutropenia Neutrophilia Morphology Normal In Disease 6 EOSINOPHILS Overview Origin Function Quantity Eosinopenia Eosinophilia Morphology 7 BASOPHILS Overview Origin Function Quantity Basopenia Basophilia Morphology 8 MONOCYTES Overview Origin Function Quantity Morphology Normal In Disease 9 LYMPHOCYTES Overview Origin Function Quantity Lymphopenia Lymphocytosis Morphology Normal Activated (Antigen-Stimulated) Lymphocytes Atypical Lymphocytes 10 PLATELETS Overview Laboratory Evaluation of Platelets Morphology Normal Morphology: Dog Normal Morphology: Cat Abnormal Morphology: Dog Abnormal Morphology: Cat Quantity Normal Decreased Platelet Count (Thrombocytopenia) Clinical Signs of Thrombocytopenia Causes of Thrombocytopenia Increased Platelet Count (Thrombocytosis) Mechanisms of Thrombocytosis Platelet Function Disorders (Thrombocytopathia or Thrombopathia) Causes of Platelet Dysfunction Acquired Platelet Dysfunction Inherited Platelet Dysfunction 11 INTERPRETATION OF THE HEMOGRAM Introduction White Cells Red Cells Platelets 12 CASE STUDIES 13 SELF-TEST QUESTIONS 14 APPENDIX - SELF-TEST ANSWERS INDEX
The Metaphysics of Everyday Life: Five ontological issues

The familiar things that we interact with daily have ontological significance in their own right: they are not really something else. Persons, microscopes, cats, and all the other inhabitants in the everyday world are of real kinds whose appearance in the world makes an ontological difference: “Person,” for example, is not just a phase-sortal like “child”; nor does it designate a property or abstract entity; nor does it refer to a logical construction of nonpersonal elements. Similarly for other familiar objects: something that is a microscope could not have existed without being a microscope. Ordinary objects are nonredundant, in that they cannot be omitted from ontology without rendering ontology deficient. An inventory of what exists is incomplete if it leaves out persons, screwdrivers, houses, cats, or the other kinds of things that we routinely interact with. (Or so I have argued for the past ten chapters.) In this chapter, I want to discuss five of the ontological issues in the background of this view of ordinary things: Ontological Significance, Time and Existence, Ontological Novelty, Ontological Levels, and Emergence. AN ACCOUNT OF ONTOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE I have said several times that ordinary things have ontological significance. How should we understand what ontological significance is? Intuitively, to say that Fs (tigers, chairs, anything) have ontological significance is to say that the addition of a (nonderivative)1 F is not just a change in something that already exists, but the coming-into-being of a new thing.
Genetic consequences of Pleistocene fragmentation: Isolation, drift, and loss of diversity in rock iguanas ( Cyclura )

Pleistocene fragmentation of the Great BahamaBank resulted in one large and several smallpopulations of rock iguanas (Cycluracychlura). We explore patterns of geneticvariation within and among these islandpopulations using mitochondrial sequence data(partial ND4 to tRNALeu) in combinationwith eight polymorphic microsatellite loci (2to 10 alleles). Genetic data support twophylogeographically distinct groups, AndrosIsland and the Exuma cays. This resultconflicts with current subspecific taxonomy inwhich three subspecies are described. Analysesof allelic data indicate that most islandpopulations are currently demographicallyindependent. Pairwise Fst values between eightisland populations range from 0.18 to 0.63, and6 of 135 individuals are misassigned in anassignment test. Population-genetic diversityis characterized using standard measures suchas number of alleles and heterozygosity (H) inaddition to a normalized Shannon-Weaver indexof diversity (D). We find genetic diversity inthe Andros Island population comparable to thatin other non-piscine animals (avg. # ofalleles = 5, avg. H = 0.56, avg. D = 0.66) while inthe Exuma cays populations these measures aremuch lower (avg. # of alleles = 2.75–1.625, avg.H = 0.43–0.17, avg. D = 0.45–0.18). These dataare used to discuss conservation managementstrategies, including prioritization andtranslocation.
Why Does Growing up in an Intact Family during Childhood Lead to Higher Earnings during Adulthood in the United States

With a view to finding an explanation of the observed differences in adult annual earnings between workers raised in intact (INTACT) and non-intact families in the US labor market, this study tests two hypotheses. First, workers growing up in intact families during childhood earn more during their adulthood because they acquire more years of schooling, which in turn affect their wages positively. Second, intact family background acts as an instrument for numerous factors that contribute to workers' happiness during adulthood. Since happier workers, with other characteristics held constant, are known to have higher earnings, workers raised in intact families during childhood by leading a relatively happier life during their adulthood earn more than their otherwise identical non-intact counterparts. Both these hypotheses find strong support from the US data. The evidence of simultaneous relationships between wage and happiness and between happiness and schooling confirms that the true effect of INTACT on wage may be much larger than what is envisaged by a simple one-step process. Regardless of whether this relationship is due to causation or correlation, the study simply demonstrates that the US evidence of higher earnings associated with workers raised in intact families may be attributed partly to their higher levels of schooling and happier lives. By demonstrating a significant positive relationship between the stability of parental family structure during childhood and earnings during adulthood, the current study highlights the importance of responsible parenthood as a means of improving the child's future economic performance.
Mental Illness and Stigma

While all illnesses present concern and, often, fear to individuals and their caretakers, some conditions are singled out as stigmatized. Stigma refers to the prejudice and discrimination associated with the conditions that are enacted through social relationships and that devalue the person's humanity. Mental illness represents a classic example and, as a result, has been the focus of much theory and empirical research. Different types of stigma (public, self or internalized, provider-based, courtesy) have been identified. The documented effects of stigma are profound, including restricted opportunities and even a shortened lifespan. Recent research has questioned claims about trends in stigma over time and across countries. Keywords: coercion; mental health; mental illness; sociology of mental health; stigma
Distribution of a novel 57 kDa intermediate filament (IF) protein in the nervous system

A 57 kDa protein, that is not vimentin, is the major component of intermediate filaments (IF) obtained after 2 cycles of in vitro assembly from PC12 cells (Parysek and Goldman, 1987). By use of an antiserum to the 57 kDa protein, a cross-reacting antigen (of identical molecular weight) was detected on immunoblots of IF preparations and by immunofluorescence of various rat tissues. Immunolocalization studies on 3–4 micron frozen sections of tongue, small intestine, and adrenal gland showed bright labeling of nerve bundles and fine-caliber nerve fibers. The chromaffin cells and ganglion cells of the adrenal medulla also were labeled. In the nervous system, intense labeling was seen in small-caliber nerve fibers in sciatic nerve and spinal cord dorsal roots, as well as in the dorsal white columns and dorsal root ganglia. Of the ganglion cells, preferential labeling was seen in small-sized ganglion cells, whereas a monoclonal antibody to the 150 and 200 kDa neurofilament triplet (NFT) components labeled the large-sized ganglion cells. In the areas of the brain thus far examined with 57 kDa antiserum, there was labeling of components of cranial nerves and labeling of thin fibers in several areas, including the granular layer of the cerebellum and the corticospinal tract in the brain stem. For each tissue, adjacent sections treated with vimentin or glial fibrillary acidic protein antibody revealed labeling patterns distinct from that seen with either the 57 kDa or NFT antibodies. These results indicate that the 57 kDa IF protein is a neural IF component. Furthermore, this protein is distributed in only certain neuronal elements; these elements may be unified by an as yet unrecognized pattern of function in the nervous system.
The Abundances of Oxygen and Carbon in the Solar Photosphere

A series of recent studies has placed the best estimates of the photospheric abundances of carbon and oxygen at log epsilon = 8.39 and 8.66, respectively. These values are ~ 40 % lower than earlier estimates. A coalition of corrections due to the adoption of an improved model atmosphere, updated atomic data and non-LTE corrections, and a reevaluation of the effect of blending features, is responsible for the change. The adopted hydrodynamical model of the solar surface is an important element to the update, but using a theoretical 1D model atmosphere leads to an average oxygen abundance modestly increased by 0.09 dex, and a carbon abundance only 0.02 dex higher. Considering a state-of-the-art 3D hydrodynamical model of the solar surface yields consistent results from different sets of atomic and molecular lines. Systematic errors are likely to dominate the final uncertainties, but the available information indicates they are limited to <0.1 dex. The new abundances are closer to expectations based on the compositions of other nearby objects, although a fully consistent picture, considering galactic chemical evolution and diffusion at the bottom of the solar convection zone, is still lacking.
Space and Atmospheric Environments: From Low Earth Orbits to Deep Space

Natural space and atmospheric environments pose a difficult challenge for designers of technological systems in space. The deleterious effects of environment interactions with the systems include degradation of materials, thermal changes, contamination, excitation, spacecraft glow, charging, radiation damage, and induced background interference. Design accommodations must be realistic with minimum impact on performance while maintaining a balance between cost and risk. The goal of applied research in space environments and effects is to limit environmental impacts at low cost relative to spacecraft cost, to infuse enabling and commercial off-the-shelf technologies into space programs. The need to perform applied research to understand the space environment in a practical sense and to develop methods to mitigate these environment effects is frequently underestimated by space agencies and industry. Applied science research in this area is critical because the complexity of spacecraft systems is increasing, and they are exposed simultaneously to a multitude of space environments.
Clinic Capacity Management: Planning Treatment Programs that Incorporate Adherence

For infectious diseases like tuberculosis and HIV, treatment adherence plays an important role in treatment effectiveness and epidemic control. Studies of some infectious diseases indicate that patients who live closer to their health facilities maintain higher adherence; however, most models ignore the heterogeneity of patients' adherence. Clinics must balance knowledge about adherence with epidemic growth when creating successful treatment programs. We develop an optimization model that integrates a clinic's capacity decisions with population health outcomes. We find that incorporating adherence into clinic planning models can lead to decisions that significantly improve outcomes. For example, in a realistic case study of the HIV epidemic in Zambia, we find that decision makers who ignore decreasing adherence make suboptimal decisions and overestimate the effectiveness of their treatment programs by as much as 94%. Our model is a first step toward understanding the relationship between adherence and health delivery.
Hot electron diffusion in fine line semiconductor devices

Abstract We present a simple formalism to include hot electron diffusion into device modeling programs. The effectiveness of this method is illustrated for a DMOS-structure and the permeable base transistor. However, the formalism is general and can be applied to any semiconductor device.
Potential of the Cockroach Oothecal Parasite Prosevania punctata (Hymenoptera: Evaniidae) as a Biological Control Agent for the Oriental Cockroach (Orthoptera: Blattidae)

In laboratory tests, the maximum proportion of oothecae of the oriental cockroach, Blatta orientalis L., parasitized by the evaniid wasp, Prosevania punctata (Brulle), was 51%. Significantly ( P < 0.05) more 1-d-old oothecae than 28-d-old oothecae, and oriental cockroach oothecae than American cockroach oothecae, were parasitized. In field surveys, the greatest percentage of oriental cockroach oothecae parasitized by P. punctata was 35%, which decreased as the cockroach infestation level increased. An education program for residents significantly ( P < 0.05) reduced the percentage of residents who thought the wasps were a problem or killed them. However, 60% of the residents still killed evaniid wasps when they found them.
Satellite surface material composition from synthetic spectra

Optical techniques for space object identification have been a topic of research for several decades. Imaging techniques have been widely examined for this problem. However, it has been shown that high spatial resolution cannot always be obtained due to atmospheric turbulence. Spectral measurements are of interest to determine the material content when images cannot be obtained. In this paper spectra obtained from a Fourier transform spectrometer are used to identify materials using pattern recognition-based techniques. The signal-to-noise ratio of the Sagnac-type interferometer is derived, and the errors in material identification and abundance estimation that arise from using the measured spectra to estimate these quantities are studied. Fisher discriminants and multi-layer perceptrons were used to identify materials, and a constrained least squares technique was used to estimate abundances. Results for material identification and abundance estimation are presented as a function of signal-to-noise ratio.
POSTERIOR TRANSPETROSAL APPROACH: LESS IS MORE

OBJECTIVE: We describe our surgical posterior transpetrosal technique, particularly the transcrusal variant for lesions involving the upper and middle clivus, petroclival regions, and lesions that involve both the posterior and middle fossae. METHODS: An outline of the posterior transpetrosal technique involved, particularly the transcrusal variant, is described. Important superficial landmarks are identified, and a radical mastoidectomy is performed. The antrum is identified and entered, and, upon completion of the mastoidectomy and when Trautman's triangle is defined, the temporal and suboccipital craniotomies are completed. After bone flap elevation, dura opening, and incision along the middle fossa dura, the superior petrosal sinus is ligated and cut. Tentorium cut completion is at the incisura posterior to the trochlear nerve. Watertight dural closure and standard flap replacement and skin closure complete the technique. RESULTS: Clival exposure and the degree of temporal bone resection increase. Operative freedom also increases with increased temporal bone resection, especially when going from the retrolabyrinthine to transcrusal variants. Little is gained in terms of operative freedom and exposure of the clivus with resection of additional temporal bone beyond that of the transcrusal variant, and resection carries the cost of increasing morbidity, especially with respect to VIIth and VIIIth nerve function. CONCLUSION: The posterior transpetrosal approach and the transcrusal variant provide a lateral operative corridor to lesions of the upper and middle clivus. The transcrusal variant provides increased exposure and operative freedom similar to that provided by the transcochlear approach while minimizing cranial nerve morbidity.
Ninety-one Cases of Breast Cancer and Chronic Lymphoproliferative Neoplasm: A Retrospective Review of a Population at High Risk for Multiple Malignancies

Abstract: We performed a retrospective analysis of clinical course of 91 patients who developed both breast cancer and a chronic lymphoproliferative neoplasm and were seen at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center between January 1, 1970 and December 30, 1991. The sample included 24 individuals who developed lymphoproliferative neoplasm first (Group A), 22 individuals with concurrent diagnosis of both malignancies (Group B), and 45 individuals who developed breast cancer first (Group C). The median time to diagnosis of secondary breast cancer and lymphoproliferative neoplasm was 66 months (range, 7–459) and 65 months (range, 0–334), respectively. A higher proportion of Group B lymphomas were low-grade (77% vs. 47% [Group A] vs. 37% [Group C] p = 0.009). Prior occurrence of either one of these malignancies did not affect the disease-specific survival from the second malignancy. However, continuing mortality from the first malignancy appeared to contribute to a poor overall survival following second malignancy. Group A included 8 patients who developed breast cancer following radiation therapy for Hodgkin's disease after a mean interval of 18 (± 4.3) years. Three of these individuals had coexisting ductal and lobular histology (vs. none of the individuals in Groups B and C, p = 0.02). Another interesting finding was the high incidence of multiple additional malignancies in this patient population. A total of 29 additional neoplasms occurred in 21 (23%) of the 91 study subjects. These malignancies involved a wide variety of organ sites and could not be attributed to the therapy for either the breast cancer or the lymphoma in most cases. The data suggest that individuals who develop both breast cancer and a lymphoproliferative neoplasm are at a high risk for multiple malignancies. Close surveillance of such individuals for additional malignancies and further studies to understand the molecular basis of this predisposition are warranted.?
Light-gated Ion Channels Based on Gramicidin A

The natural pore-forming peptide gramicidin A has been used for more than twenty years as a platform for sensing. In recent years, the drive has been towards progressively more sensitive detection, approaching the ability to detect single molecules. In an effort to expand the utility of ion channels derived from gramicidin A for sensing applications, we created a neoteric photo-gated gramicidin derivative containing a spiropyran functional group. Upon irradiation with a specific wavelength of light, spiropyrans undergo significant structural rearrangements, including the formation of a quaternary amine, which gives rise to a large (15D) change in dipole moment. We have exploited this unique chemistry by functionalizing the C-terminus of gramicidin with a spiropyran to demonstrate that conductance through these pores can be modulated as a function of the applied wavelength of light. We have also explored the effect of pH on the ion conductance of these light-gated channels. We demonstrate the exquisite responsiveness sensitivity of conductance through these gramicidin pores to various external factors, which may open the door for a number of niche sensing applications for these types of semi-synthetic ion channels.
Dynamics of non-ergodic piecewise affine maps of the torus

We discuss the dynamics of a class of non-ergodic piecewise affine maps of the torus. These maps exhibit highly complex and little understood behavior. We present computer graphics of some examples and analyses of some with a decreasing degree of completeness. For the best understood example, we show that the torus splits into three invariant sets on which the dynamics are quite different. These are: the orbit of the discontinuity set, the complement of this set in its closure, and the complement of the closure. There are still some unsolved problems concerning the orbit of the discontinuity set. However we do know that there are intervals of periodic orbits and at least one infinite orbit. The map on the second invariant set is minimal and uniquely ergodic. The third invariant set is one of full Lebesgue measure and consists of a countable number of open octagons whose points are periodic. Their orbits can be described in terms of a symbolism obtained from an equal length substitution rule or the triadic odometer.