cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Use of High-Quality Hospitals Among Oral Cancer Patients in California

Objectives/hypothesis To examine racial/ethnic differences in use of high-quality hospitals in patients treated for oral cancer in California. Study design Retrospective cancer database cohort study. Methods Data were extracted from the California Cancer Registry data set linked with discharge records and hospital characteristics from the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, and with neighborhood characteristics from the California Neighborhoods Data System. The study cohort comprised adult patients with oral cavity malignancy diagnosed between 2004 and 2015. Principal component analysis was used to generate the composite oral cancer-specific hospital quality score. The impact of hospital quality on survival was assessed using Cox regression models with robust standard error using sandwich variance estimators. Poisson regression models with robust error variance were used to assess the association between race/ethnicity and use of high-quality hospitals. Results Patients treated in hospitals ranked in the top quartile for quality had improved overall survival (hazard ratio 0.86, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.76-0.98), after adjusting for tumor stage, Charlson comorbidity score, neck dissection, radiotherapy, age, sex, race, and insurance status. Black patients (risk ratio 0.87, 95% CI 0.77-0.98) were less likely to be treated in high-quality hospitals compared with non-Hispanic White patients. Conclusion Treatment in high-quality hospitals is associated with improved survival for patients with oral cancer. However, black patients are less likely to be treated in high-quality hospitals compared with non-Hispanic white patients. Level of evidence 3 Laryngoscope, 2021.
Topological Classification of the Oriented Cycles of Linear Mappings

We consider oriented cycles of linear mappings over the fields of real and complex numbers. the problem of their classification to within the homeomorphisms of spaces is reduced to the problem of classification of linear operators to within the homeomorphisms of spaces studied by N. Kuiper and J. Robbin in 1973.
Wearable computers — an application of BT‘s mobile video system for the construction industry

The construction industry is acknowledged to be heavily dependent on information flow and communications. Electronic communication from one office to another is relatively straightforward with today‘s technology. However, when one of the parties wishing to communicate is based out on the construction site, problems of remoteness and insufficient infrastructure can limit the effectiveness of their communications. The emergence of wearable computers offers a potential method of improving this situation, particularly when a visual link is provided by a mobile video transmission system. This paper outlines the subject of wearable computers, and describes the use of a mobile video camera in a construction application setting. The system has been used on a live construction project at Brindleyplace in Birmingham. Brindleyplace is currently one of the largest commercial construction projects in Europe. The system is described in detail, followed by some critical comments made by the users of the system. The paper also draws on issues such as possible applications and potential benefits to be gained in the long term. Technology and design issues of the system are also discussed.
Effects of laidlomycin propionate and monensin on glucose utilization and nutrient transport by Streptococcus bovis and Selenomonas ruminantium.

The objective of this study was to compare the effects of laidlomycin propionate and monensin on cell growth, glucose fermentation, and glucose uptake in Streptococcus bovis strain JB1 and Selenomonas ruminantium strain HD4. Experiments were also conducted to compare the effects of both ionophores on sodium-dependent serine transport and cell yield in S. bovis. Batch cultures (500 mL) of each bacterium were grown on 3.6 g/L D-glucose in semidefined medium and treated with either 5 ppm monensin or 2 ppm laidlomycin propionate (n = 2). Cell growth was monitored by measuring optical density at 600 nm (OD 600 ). Glucose and L-lactate concentrations were measured using coupled enzyme assays. In S. bovis, both monensin and laidlomycin propionate decreased OD 600 , glucose utilization, and L-lactate production. Neither ionophore had any effect on glucose utilization by S. ruminantium. [ 14 C]Glucose uptake between 5 and 30 min by both bacteria was not altered by either ionophore. Sodium-dependent [ 14 C]serine uptake by S. bovis was inhibited by monensin but not laidlomycin propionate. When S. bovis was grown in glucose-limited continuous culture (dilution rate =.10 h -1 ) at extracellular pH 6.7, increasing concentrations of both ionophores decreased bacterial yield, and both ionophores were more potent at an extracellular pH of 5.7. However, monensin was a more potent inhibitor than laidlomycin propionate at pH 6.7 and 5.7. Collectively, these results suggest that the ionophore laidlomycin propionate inhibits the Gram-positive bacterium S., bovis in a manner similar to that of monensin, but, at the concentrations used in this study, laidlomycin propionate seems to be less potent than monensin in inhibiting serine uptake and cell yield.
Necrotrophic effector-triggered susceptibility (NETS) underlies the barley–Pyrenophora teres f. teres interaction specific to chromosome 6H

Summary Barley net form net blotch (NFNB), caused by the necrotrophic fungus Pyrenophora teres f. teres, is a destructive foliar disease in barley-growing regions worldwide. Little is known about the genetic and molecular basis of this pathosystem. Here, we identified a small secreted proteinaceous necrotrophic effector (NE), designated PttNE1, from intercellular wash fluids of the susceptible barley line Hector after inoculation with P. teres f. teres isolate 0–1. Using a barley recombinant inbred line (RIL) population developed from a cross between the sensitive/susceptible line Hector and the insensitive/resistant line NDB 112 (HN population), sensitivity to PttNE1, which we have named SPN1, mapped to a common resistance/susceptibility region on barley chromosome 6H. PttNE1–SPN1 interaction accounted for 31% of the disease variation when the HN population was inoculated with the 0–1 isolate. Strong accumulation of hydrogen peroxide and increased levels of electrolyte leakage were associated with the susceptible reaction, but not the resistant reaction. In addition, the HN RIL population was evaluated for its reactions to 10 geographically diverse P. teres f. teres isolates. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping led to the identification of at least 10 genomic regions associated with disease, with chromosomes 3H and 6H harbouring major QTLs for resistance/susceptibility. SPN1 was associated with all the 6H QTLs, except one. Collectively, this information indicates that the barley–P. teres f. teres pathosystem follows, at least partially, an NE-triggered susceptibility (NETS) model that has been described in other necrotrophic fungal disease systems, especially in the Dothideomycete class of fungi.
Friedel oscillations near Kondo impurities : A comparison of numerical calculation methods

Recently, Affleck et al. derived the existence of Friedel oscillations in the presence of a Kondo impurity. They supported their analytic derivation by numerical calculations using Wilson's numerical renormalization group (NRG). In this paper the size of the Friedel oscillations is calculated with the Friedel artificially inserted resonance (FAIR) method which has been recently developed. The results of NRG and FAIR are compared. The development of Friedel oscillations with a phase shift of $\ensuremath{\pi}/2$ outside of the Kondo radius is confirmed.
A new method for proving termination of AC-rewrite systems

A new method, which extends the lexicographic recursive path ordering of Dershowitz and Kamin and Levy, to prove termination of associative-commutative (AC) rewrite systems is proposed. Instead of comparing the arguments of an AC-operator using the multiset extension, we partition them into disjoint subsets and each subset is used only once for comparison. To preserve transitivity, we introduce two techniques—pseudocopying and elevating of arguments of an AC operator. This method imposes no restrictions at all on the underlying precedence relation on function symbols. It can therefore prove termination of a much more extensive class of AC rewrite systems, than previous methods such as associative path ordering which restrict AC operators to be minimal or sub-minimal in precedence. A number of examples illustrating the power of the approach are discussed. The method has been implemented in SUTRA (formerly called RRL, Rewrite Rule Laboratory), a theorem proving environment based on rewrite techniques and completion.
Do Antidiscrimination Regimes Discriminate? Processing Claims through Administrative and Legal 'Pyramids' and the Role of the Plaintiffs' Bar: A California Case Study

The vast majority of studies of the processing of employment discrimination claims have examined federal Title VII litigation and the EEOC. In virtually every state, however, claimants have the option of pursuing the same claims with state Fair Employment Employment Agencies (FEPA’s). State law claimants can have their claims handled by an administrative agency or, with a “right to sue” letter from that agency, in state court. Access to the state court option is allocated, with few exceptions, by the private decisions of the plaintiffs’ bar. We use our extensive study of the California FEPA to examine differences in outcomes through the administrative or litigative path. Using sequential logistic regression, we examine the path of these cases and differences in outcome, controlling for a large number of variables (made possibly by a dataset of 212,144 cases). We find troubling indications that the antidiscrimination regime itself operates to discriminate against members of the very groups it was created to protect: racial minorities, particularly African Americans, and women.
Mitral Valve Replacement for Infective Endocarditis With Annular Abscess: Annular Reconstruction

Mitral valve infective endocarditis (IE) is the most common form of left-sided IE. A mitral annular abscess is present in 15% of cases of mitral valve IE. Annular abscesses are almost always located in the posterior mitral annulus. The presence of an annular abscess mandates careful debridement and reconstruction of the atrioventricular (AV) groove with a patch, prior to mitral valve replacement. We use a bovine pericardial patch to reconstruct the posterior annulus. The patch is fashioned to cover the defect by at least 1 – 2 cm circumferentially and is anchored with a running suture, starting at the deepest location in the ventricle and working in both directions toward the atrium. This suture line then extends across the AV groove and anchors the patch to the posterior left atrium. Close spacing of sutures, solid bites in the myocardium, and gentle tension on the suture assures a reliable and hemostatic repair.
Preferences and Correlated Uncertainties in Engineering Design

The Method of Imprecision (MO I) is a multi-objective design method that maximizes the overall degree of both design and performance preferences. Sets of design variables are iteratively selected, and the corresponding performances are approximately computed. The designer’s judgment (expressed as preferences) are combined (aggregated) with the customer’s preferences, to determine the overall preference for sets of points in the design space. In addition to degrees of preference for values of the design and performance variables, engineering design problems also typically include uncertainties caused by uncontrolled variations, for example, measuring and fabrication limitations. This paper illustrates the computation of expected preference for cases where the uncertainties are uncorrelated, and also where the uncertainties are correlated. The result is a “best” set of design variable values for engineering problems, where the overall aggregated preference is maximized. As is illustrated by the examples shown here, where both preferences and uncontrolled variations are present, the presence of uncertainties can have an important effect on the choice of the overall best set of design variable values.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Purine catabolic enzymes in human synovial fluids.

The metabolic derangements that cause or are associated with osteoarthritis (OA), calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystal deposition disease and Milwaukee shoulder syndrome (MSS, also called basic calcium phosphate [BCP] arthropathy) are poorly understood. Observation of elevated concentrations of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) in synovial fluid compared to plasma from patients with each of these diseases suggest a role for PPi in these arthropathies (1–3). Tenebaum, et al, have found that extracts of articular cartilage from patients with OA and CPPD deposition contain elevated activities of ATP pyrophosphohydrolase (NPPH) and 5′-nucleotidase (5NT) compared to normal cartilage with the highest activities found in CPPD-containing cartilage (4). Increased activities of these two enzymes, which are ecto-enzymes in articular cartilage (5–7), theoretically could contribute to the pathogenesis of these arthropathies by causing increased PPi accumulation (Figure 1). Synovial fluid adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity has recently been reported to be elevated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared to OA (8). We have measured the activity of these three enzymes plus alkaline phosphatase (AP) in synovial fluids from 173 patients with well-characterized arthropathies to determine the relationship between the activities of these enzymes and various diseases.
Measurements of Wall Formation Forces in an Acoustic Resonator

Acoustic or electromagnetic shaping in resonators can form thin walled structures from pulverized materials. The technology is applicable to a wide variety of materials, particle shapes, and sizes. While radiation force models adequately capture the transport of particles towards the nodal surfaces where walls form, the actual wall formation process involves complex particle-field and interparticle forces. A finite element computation is used along with pulsed laser particle image velocimetry for air movement, and particle tracking velocimetry for particle movement, to close the gap between predictions and measurements. Non-intrusive force measurement is attempted by deriving the acceleration field of particles, from velocity field data. Results are compared with particle acceleration computed from velocity calculations using the finite element code. The predicted acoustic velocity field from the standing wave pattern in the resonator, is compared with measurements. The difference between the computed particle velocity and the acoustic velocity is used to assess the relative roles of fluid dynamic drag and radiation forces on the acceleration of the particles. The measured particle acceleration does differ substantially and consistently from the computed values, showing the effect of the unmodeled near-field particle-field interaction forces.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Effects of Sunday Sales Restrictions on Overall and Day-Specific Alcohol Consumption : Evidence From Canada

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of Sunday alcohol-sales policies on day-specifi c and overall alcohol consumption. Method: Individual-level data on overall and day-specific alcohol consumption from Canada's National Population Health Surveys, 1994-1999, were linked to province-level policy variation in whether a Sunday sales restriction was present. We compared individuals in provinces with sales restrictions with those in provinces without such restrictions, and we estimated models of day-specifi c and overall alcohol consumption. We used a standard cross-section model as well as a quasi-experimental approach that relied on Ontario's liberalization of Sunday sales in 1997. Results: Sunday sales were associated with a signifi cant increase in drinking on Sundays of 7% to 15%. We found evidence of substitution away from drinking on Saturdays and no evidence for increases in overall drinking. Conclusions: Our results suggest that repealing Sunday sales prohibitions is unlikely to result in increased overall alcohol consumption, although such liberalizations may change the within-week distribution. Language: en
Feeding following intraventricular injection of CA++, MG++ or pentobarbital in pigs.

The effects on food intake, of injections into the lateral ventricle of Ca++, Mg++ or equimolar mixtures of the 2 ions have been studied in pigs. The chloride salts were made up in normal saline which together with 1.35 percent NaCl was used as a control injection. Dosages of 12.5 μmoles, 25 μmoles, or 50 μmoles either Ca++ or Mg++ elicited increased food intake in the 30 min following the injection and there was a predominantly linear feeding response to increasing concentration of the two ions. Ca++ was more effective in eliciting increased food intake than Mg++. Equimolar mixtures of Ca++ and Mg++ of 6.5 + 6.5 μmoles, 12.5 + 12.5 μmoles or 25 + 25 μmoles also increased food intake linearly and the mixture of ions was more effective than equivalent concentrations of Ca++ or Mg++ alone. No antagonism between Ca++ and Mg++ was seen with respect to food intake. Intraventricular injections of 16 μmoles of sodium pentobarbital also elicited increased food intake in the 30 min following injection. It is suggested that the ions and the barbiturate probably act by depression of periventricular neurons, particularly in the medial hypothalamus which is adjacent to the third ventricle.
DETECTION OF SIX TRANS-NEPTUNIAN BINARIES WITH NICMOS: A HIGH FRACTION OF BINARIES IN THE COLD CLASSICAL DISK

We have analyzed a homogeneous set of observations of 81 trans-Neptunian objects obtained with NIC2 on the Hubble Space Telescope with the goal of identifying partially resolved binaries. Using PSF fitting we have identified six likely binaries in addition to the three new binaries already found in this data set. We find that 11% of trans-Neptunian objects are binaries at the separation and brightness limits of NIC2. The identification of these new binaries significantly increases the known lower limit to the binary fraction among trans-Neptunian objects. The origin of such a high fraction of binaries remains to be determined. Most interestingly, detectable binaries appear to be about 4 times more common among the cold classical disk than in the dynamically excited populations.
MODEL REDUCTION WITH GEOMETRIC STIFFENING NONLINEARITIES FOR DYNAMIC SIMULATIONS OF MULTIBODY SYSTEMS

This work investigates the implementation of nonlinear model reduction to flexible multibody dynamics. Linear elastic theory will lead to instability issues with rotating beam-like structures, due to the neglecting of the membrane-bending coupling on the beam cross-section. During the past decade, considerable efforts have been focused on the derivation of geometric nonlinear formulation based on nodal coordinates. In order to reduce the computation cost in flexible multibody dynamics, which is extremely important for complex large system simulations, modal reduction is usually implemented to a rotating flexible structure with geometric nonlinearities retained in the model. In this work, a standard model reduction process based on matrix operation is developed, and the essential geometric stiffening nonlinearities are retained in the reduced model. The time responses of a tip point on a rotating Euler–Bernoulli blade are calculated based on two nonlinear reduced models. The first reduced model is derived by the standard matrix operation from a full finite element model and the second reduced model is obtained via the Galerkin method. The matrix operation model reduction process is validated through the comparison of the simulation results obtained from these two different reduced models. An interesting phenomenon is observed in this work: In the nonlinear model, if only quadratic geometric stiffing term is retained, the two reduced models converge to the full finite element model with only one bending mode and two axial modes. While if both quadratic and cubic geometric stiffing terms are retained in the nonlinear equation, the modal-based reduced model will not converge to the finite element model unless all eigenmodes are retained, that is the reduced model has no degree of freedom reduction at all.
Neuroblastoma: What the nurse practitioner should know

Purpose: To provide a comprehensive review of the background, diagnosis, and primary care management of neuroblastoma (NBL) and to describe the pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, and diagnostic tests for the patient with NBL. Data sources: Extensive review of the worldwide scientific literature on the condition, including primary care articles and studies performed. Conclusions: NBL is one of the most common tumors of childhood and clinical presentation depends on the site of the primary tumor as well as the presence and location of any metastasis. Treatment includes a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, as well as the newer immunotherapy. Implications for practice: NBL is often identified in the primary care setting, and it is important to be able to recognize the presentation and correctly manage the disease. The clinical presentation of NBL, the vital facts needed to ensure that this diagnosis will not be overlooked, and follow-up in a primary care setting will be reviewed.
Do not delay: breast cancer and time, 1900-1970.

Until the 1960s, the central public health message about breast cancer was that women should not delay seeking medical attention for breast problems. Epidemiological, pathological, public health, and clinical writings, movies, and doctor-patient correspondence are analyzed in order to understand the durability and centrality of this “do not delay” message. Problematic assumptions about the natural history of cancer, the efficacy of surgery, and individual responsibility for disease contributed to the durability of the “do not delay” message. More important, the message catalyzed or sustained changes in the routines of ordinary women, general practitioners, surgeons, and pathologists, which led to the perception that the campaign against cancer was working. Thus a powerful set of reinforcing perceptions and behaviors maintained the centrality of the “do not delay” campaign until the era of mammography.
Optical Properties of an Ordered Array of Silica Nanospheres Embedded with Silicon Nanoclusters

The optical properties of Si nanoclusters embedded within an ordered array of silica spheres have been measured. Raman data were used to confirm the existence of the Si nanoclusters. Reflection measurements and a large photoluminescence signal demonstrated the effect of the periodic structure on the optical characteristics. The wavelength-dependent, photoluminescence decay time was in the range of 7 to 24 µs for λ=650 to λ=850 nm, respectively, implying contributions from surface or interface states.
An integrated rate equation for determining initial velocities.

The initial velocities of enzyme catalyzed reactions are usually determined by measuring the slope near the origin of a product concentration vs. time plot. However, experimentally, it may be difficult to measure the product concentration accurately in the region of linearity. An integrated rate equation has been derived which can be used to calculate initial velocities from product concentration data taken in the time range from zero until the reaction has nearly reached completion. Using the partial enzymatic mechanism E P ⇌ k − 1 k 1 E + P and the steady-state approximation, an equation, In ( 1 − [ P ] / [ P ] e q ) = − v t / [ P ] e q has been derived in which [P]is the product concentration at time t, [P]eq is the product concentration at equilibrium, and v is the initial velocity. If ln (1 −[P]/[P]eq) is plotted vs. t, v can be calculated from the slope. The advantage of this method is that measurements of [P]are not restricted to less than 10% of [P]eq to maintain linearity. In most cases ln (1−[P]/[P]eq) vs. t plots are linear up to [P]/[P]eq equal to 0·9.
Optimal Utilization of Satellite Communication Systems through Supervisory Control

Users of satellite communication systems being designed are charcterized by diversity. System designers now have the capability of serving thousands of simultaneous users; the users need not all follow the same system parameters. Diversity and characteristics are shown, and an attempt is made to list all the parameters desired by users. Usage of satellite communications systems is projected to serve a maximum of 200 000 users by means of 10 multipurpose satellites. It is shown that a supervisory control system is necessary to achieve optimal utilization of the existing resources.
Shrinkage Estimation for Functional Principal Component Scores with Application to the Population Kinetics of Plasma Folate

We present the application of a nonparametric method to performing functional principal component analysis for functional curve data that consist of measurements of a random trajectory for a sample of subjects. This design typically consists of an irregular grid of time points on which repeated measurements are taken for a number of subjects. We introduce shrinkage estimates for the functional principal component scores that serve as the random effects in the model. Scatterplot smoothing methods are used to estimate the mean function and covariance surface of this model. We propose improved estimation in the neighborhood of and at the diagonal of the covariance surface, where the measurement errors are reflected. The presence of additive measurement errors motivates shrinkage estimates for the functional principal component scores. Shrinkage estimates are developed through best linear prediction and in a generalized version, aiming at minimizing one-curve-leave-out prediction error. The estimation of individual trajectories combines data obtained from that individual as well as all other individuals. We apply our methods to new data regarding the analysis of the level of 14C-folate in plasma as a function of time since dosing of healthy adults with a small tracer dose of 14C-folic acid. A time transformation was incorporated to handle design irregularity concerning the time points on which the measurements were taken. The proposed methodology, incorporating shrinkage and data-adaptive features, is seen to be well suited for describing population kinetics of 14C-folate-specific activity and random effects, and can also be applied to other functional data analysis problems.
Neurobehavioral Mechanisms of Temporal Processing Deficits In Parkinson's Disease

Background Parkinson's disease (PD) disrupts temporal processing, but the neuronal sources of deficits and their response to dopamine (DA) therapy are not understood. Though the striatum and DA transmission are thought to be essential for timekeeping, potential working memory (WM) and executive problems could also disrupt timing. Methodology/Findings The present study addressed these issues by testing controls and PD volunteers ‘on’ and ‘off’ DA therapy as they underwent fMRI while performing a time-perception task. To distinguish systems associated with abnormalities in temporal and non-temporal processes, we separated brain activity during encoding and decision-making phases of a trial. Whereas both phases involved timekeeping, the encoding and decision phases emphasized WM and executive processes, respectively. The methods enabled exploration of both the amplitude and temporal dynamics of neural activity. First, we found that time-perception deficits were associated with striatal, cortical, and cerebellar dysfunction. Unlike studies of timed movement, our results could not be attributed to traditional roles of the striatum and cerebellum in movement. Second, for the first time we identified temporal and non-temporal sources of impaired time perception. Striatal dysfunction was found during both phases consistent with its role in timekeeping. Activation was also abnormal in a WM network (middle-frontal and parietal cortex, lateral cerebellum) during encoding and a network that modulates executive and memory functions (parahippocampus, posterior cingulate) during decision making. Third, hypoactivation typified neuronal dysfunction in PD, but was sometimes characterized by abnormal temporal dynamics (e.g., lagged, prolonged) that were not due to longer response times. Finally, DA therapy did not alleviate timing deficits. Conclusions/Significance Our findings indicate that impaired timing in PD arises from nigrostriatal and mesocortical dysfunction in systems that mediate temporal and non-temporal control-processes. However, time perception impairments were not improved by DA treatment, likely due to inadequate restoration of neuronal activity and perhaps corticostriatal effective-connectivity.
The Dirichlet problem for the Bellman equation at resonance

Abstract We generalize the Donsker–Varadhan minimax formula for the principal eigenvalue of a uniformly elliptic operator in nondivergence form to the first principal half-eigenvalue of a fully nonlinear operator which is concave (or convex) and positively homogeneous. Examples of such operators include the Bellman operator and the Pucci extremal operators. In the case that the two principal half-eigenvalues are not equal, we show that the measures which achieve the minimum in this formula provide a partial characterization of the solvability of the corresponding Dirichlet problem at resonance.
Lack of influence of isoproterenol, propranolol, and dopamine on immunoreactive parathyroid hormone and calcitonin in normal man.

Available evidencein vitro andin vivo suggests that pharmacologic doses of isoproterenol stimulate the secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcitonin (CT) and propranolol inhibits secretion. However, the findings in man are either quite modest or inconsistent. In view of this controversy, we examined the effects of isoproterenol, 0.15 µg intradermally (i.d.), dopamine, 5 µg/kg body weight over 60 min intravenously (i.v.), and propranolol, 1 mg over 5 min followed by 60 µg per min for 2 i.v. in normal human subjects. It was found that these agents did not alter serum calcium, serum immunoreactive PTH, or plasma immunoreactive CT. The findings do not support a physiologic role for biogenic amines in the control and regulation of PTH or CT secretion in normal man.
Operations research in postal services—a survey

Abstract The collection, processing and delivery of letters and packages comprise one of the largest service industries in the world. This paper provides a broad survey of the application of operations research techniques to analyze and resolve decision problems forced by postal managers in various countries. The problem areas considered include: forecasting, cost and revenue analysis, postal network design, manpower planning and scheduling, maintenance, and service characteristic measurement. The paper concludes with a brief description of the efforts to train postal managers in the use of operations research in their decision-making functions.
You’ll Never be More of a Man: Gay Male Masculinities in Academic Women’s Studies

This essay analyzes the complicated gendered landscape that academic women’s studies represents for gay male students and instructors. It uses personal experience and contemporary gender theory to explore why women’s studies is perceived to be the natural province of gay males, how gay males are interpellated as ‘‘men’’ in women’s studies, and the choices gay males face between academic feminism and popular discourses of gay rights activism. It argues that Women’s studies represents both a promising and perilous discursive space for gay males, especially those attempting to embody gender constructionist, anti-essentialist, and queer subject positions.
Fusarium species associated with millet grain from Nigeria, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe.

Grain samples of sorghum were collected from Nigeria, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe from grain sold in markets, left unharvested in the field, and stored in home storage units. The most prevalent Fusarium species isolated was F. moniliforme which accounted for 65.2% of the total Fusarium species recovered. Other species isolated were F. equiseti (8.9%), F. semitectum (8.4%), F. nygamai (7.5%), F. chlamydosporum (4.5%), and F. graminearum (3.7%). Other species isolated infrequently were F. compactum, F. solani, F. proliferatum, F. dimerum, F. avenaceum, F. sporotrichioides, F. lateritium, F. sambucinum, F. napiforme, F. oxysporum, and F. subglutinans, these species accounting for 1.8% of those recovered. Fusarium moniliforme, F. equiseti, F. nygamai, and F. semitectum were recovered from samples from all three countries. Fusarium graminearum was recovered from samples from Nigeria and Zimbabwe but not from samples from Lesotho. Fusarium moniliforme and F. nygamai are known to produce fumonisins, some of which are carcinogenic. The recovery of isolates of F. sporotrichioides from a sample from Nigeria was unexpected since this species is usually found only in temperate to cold regions.
Modeling and Optimization of Meta-Caching Assisted Transcoding

The increase of aggregate Internet bandwidth and the rapid development of 3G wireless networks demand efficient delivery of multimedia objects to all types of wireless devices. To handle requests from wireless devices at runtime, the transcoding-enabled caching proxy has been proposed to save transcoded versions to reduce the intensive computing demanded by online transcoding. Constrained by available CPU and storage, existing transcoding-enabled caching schemes always selectively cache certain transcoded versions, expecting that many future requests can be served from the cache. But such schemes treat the transcoder as a black box, leaving no room for flexible control of joint resource management between CPU and storage. In this paper, we first introduce the idea of meta-caching by looking into a transcoding procedure. Instead of caching certain selected transcoded versions in full, meta-caching identifies intermediate transcoding steps from which certain intermediate results (called metadata) can be cached so that a fully transcoded version can be easily produced from the metadata with a small amount of CPU cycles. Achieving big saving in caching space with possibly small sacrifice on CPU load, the proposed meta-caching scheme provides a unique method to balance the utilization of CPU and storage resources at the proxy. We further construct a model to analyze the meta-caching scheme. Based on the analysis, we propose AMTrac, Adaptive Meta-caching for Transcoding, which adaptively applies meta-caching based on the client request patterns and available resources. Experimental results show that AMTrac can significantly improve the system throughput over existing approaches.
Dideoxy fingerprinting (ddF): A rapid and efficient screen for the presence of mutations

We describe dideoxy fingerprinting (ddF), a hybrid between dideoxy sequencing and SSCP that can detect the presence of single base and other sequence changes in PCR-amplified segments. As implemented herein, ddF involves a Sanger sequencing reaction with one dideoxynucleotide followed by nondenaturing gel electrophoresis. When ddF was used to examine segments of the human factor IX gene, 84 of 84 different mutations were detected with a very low rate of false positive signals. The approximate locations of the sequence changes could be determined from the ddF pattern and samples with different sequence changes had different fingerprints. In addition, large segments could be amplified and rapidly screened by ddF in multiple smaller subsegments. The patterns observed with ddF are instructive in that they suggest an inherent limitation in the detection of certain mutations by SSCP.
Evidence for a higher pH in the glacial ocean from boron isotopes in foraminifera

RECORDS of past changes in the pH of the oceans should provide insights into how the carbonate chemistry of the oceans has changed over time. The latter is related to changes in the atmospheric CO2 content, such as that which occurred during the last glacial-interglacial transition1. Previous studies2,3 have shown that the fractionation of boron isotopes between sea water and precipitated carbonate minerals is pH-dependent. This finding has been used to reconstruct the evolution of ocean pH over the past 20 million years by analyses of boron isotopes in the carbonate shells of foraminifera4. Here we use the same approach to estimate changes in ocean pH between the last glacial and the Holocene period. We estimate that the deep Atlantic and Pacific oceans had a pH 0.3±0.1 units higher during the last glaciation. The accompanying change in carbonate ion concentration is sufficient to account for the decrease in atmospheric pco2 during the glacial period1. These results are consistent with the hypothesis5 that the low CO2 content of the glacial atmosphere was caused by an increased ratio of organic carbon to carbonate in the 'rain' to the sea floor, which led to an increase in carbonate ion concentration (and thus in pH) of deep water without a corresponding increase in the lysocline depth.
E-series prostaglandins are potent growth inhibitors for some B lymphomas

The ability of prostaglandins (PG) to inhibit the growth of B cell lymphomas was investigated. Macrophage-secreted PGE2 was previously shown to promote unresponsiveness to antigen in normal B lymphocytes. This observation suggested that B lymphomas might also be regulated by prostanoids. Five non-PG-secreting Ly-1+ B lymphomas (CH12, CH31, CH33, NBL and WEHI-231) were incubated for 24-72 h with PGE2, PGE1 or PGF2 alpha. The level of lymphoma growth at the end of culture was determined using a colorimetric assay which detects only viable cells. A marked heterogeneity was observed with respect to the sensitivity of these lymphomas to PGE2 and PGE1. CH31 was very sensitive, being growth inhibited by as little as 10(-8) M PGE. In contrast, CH12, a more mature lymphoma, was highly resistant, whereas CH33, NBL and WEHI-231 were of intermediate resistance. All five lymphomas demonstrated little or no growth inhibition when cultured with PGF2 alpha. Moreover, unlike PGE2, PGF2 alpha failed to elevate intracellular cAMP levels. It was previously shown that CH31, CH33 and WEHI-231 could be growth inhibited by anti-immunoglobulin antibodies which cross-link surface immunoglobulin. Interestingly, these three lymphomas were rendered more sensitive to this treatment if PGE2 was present. For example, 10(-8) M PGE2 alone had little effect on CH33, but significantly augmented growth inhibition induced by suboptimal quantities of anti-immunoglobulin antibody. Cholera toxin, another agent which was found to rapidly elevate intracellular cAMP levels, also synergized with suboptimal doses of anti-immunoglobulin to induce growth inhibition. Overall these data suggest that, in vivo, macrophage-secreted prostanoids may slow the growth of some lymphomas and that anti-immunoglobulin or anti-idiotype treatment may be more effective in the presence of agents which elevate cAMP such as E-series PG.
Novel sequence variations in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene and association with major depression and antidepressant treatment response

Context Variations in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene ( BDNF ) have been associated with psychiatric disorders. Deep sequencing of the BDNF gene may identify new variations and bring further insight into psychiatric genetics. Objective To better characterize sequence variability in the BDNF gene by resequencing a genomic DNA region of 22 kilobases that contained all BDNF exons and their flanking regions. Design Case-control study. Setting University of California, Los Angeles, and University of Miami. Participants Two hundred sixty-four controls and 272 Mexican Americans with major depressive disorder (MDD) from Los Angeles who were assessed by the same bilingual clinical research team. Main Outcome Measures Identification of novel genetic polymorphisms in the BDNF gene and assessment of their frequencies and associations with MDD or antidepressant response. Results We identified 83 novel single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): 30 in untranslated regions, 4 in coding sequences, 37 in introns, and 12 in upstream regions; 3 of 4 rare novel coding SNPs were nonsynonymous. Association analyses of patients with MDD and controls showed that 6 SNPs were associated with MDD (rs12273539, rs11030103, rs6265, rs28722151, rs41282918, and rs11030101) and 2 haplotypes in different blocks (one including Val66, another near exon VIIIh) were significantly associated with MDD. One recently reported 5′ untranslated region SNP, rs61888800, was associated with antidepressant response after adjusting for age, sex, medication, and baseline score on the 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Conclusions Our data support the concept that extensive resequencing of key candidate genes can lead to the discovery of substantial numbers of new variants. Further studies using larger independent samples are needed to confirm the association of the rs61888800 SNP with antidepressant response. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT00265291
Journal writing in adult ESL: Improving practice through reflective writing

Uses of journal writing in adult English as a Second Language teacher education and classroom teaching are the focus of this chapter. Examples of journal writing discussed are teacher collaborative journals, Web-based journals, and student-teacher dialogue journals.
A Concise Set of “Large”, Symmetric Molecules for Evaluation of Modern Computational Methods

The structures of a series of strained in-cyclophanes, for which good X-ray data are available, were calculated by using a variety of ab initio and hybrid density functional (HDFT) methods. The HDFT methods were found to overestimate systematically the transannular nonbonded contact distances in these molecules. A consideration of the deficiencies of existing test sets for the evaluation of modern computational methods led to the compilation of a set of larger molecules with accurately known geometries. Twenty highly symmetric molecules were selected for which there exist high-quality X-ray structures where the molecules reside at high symmetry sites with only relatively weak intermolecular interactions. The experimental structures of these molecules were compared with the structures calculated by five computational methods [HF/3-21G(*), MP2(FC)/6-31G(d), B3LYP/6-31G(d), B3PW91/6-31G(d), and B3PW91/cc-pVDZ], and the results are discussed in the context of choosing computational methods for routine geometry optimizations.
State formation, development, and the politics of self-help in Kenya

Issues of rural development, state formation, and political effectiveness are of paramount importance in Africa today. Analysis of Kenya's Harambee self-help approach to development contributes to our understanding of these issues by clarifying not only the ways in which political and economic concerns are linked in one African nation in a hierarchy based on a patrimonial model of political behavior but also some facets of elite behavior and peasant-state relationships. This paper argues that self-help is central to Kenyan politics and hence to the operation of this model of political behavior, serving the interests and needs of both Kenyan elites and rural communities. Through their self-help projects rural Kenyans neither reject the state retreating into the economy of affection nor permit elites exclusive access to the benefits of both public and private resources. Rather, using elite networks to gain support for self-help projects, residents of rural communities improve their access to highly valued collective goods. These processes are currently being modified in some important ways by the Moi government.
Relationship Between Oil Exposure and Reproductive Parameters in Fish Collected Following the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

Following the Exxon Valdez oil spill (EVOS) in 1989, the effect of oil exposure on reproductive parameters was investigated in wild populations of female dolly varden, yellowfin sole, and pollock. Exposure to oil was the highest in the first year of sampling and decreased in the subsequent years of sampling. Both positive and negative correlations between reproductive parameters and indices of exposure were detected in varying degrees for all three species. Reproductive parameters were not measured in the first year of sampling. For those parameters found to be significantly correlated to oil exposure, an exponential regression function was used to project reproductive parameters of fish sampled in the first year of the spill. A higher proportion of dolly varden sampled in 1989 were projected to have depressed plasma estradiol-17β compared to the fish sampled in 1990.
On the Numerical Solution of Some 2-D Electromagnetic Interface Problems by the Boundary Collocation Method.

Abstract The boundary collocation method is used to solve some 2-D interface problems of microwave heating. The choice of subspace of particular solutions, and the selection of collocation points are discussed. Numerical examples are presented.
Cardiac channel gating charge movements: recovery from inactivation.

The nonlinear charge movements which occur during membrane depolarization of cardiac ventricular myocytes (QON) have been previously identified and separated, by kinetic and steady-state criteria, into constituent components arising from the gating of Na channels and Ca channels. In contrast, the nature and time course of the OFF charge movements (QOFF), which follow membrane repolarization have not been as clearly established. In order to address this question cardiac QOFF was studied using small-diameter, 17-dayold embryonic chick ventricular myocytes that can be rapidly and uniformly voltage-clamped. The application of brief (5.4 ms) depolarizing steps were employed to produce Na channel inactivation but little Ca channel inactivation. Following the return of the membrane potential to −100 mV QOFF, measured as the gating current termed IgOFF, displayed two kinetic components. Double exponential fits to IgOFF yielded time constants of a few tenths of a millisecond for the fast component (IgOFFfast) and of 1–2 ms for the slower component (IgOFFslow). The time course and voltage dependence for the slower component suggested that it might be linked to the inactivation, and the recovery from inactivation, of Na channels. In order to identify these kinetic components double-pulse protocols were employed in which the duration of the prepulse and the interval separating the prepulse and test pulse were varied. The time course for the decay of IgOFFslow following a brief inactivating prepulse was similar to the time course for the recovery of the Na channel QON (QNaRecov). Both IgOFFslow and QNaRecov preceded the recovery of the Na channel (ionic) current. The recovery from inactivation of both the Na current and QNa displayed a similar voltage dependence. These experiments have helped to identify the two components of cardiac QgOFF and, therefore, will facilitate the interpretation of further biophysical and pharmacological studies concerning cardiac Na channel and Ca channel gating charge movements.
Notes on the origin of the resinite-rich “pine needle” lithotype of the Cretaceous Cambria coal, Weston County, Wyoming

Abstract The Cretaceous Cambria coal, located in the western part of the Black Hills in Weston County, Wyoming, was mined in the late-1800's and early-1900's primarily to serve the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad on its route from Lincoln, Nebraska to Billings, Montana. The coal bed contains a distinctive resinite-rich lithotype, commonly known as the “pine needle coal.” The coal is characterized by a collodetrinite/inertodetrinite/liptodetrinite lithotype, and the liptodetrinite including the resinite, represents a degraded residue of what was originally a deposit with a greater representation of wood-derived material.