cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Management of Disappearing Liver Metastasis Following Preoperative Chemotherapy

Preoperative chemotherapy for potentially resectable colorectal liver metastases can lead to the disappearance of up to 25% of lesions on cross-sectional imaging, a phenomenon termed “disappearing liver metastasis” (DLM). While radiologic response from preoperative therapy can be seen as a desirable outcome, DLM can be a management challenge for the hepatic surgeon. Specifically, even when a metastasis “disappears,” viable malignancy remains present in up to 80% of cases. Therefore, all initially identified macroscopic disease should be resected or ablated if a curative intent strategy is being considered. Patients with smaller lesions and those deep within the hepatic parenchyma, as well as those who receive a longer duration of preoperative therapy, are at higher risk for DLM development. Early multidisciplinary case discussion of involving the hepatic surgeon is crucial to limit this conundrum. High-quality contrast-enhanced imaging prior to initiation of chemotherapy is important in order to identify all disease. Limiting the duration of chemotherapy can be useful particularly when lesions are small and when sub-lobar resections or ablations are anticipated. In some cases with small tumors which are initially resectable, proceeding directly to surgery rather than using neoadjuvant chemotherapy should be considered. While many DLM can be identified intraoperatively with a thorough examination and intraoperative ultrasonography, an attempt to treat all original sites of disease should be made, when possible. When not achievable and occult sites are left behind, these can often be followed and managed upon recurrence with a staged approach.
Effect of Fluorination on Lithium Transport and Short-Range Order in Disordered-Rocksalt-Type Lithium-Ion Battery Cathodes

Author(s): Ouyang, B; Artrith, N; Lun, Z; Jadidi, Z; Kitchaev, DA; Ji, H; Urban, A; Ceder, G | Abstract: Fluorine substitution is a critical enabler for improving the cycle life and energy density of disordered rocksalt (DRX) Li-ion battery cathode materials which offer prospects for high energy density cathodes, without the reliance on limited mineral resources. Due to the strong Li–F interaction, fluorine also is expected to modify the short-range cation order in these materials which is critical for Li-ion transport. In this work, density functional theory and Monte Carlo simulations are combined to investigate the impact of Li–F short-range ordering on the formation of Li percolation and diffusion in DRX materials. The modeling reveals that F substitution is always beneficial at sufficiently high concentrations and can, surprisingly, even facilitate percolation in compounds without Li excess, giving them the ability to incorporate more transition metal redox capacity and thereby higher energy density. It is found that for F levels below 15%, its effect can be beneficial or disadvantageous depending on the intrinsic short-range order in the unfluorinated oxide, while for high fluorination levels the effects are always beneficial. Using extensive simulations, a map is also presented showing the trade-off between transition-metal capacity, Li-transport, and synthetic accessibility, and two of the more extreme predictions are experimentally confirmed.
Mandatory Minimums and Federal Sentences

For decades, advocates, lawmakers, and scholars have lambasted mandatory minimum sentencing laws, especially in the context of federal drug prosecutions. Low-level drug defendants receiving severe mandatory sentences, including life imprisonment, make national news. In 2013, Attorney General Eric Holder attempted to rectify this problem by enacting a sweeping change to mandatory minimum drug charging policy. The policy instructed all federal prosecutors to stop charging mandatory minimums in drug trafficking cases involving low-level, nonviolent defendants. This paper shows that the charging policy did not work as intended. Although prosecutors meaningfully complied with the Memo’s charging instruction, the policy change only modestly reduced sentences for eligible defendants, and it did not reduce racial disparities in sentencing. Why didn’t the policy change work as intended? The paper examines three possible explanations for the findings. First, it argues that the Holder Memo exemplifies a problem I call redundant leniency: rather than focusing on those who could benefit the most from charging leniency, it targeted a portion of defendants who already had and used opportunities to avoid mandatory minimum sentences. Second, it argues that Holder’s reform failed to account for the many ways in which mandatory minimums are reinforced by other aspects of federal criminal law, policy, and practice, a phenomenon I call mandatory minimum entrenchment. Third, I investigate but ultimately reject the hypothesis that spillover effects on ineligible defendants might mask benefits for eligible defendants. I find suggestive evidence of spillovers among a small portion of ineligible defendants—ineligible defendants with at least one eligible co-defendant experienced sentencing reductions in the post-Memo period, while other ineligible defendants do not. The paper concludes by arguing that those hoping to address mass and racially disparate incarceration must implement more systemic reforms.
The nuanced relationship between adverse childhood experiences and recidivism risk scores among women leaving jail: A preliminary exploration

Background Women with histories of childhood trauma tend to score higher on recidivism risk/needs assessment tools, such as the Level of Service Inventory-Revised: Screening Version (LSI-R: SV). These may affect their chance of leaving custody, but risk scores may be inflated by reliance on additional items which reflect other fixed childhood events. Aims We hypothesised that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) would be related to immutable risk measures according to the LSI-R: SV, such as juvenile arrest history, rather than more mutable factors, such as criminal attitudes. Methods Two interviewer-administered questionnaires-one about ACEs and one about criminogenic risk and needs-were given to a cohort of women just after release from jail. Phi coefficients were used to test for associations between ? ACE scale scores and scores on the risk tool-the LSI-R: SV. Results ACE scale items were related to static risk item scores from the LSI-R: SV, but not to any of the dynamic risk items except psychological health. Conclusions Risk reduction is an important task in the criminal justice system, for which systematic risk assessment is an integral part of decision making. Self-reported experience of psychological health apart, only fixed historical variables were related to estimated recidivism risk. There was no relationship between the mutable constructs of attitudes towards crime or employment status and estimated risk. This raises the question of whether the risk of recidivism is increased when there is a background of childhood trauma. Implications for using risk reduction tools to inform the need for trauma-informed correctional care are discussed. Longitudinal research assessing recidivism is needed to test this further.
Labour Unrest and the Quality of Production: Evidence from the Construction Equipment Resale Market

This paper examines the construction equipment resale market to assess whether equipment produced by the world’s largest manufacturer of construction machinery, Caterpillar, experienced lower product quality in facilities that underwent contract disputes during the 1990’s. Analysis of auction data reveals that resale market participants significantly discounted machines produced in these dispute-affected facilities. Additionally, pieces of equipment produced in facilities undergoing unrest were resold more often, received worse appraisal reports, and had lower list prices. Taken together, the evidence supports the hypothesis that workmanship at dispute-affected facilities declined and that the resulting impact on the economic quality of the equipment produced was significant. The dispute was associated with at least $400 million in lost service flows due to inferior quality equipment alone.
Composition-dependent solidification cracking of aluminum-silicon alloys during laser powder bed fusion

Abstract Consistent manufacturing of volumetrically dense engineering components, free of solidification cracks by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), has been demonstrated for Al-Si alloys such as AlSi10Mg and Al12Si. The success in LPBF of these alloys is attributed to the near eutectic composition with a small freezing range. To illuminate this observation, cracking susceptibility was examined from Scheil-Gulliver solidification modeling by calculating the hot cracking susceptibility, |dT/dfS1/2|. To validate the findings from hot cracking susceptibility calculations, six binary Al-Si alloys, whose compositions were strategically chosen at hypo-, near-, and hyper-eutectic compositions, were gas atomized into alloy powders, and processed by LPBF. Only Al-Si alloys with 1.0 and 2.0 wt.% Si were found to exhibit cracking, which was predicted by relatively large magnitudes of |dT/dfS1/2|. Either as particles or with a eutectic structure, Si segregation at the intercellular boundaries was observed to define the sub-grain cellular structure. For selected compositions, measurement of the cellular structure allowed for estimation of the cooling rate to be 106 to 107 K•s−1. Excluding the alloys with solidification cracking, an increase in tensile strength and the corresponding decrease in ductility were observed with an increase in Si concentration, which were attributed to the formation of a cellular structure and the amount of Al-Si eutectic found at the intercellular boundaries.
Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction for Adolescents With Acute First-Time Patellar Dislocation With an Associated Loose Body.

Background:The management of adolescents with acute first-time patellar dislocation with an associated loose body remains a debated topic. The rate of recurrent dislocation in these patients may be...
Dental management of a 26-year-old female with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva: A case report

Purpose The purpose of the report is to present a rare case of clinical management of a 26-year-old patient with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), and discuss treatment options and possible outcomes. Summary FOP is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disorder of the connective tissue that affects one in two million people. It is characterized by multiple areas of progressive heterotopic endochondral ossifications. The symptoms typically begin with painful soft tissue swellings in the patient's first decade, which frequently occur after minor trauma, but may also happen spontaneously. The soft tissue swellings eventually form hard bony masses that cause joint limitations, growth defects, skeletal deformities, and chronic pain. The results are severely limiting to the activities of daily living and overall quality of life with the average life expectancy being 40 years of age. Medical and dental treatment, including the use of general anesthesia, may be complicated by increased risk of ossification of the soft tissues in the airway and lungs. The following case report focuses on a 26-year-old Caucasian female, with FOP. The patient presented to the Erie County Medical Center Dental clinic in Spring 2019 with generalized dental pain. She reported a history of multiple dental infections over many years which were periodically treated with antibiotics. A thorough intraoral exam and radiographs were not able to be completed upon initial presentation due to severe trismus and mobility limitations. The patient was a wheelchair user, verbal, and maintained a completely liquid diet by mouth. The patient also had a medical history significant for dysphagia and aspiration. After a substantial pre-operative optimization process, the patient was brought to the operating room for full mouth dental extractions. At the 2-week follow-up from surgery the patient showed excellent healing. Conclusion While there are greater potential risks with placing a patient with FOP patient under general anesthesia, proper management of dental disease can relieve the patient from recurrent infections and discomfort.
Quercetin Preserves Oral Cavity Health by Mitigating Inflammation and Microbial Dysbiosis

Failure to attenuate inflammation coupled with consequent microbiota changes drives the development of bone-destructive periodontitis. Quercetin, a plant-derived polyphenolic flavonoid, has been linked with health benefits in both humans and animals. Using a systematic approach, we investigated the effect of orally delivered Quercetin on host inflammatory response, oral microbial composition and periodontal disease phenotype. In vivo, quercetin supplementation diminished gingival cytokine expression, inflammatory cell infiltrate and alveolar bone loss. Microbiome analyses revealed a healthier oral microbial composition in Quercetin-treated versus vehicle-treated group characterized by reduction in the number of pathogenic species including Enterococcus, Neisseria and Pseudomonas and increase in the number of non-pathogenic Streptococcus sp. and bacterial diversity. In vitro, Quercetin diminished inflammatory cytokine production through modulating NF-κB activity in human macrophages following challenge with oral bacteria and lipopolysaccharide. Collectively, our findings reveal that Quercetin supplement instigates a balanced periodontal tissue homeostasis through limiting inflammation and fostering an oral cavity microenvironment conducive of symbiotic microbiota associated with health. This proof of concept study provides key evidence for translational studies to improve overall health.
Greening of Investor Relations

Die Idee des „Green Shareholder Value“ ist mit der wirtschaftlichen Globalisierung und dem sie begleitenden Bedeutungszuwachs der Shareholder-Interessen verbunden. Hinzu kommt das Bestreben von verschiedenen Seiten, dies mit einem Verantwortungszuwachs auf den Gebieten Nachhaltigkeit und Umweltschutz zu verknupfen.
Strained Ge channel p-type metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors grown on Si1−xGex/Si virtual substrates

We have fabricated strained Ge channel p-type metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors (p-MOSFETs) on Si0.3Ge0.7 virtual substrates. The poor interface between silicon dioxide (SiO2) and the Ge channel was eliminated by capping the strained Ge layer with a relaxed, epitaxial silicon surface layer grown at 400 °C. Ge p-MOSFETs fabricated from this structure show a hole mobility enhancement of nearly eight times that of co-processed bulk Si devices, and the Ge MOSFETs have a peak effective mobility of 1160 cm2/V s. These MOSFETs demonstrate the possibility of creating a surface channel enhancement-mode MOSFET with buried channel-like transport characteristics.
Protective Effects of IL-6 Blockade in Sepsis Are Linked to Reduced C5a Receptor Expression

IL-6 is known to be an important pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine, which is up-regulated during sepsis. Our previous work has suggested a role for IL-6 in the up-regulation of C5aR in sepsis. We reported earlier that interception of C5a or C5aR results in improved outcomes in experimental sepsis. Using the cecal ligation/puncture (CLP) model in mice, we now demonstrate that treatment with anti-IL-6 Ab (anti-IL-6) results in significantly improved survival, dependent on the amount of Ab infused. CLP animals showed significantly increased binding of 125I-labeled anti-C5aR to organs when compared to either control mice at 0 h or CLP animals infused with normal rabbit 125I-labeled IgG. Binding of 125I-labeled anti-C5aR to lung, liver, kidney, and heart was significantly decreased in anti-IL-6-treated animals 6 h after CLP. RT-PCR experiments with mRNA isolated from various organs obtained 3, 6, and 12 h after CLP demonstrated increased C5aR mRNA expression during the onset of sepsis, which was greatly suppressed in CLP mice treated with anti-IL-6. These data suggest that IL-6 plays an important role in the increased expression of C5aR in lung, liver, kidney, and heart during the development of sepsis in mice and that interception of IL-6 leads to reduced expression of C5aR and improved survival.
Emerging Collectivity in Nuclei, Shape Coexistence, and Proton‐Neutron Interactions

The growth of collectivity and phase transitional behavior in nuclei is one of the central questions facing nuclear structure studies today and in the future, especially with the advent of new generation facilities for the study of exotic nuclei. The role of the valence p‐n interaction is key. Several new developments relating to these issues will be discussed. A new interpretation of the light Pt isotopes without the need for intruder states is related to the choice of single and multiple Hilbert spaces in the description of spherical‐deformed transition regions. A new set of empirical proton‐neutron interactions, extracted from double differences of atomic masses, shows striking bifurcations near closed shells, a generic relation to shell £lling, and an empirical correlation to the different growth rates of collectivity in particle‐particle and particle‐hole regions. Finally, an extensive series of (p,t) experiments to locate 0+ states in a broad range of transitional and deformed nuclei has disclosed a number of new features of these modes ranging from evidence from non‐collective degrees of freedom to the statistics of nearest neighbor spaces and a new signature for critical point nuclei.
Liver structure in nonfatal malaria.

Summary 1.In 20 patients with acute nonfatal malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax, tissue for biopsy was obtained by peritoneoscopy and in 5 of these patients again 6 to 8 weeks later. 2.In 5 patients the microscopic appearance of the liver was normal, in 10 abnormalities were compatible with moderate nonspecific hepatitis, and in 5 the changes were more pronounced. The single outstanding histologic change was increased mitotic activity. Four patients who had histologic damage in the initial biopsy showed evidence of damage 6 to 8 weeks later. 3.Increased mitotic activity is thought to be due to a direct irritating effect of the parasite or its products directly on the liver cell.
Stability multipliers for MIMO monotone nonlinearities

For block structured monotone or incrementally positive n-dimensional nonlinearities, the largest class of convolution operators (multipliers) that preserve positivity is derived. These multipliers can be used in conjunction with positivity and IQC stability criteria to evaluate stability and robustness of MIMO feedback systems.
Broadband linear array with photoconductive attenuators

This paper describes the design, construction, and testing of an 8 element broadband array with photoconductive attenuators at each broadband monopole element. The photoconductive attenuators are controlled by an IR LED and vary between on and off with a small reflection coefficient and small insertion loss. Test results for the elements and array are presented. Low sidelobe Chebyshev amplitude tapers are demonstrated by controlling the illumination of the photoconductive weights.
Sequential processes in image generation.

Abstract The results reported in this paper indicate that images of simple two-dimensional patterns are formed sequentially. Segments of block letters were imaged in roughly the order in which most people draw the letters, and segments of novel patterns were imaged in the order in which the segments were learned. These results were shown not to be an artifact of how people scan over images once they are formed, and could not have been due to experimenter expectancy effects. In addition, a new objective methodology indicated that images of complex letters required more time to generate, and the increases in time with complexity were very similar to those obtained simply by measuring the time subjects required to report that images had been formed.
A regularization method for extrapolation of solar potential magnetic fields

The mathematical basis of a Tikhonov regularization method for extrapolating the chromospheric-coronal magnetic field using photospheric vector magnetograms is discussed. The basic techniques show that the Cauchy initial value problem can be formulated for potential magnetic fields. The potential field analysis considers a set of linear, elliptic partial differential equations. It is found that, by introducing an appropriate smoothing of the initial data of the Cauchy potential problem, an approximate Fourier integral solution is found, and an upper bound to the error in the solution is derived. This specific regularization technique, which is a function of magnetograph measurement sensitivities, provides a method to extrapolate the potential magnetic field above an active region into the chromosphere and low corona.
Masking of the signal for lateralization of tones

Elliott and Wilbanks (1980) have shown that when listeners attempt to localize a tone in noise, the “signal” for lateralization is the change in the interaural phase between tone plus noise and the interaural phase of the noise alone. This “signal” can be masked by increasing the level of the noise and by reducing the interaural correlation of the noise. Data are presented showing how the masking of the signal for lateralization varies as a function of noise correlation and tone frequency. The results are interpreted in terms of the vector model of detection and localization.
Dermatology Potpouri PEARLY PENILE PAPULES

Pearly penile papules are common but not commonly seen in a physician9s office. These multiple, white, coronal papules are rarely, if ever, the source of a disease but may cause the adolescent and young adult patient some surprise when they are first noticed. "Discovery" may occur after careful self-examination following suspected contact with venereal disease, sexual exposure, masturbation, or other situations that may be associated with anxiety. Frequently, the patient believes that the lesions originated "overnight"; this is never the case and usually represents inaccurate observation. Lesions of pearly penile papules are characteristic in morphology and locale. They occur exclusively in postpubertal patients. Neinstein and Goldenring1 found pearly penile papules in 23 of 151 (15.2%) boys and men ranging from 11 to 22 years of age. Lesions were not noted in patients less than 14 years old or with a sexual maturity rating less than a Tanner 3. Glicksman and Freeman2 examined 229 men and found these lesions in 45 (20%). There does not appear to be any racial tendency, and whereas one series found a greater percentage in uncircumcised patients,2 a second could not substantiate this possibility.1 Although no surveys have been done in prepubertal patients, it is my clinical impression that these lesions do not occur in this age group.
The vibrational spectra and structure of B6H62− and 1, 6‐C2B4H6

The infrared and Raman spectra of the cesium and tetramethylammonium salts of the hexahydro-clovohexaborate dianion (B6H62−) are reported and the vibrational fundamentals assigned in detail. An analysis of the fundamental vibrations of this dianion and the isoelectronic carborane, 1, 6-C2B4H6, shows the latter to have stronger BH and BB bonds.
Formation and failure of volcanic debris dams in the Chakachatna River valley associated with eruptions of the Spurr volcanic complex, Alaska

Abstract The formation of lahars and a debris avalanche during Holocene eruptions of the Spurr volcanic complex in south-central Alaska have led to the development of volcanic debris dams in the Chakachatna River valley. Debris dams composed of lahar and debris-avalanche deposits formed at least five times in the last 8000–10,000 years and most recently during eruptions of Crater Peak vent in 1953 and 1992. Water impounded by a large debris avalanche of early Holocene (?) age may have destabilized an upstream glacier-dammed lake causing a catastrophic flood on the Chakachatna River. A large alluvial fan just downstream of the debris-avalanche deposit is strewn with boulders and blocks and is probably the deposit generated by this flood. Application of a physically based dam-break model yields estimates of peak discharge ( Q p ) attained during failure of the debris-avalanche dam in the range 10 4 Q p 6 m 3 s −1 for plausible breach erosion rates of 10–100 m h −1 . Smaller, short-lived, lahar dams that formed during historical eruptions in 1953, and 1992, impounded smaller lakes in the upper Chakachatna River valley and peak flows attained during failure of these volcanic debris dams were in the range 10 3 Q p 4 m 3 s −1 for plausible breach erosion rates. Volcanic debris dams have formed at other volcanoes in the Cook Inlet region, Aleutian arc, and Wrangell Mountains but apparently did not fail rapidly or result in large or catastrophic outflows. Steep valley topography and frequent eruptions at volcanoes in this region make for significant hazards associated with the formation and failure of volcanic debris dams.
Liquefaction of newsprint and cellulose in tetralin under moderate reaction conditions

Abstract Liquefaction of newsprint and cellulose in tetralin at 350°C and pressure of 1.07–2.51 MPa for 1 h resulted in their 37% and 40% by weight conversion to organic liquids, respectively. A significant amount of water was also formed. The gases produced consisted of mainly CH 4 and CO. The total amount of gases produced was about 3–5% of the original amount of solid charged to the reactor. A first order kinetic model was proposed for the conversion of newsprint and cellulose. Rate constants and Arrhenius parameters were also calculated. Material balance for the process showed a good correlation between the carbon and oxygen contents of the reactant solid and products. Data indicate that most of the hydrogen supplied to the products is supplied by the solvent (tetralin). Fractionation of liquid products show that a major portion can be classified as pentane-soluble and asphaltenes with negligible benzene-insoluble fraction. The molecular weight distribution of the three fractions for the liquids obtained from newsprint and cellulose liquefaction was determined by size exclusion chromatography.
Dictionary look-up with small errors

Let W be a set of n binary strings of length m each. We are interested in designing data structures for W that can answer d-queries quickly, that is, given a binary string α, decide whether there is any member of W within Hamming distance d of α. This problem, originally raised by Minsky and Papert [MP], remains a challenge in data structure design. In this paper, we make an initial effort towards a theoretical study of the small d case. Our main result is a data structure that achieves O(m log log n) query time with O(nm log m) space for the d = 1 case.
Protamine reversal of anticoagulation achieved with a low molecular weight heparin. The effects on eicosanoids, clotting and complement factors

Hemodynamic and hematologic effects of protamine reversal of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) anticoagulation with and without protamine pretreatment, as well as reversal of anticoagulation with unfractionated standard heparin (SH), were studied in canine subjects. Protamine reversal caused less severe thrombocytopenia in the two LMWH groups compared to SH animals, while neutropenia occurred equally in all groups. Cl-esterase inhibitor levels were minimally increased, whereas C3 levels and leucotriene levels were unaltered. TxB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha increased during protamine reversal of LMWH anticoagulation. TCT and APTT were affected less with LMWH than SH anticoagulation. Anti-Xa levels increased with anticoagulation in all animals, but protamine did not reverse the elevated anti-Xa levels in LMWH anticoagulated dogs to the same degree as occurred with SH anticoagulation. TCT, APTT and bleeding times were normalized by protamine in all animals. Protamine reversal of LMWH anticoagulation with or without protamine pretreatment did not reveal any clear differences in eicosanoids or complement factors compared to SH anticoagulation, although differences in anti-Xa activity clearly separated these two heparins.
Risk estimates of liver cancer due to aflatoxin exposure from peanuts and peanut products

An assessment was undertaken of the risk of liver cancer in the USA associated with aflatoxin ingestion from peanuts. Both laboratory-animal data and epidemiological data collected from the scientific literature and several prominent mathematical extrapolation techniques were used. Risk estimates differed by a factor of greater than 1000 when the extrapolated results of three selected animal studies were analysed. Dose-response data for the male Fischer rat, the most sensitive mammalian species studied, produced an estimate of 158 cases of liver cancer per year in the USA at current levels of aflatoxin exposure. An estimate of 58 annual cases was predicted on the basis of epidemiological data of populations in Africa and Thailand.
A framework for cross-disciplinary hypothesis generation

The complexity of cross-disciplinary knowledge discovery is two-fold: integration of vast amount of information in disparate silos, and dissemination of discovery to stakeholders with different interests. Here we propose a framework that combines Semantic Web technology, graph algorithms, and user profiling to discover and prioritize novel associations among biomedical entities across disciplines. A proof-of-concept system was developed and tested through case studies tailored for three different user groups involved in colorectal cancer (CRC). In this document, we describe in detail the major components of the system and summarize the results of the case studies. The results demonstrate the potential of user profiling and semantic graphs in discovering novel associations that are intellectually engaging to a cross-disciplinary audience.
The association between violence and lifetime suicidal thoughts and behaviors in individuals treated for substance use disorders

Abstract Objective The present study examined the association between lifetime violent behavior and suicidal thoughts and attempts in a national sample of patients seeking substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Method A large national sample of adults entering substance use disorder treatment (N = 6,233) was examined. After describing the correlates of prior suicidal thoughts and attempt(s) in this sample, we examined the association between self-report of lifetime violence and suicidal ideation, a single prior attempt and multiple prior attempts in patients seeking SUD treatment. Results In bivariate analyses, individuals with prior violence were more likely to report suicidal ideation, single and multiple suicide attempts than those without prior violence. These associations remained significant after controlling for demographic factors, symptoms of depression, and childhood victimization. In examinations of specific types of violence, more extreme forms of violence (i.e., murder, rape) were most strongly associated with risk of multiple suicide attempts. Conclusions Prior violence is consistently associated with greater risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors in patients seeking SUD treatment. Treatment providers should be aware that those patients with some of the greatest violence in their past are also those at elevated risk for harm to themselves.
Use of the Abbé flap in revision of the bilateral cleft lip-nose deformity

Use of the versatile Abbe flap for lip-nose revision of a representative adult with bilateral cleft lip and palate is reported. The deformity is discussed, and the surgical plans are developed and executed. Presented is a technique for reliably securing the lateral orbicularis oris muscle components to the philtrum, which ensures viability of the transposed flap and provides functional continuity across the midline while accentuating the philtral dimple.
Exclusion as a means of control of the European corn borer in sweet peppers.

Synthetic netting of various meshes was tested in small replicated enclosures in 1970 for control vs. Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner) on sweet peppers. In 1971 a 4-mesh, black, knitted, polypropylene netting was tested in a large field enclosure. The enclosure functioned effectively vs. this pest and provided a favorable environment for pepper production.
Wavelet Meets Actogram

A variety of methods to determine phase markers and period length from experimental data sets have traditionally assumed a rhythm of fixed period and amplitude. But most biological oscillations exhibit fluctuations in both period and amplitude, leading to the recent interest in the application of wavelet transforms that can measure how rhythms vary over time. Here we examine how wavelet-based methods can be extended to the analysis of conventional actograms, including the detection of onsets in circadian activity and temperature rhythms of rodents.
Relativistic treatment of 0 + (p,p')0 - transitions

0/sup +/..-->..0/sup -/ transitions by medium energy protons are studied in a relativistic impulse approximation treatment. We explicitly show the appearance of nonzero values for some spin observables, e.g., the analyzing power, which vanish in an equivalent nonrelativistic treatment. We compare our calculation with experiment and find qualitative agreement.
Motor skills of infant rhesus monkeys with thalidomide-induced forelimb malformations.

The motor skills of 2 infant rhesus monkeys with thalidomide-induced forelimb malformations were compared with those of normal infants of similar age and sex over an 8-month period. In general, the experimental animals engaged in locomotor and manipulatory activities at about the same frequency as the normal subjects, but did so by development of compensatory response patterns. For instance, feet and mouth were used for activities that the normal animal performs manually.
A dual mechanism for H → D exchange in 1,2,4-triazines

Abstract H-3 of a series of 1,2,4-triazines is subject to base-catalyzed H→ D exchange. This exchange appears to occur via an anionic intermediate. Under neutral conditions, H-3 → D-3 exchange occurs via a covalently hydrated intermediate, in those 1,2,4-triazines where covalent hydration has been shown to take place in acidic media.
Proactive interference in short-term recall by aphasic, brain-damaged nonaphasic and normal subjects

Abstract Aphasic, brain-damaged nonaphasic and normal subjects performed a short-term recall task, and groups were compared with regard to (1) the amount of proactive interference occurring in short-term memory and (2) amount of proactive interference release occurring in short-term memory as a result of changing stimulus material. The aphasic subjects had, in general, mild communication problems. Results were that groups demonstrated approximately the same degrees of proactive interference and proactive interference release. However, the aphasic subjects were able to recall fewer items than the other subjects. The relatively poor recall by the aphasic subjects appeared due to factors operating within trials during the recall task.
MMP-2 suppression abrogates irradiation-induced microtubule formation in endothelial cells by inhibiting αvβ3-mediated SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling

The majority of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) tumors recur after radiation (IR) treatment due to increased angiogenesis and IR-induced signaling events in endothelial cells (ECs) that are involved in tumor neovascularization; however, these signaling events have yet to be well characterized. In the present study, we observed that IR (8 Gy) significantly elevated MMP-2 expression and gelatinolytic activity in 4910 and 5310 human GBM xenograft cells. In addition, ECs treated with tumor-conditioned media (CM) obtained from IR-treated 4910 and 5310 cells showed increased microtubule formation. In view of this finding, we investigated the possible anti-angiogenic effects of MMP-2 downregulation using siRNA (pM.si) in IR-treated cells. We also determined the effect of CM obtained from mock, pSV (scrambled vector) and pMMP-2.si on endothelial cell growth and vessel formation. pM.si-CM-treated ECs showed inhibited IR-CM-induced SDF-1, CXCR4, phospho-PI3K and phospho-AKT and αvβ3 expression levels. In vitro angiogenesis assays also showed that the pM.si+IR decreased IR-induced vessel formation in ECs. Immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation experiments indicated the abrogation of αvβ3-SDF-1 interaction in pM.si-CM-treated ECs when compared to mock or pSV treatments. External supplementation of either rhMMP-2 or rhSDF-1 counteracted and noticeably reversed pM.si-inhibited SDF-1, CXCR4, phospho-PI3K and phospho-AKT expression levels and angiogenesis, thereby confirming the role of MMP-2 in the regulation of αvβ3-mediated SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling. In addition to the in vitro results, the in vivo mouse dorsal air sac model also showed reduced angiogenesis after injection of pM.si alone or in combination with IR-treated xenograft cells. In contrast, injection of mock or pSV-treated cells resulted in robust formation of characteristic neovascularization. Collectively, our data demonstrate the role of MMP-2 in the regulation of SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling-mediated angiogenesis in ECs and show the anti-angiogenic efficacy of combining MMP-2 downregulation and IR when treating patients with GBM in the future.
Rotational isomeric state theory applied to the stiffness prediction of an anion polymer electrolyte membrane

While the acidic polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) Nafion® has garnered considerable attention, the active response of basic PEMs offers another realm of potential applications. For instance, the basic PEM Selemion® is currently being considered in the development of a CO2 separation prototype device to be employed in coal power plant flue gas. The mechanical integrity of this material and subsequent effects in active response in this harsh environment will become important in prototype development. A multiscale modeling approach based on rotational isomeric state theory in combination with a Monte Carlo methodology may be employed to study mechanical integrity. The approach has the potential to be adapted to address property change of any PEM in the presence of foreign species (reinforcing or poisoning), as well as temperature and hydration variations. The conformational characteristics of the Selemion® polymer chain and the cluster morphology in the polymer matrix are considered in the prediction of the stiffness of Selemion® in specific states.
Motor vehicle drivers’ injuries in train–motor vehicle crashes

The objectives of this research were to: (1) identify a more suitable model for modeling injury severity of motor vehicle drivers involved in train-motor vehicle crashes at highway-rail grade crossings from among three commonly used injury severity models and (2) to investigate factors associated with injury severity levels of motor vehicle drivers involved in train-motor vehicle crashes at such crossings. The 2009-2013 highway-rail grade crossing crash data and the national highway-rail crossing inventory data were combined to produce the analysis dataset. Four-year (2009-2012) data were used for model estimation while 2013 data were used for model validation. The three injury severity levels-fatal, injury and no injury-were based on the reported intensity of motor-vehicle drivers' injuries at highway-rail grade crossings. The three injury severity models evaluated were: ordered probit, multinomial logit and random parameter logit. A comparison of the three models based on different criteria showed that the random parameter logit model and multinomial logit model were more suitable for injury severity analysis of motor vehicle drivers involved in crashes at highway-rail grade crossings. Some of the factors that increased the likelihood of more severe crashes included higher train and vehicle speeds, freight trains, older drivers, and female drivers. Where feasible, reducing train and motor vehicle speeds and nighttime lighting may help reduce injury severities of motor vehicle drivers.
Alfven ion-cyclotron instability: Its physical mechanism and observation in computer simulation

The physical mechanism of the Alfven ion-cyclotron instability due to ion-temperature anisotropy in a high-..beta.. plasma is explored. We have observed evidence for the proposed mechanism in runs on a magnetostatic particle simulation code. Saturation and stabilization of the instability are discussed on the basis of the present mechanism.
Student laptop ownership requirement and centralization of information technology services at a large public university

A large, highly ranked public university implemented a requirement for all incoming undergraduates to own a laptop computer starting in Fall 2000. To control increased expenditures for information technology, this requirement has shifted some of the cost of technology to students by decreasing the need for centralized general-purpose computing laboratories.At the same time, a shift towards centralized academic computing support occurred. This shift was away from information technology resources, services and support based in individual departments. This shift, engineered by the newly formed office of the Chief Information Officer (CIO), was envisioned to generate cost savings through economies of scale.The educational impact of the laptop requirement is starting to be felt, but adoption is not widespread in daily classroom use. Envisioned cost savings have not yet become apparent. However, laptop ownership has enabled some new classroom activities and helped to reinforce the leading-edge image of the university.
Pilot-scale experimental and theoretical investigations into the thermal destruction of a Bacillus anthracis surrogate embedded in building decontamination residue bundles.

Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis) spores were released through the U.S. mail system in 2001, highlighting the need to develop efficacious methods of decontaminating and disposing of materials contaminated with biological agents. Incineration of building decontamination residue is a disposal option for such material, although the complete inactivation of bacterial spores via this technique is not a certainty. Tests revealed that under some circumstances, Geobacillus stearothermophilus (G. stearothermophilus; a surrogate for B. anthracis) spores embedded in building materials remained active after 35 min in a pilot-scale incinerator and survived with internal material bundle temperatures reaching over 500 °C. A model was also developed to predict survival of a bacterial spore population undergoing thermal treatment in an incinerator using the thermal destruction kinetic parameters obtained in a laboratory setting. The results of the pilot-scale incinerator experiments are compared to model predictions to as...
065 Blockade of Rage with Lentiviral Gene Therapy Accelerates Healing in Diabetic Wounds Over Time

The diabetic wound is characterized by abnormal, prolonged inflammatory activity and impaired healing. Enhanced interaction between the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and its ligands in the diabetic tissue environment has been shown to increase proinflammatory cytokines and tissue-degradative matrix metalloproteinases, resulting in decreased collagen generation. Blockade of RAGE with multiple topical applications of soluble RAGE (sRAGE) on diabetic wounds has been shown to accelerate diabetic wound closure. We investigated the potential efficacy of gene therapy as a method for enhancing sRAGE expression in the diabetic wound. Full thickness 2 × 2 cm2 excisional wounds were created on the dorsae of genetically diabetic db/db mice. Lentiviral vector (1 × 105 PFU in 1 ml saline) carrying the gene for soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (lenti-sRAGE) was injected into the wound margins and base. Mice were sacrificed at 14-, 21-, and 35-day intervals. Measurement of the residual epithelial gap showed increased healing of lenti-sRAGE-treated wounds compared to wounds treated with saline injection alone. Lenti-sRAGE-treated wounds were significantly smaller (epithelial gap ± SD) than saline-treated wounds at both 21 days (0.77 ± 0.24 cm, compared to 1.13 ± 0.30 cm; P < 0.05) and 35 days (0.51 ± 0.42 cm, compared to 0.86 ± 0.35 cm; P < 0.05). Picrosirius red staining showed that lenti-sRAGE-treated wounds had 2.23 ± 0.35 and 13.26 ± 6.25-fold increases in collagen content relative to saline-treated wounds at 21 and 35 days, respectively (P < 0.05). Preliminary CD31 staining of 21-day wounds demonstrated a twofold increase in neovascularization in lenti-sRAGE-treated wounds versus saline-treated wounds. Lentiviral gene therapy with sRAGE can accelerate diabetic wound healing over time, and genetic modification of the diabetic tissue environment to restore normal inflammatory activity could have a central role in the clinical setting. Supported by a grant from the American Diabetes Association
Attractors for non-dissipative irrotational von Karman plates with boundary damping

Abstract Long-time behavior of solutions to a von Karman plate equation is considered. The system has an unrestricted first-order perturbation and a nonlinear damping acting through free boundary conditions only. This model differs from those previously considered (e.g. in the extensive treatise (Chueshov and Lasiecka, 2010 [11] )) because the semi-flow may be of a non- gradient type: the unique continuation property is not known to hold, and there is no strict Lyapunov function on the natural finite-energy space. Consequently, global bounds on the energy, let alone the existence of an absorbing ball, cannot be a priori inferred. Moreover, the free boundary conditions are not recognized by weak solutions and some helpful estimates available for clamped, hinged or simply-supported plates cannot be invoked. It is shown that this non-monotone flow can converge to a global compact attractor with the help of viscous boundary damping and appropriately structured restoring forces acting only on the boundary or its collar .
The prevalence of mental retardation: Cross-cultural considerations from Sweden and the United States

Abstract Recent reports from Sweden and other European countries have shown a sharp disparity between their incidence and prevalence figures on mild mental retardation and similar figures in the U.S. (Grunewald, 1979; Martin, Blodgett, Edwards, Geer, & Melcher, 1974; Robinson & Robinson, 1976). The purpose of this paper is to provide a model of intellectual performance that might explain such disparities and predict future levels of occurrence of mild mental retardation. Such explanations should have relevance for our views on the development of intellectual ability as well as, on a practical level, planning the allocation of treatment resources. Such planning clearly depends upon the number of children having the condition in question. Over the past few decades we have progressed substantially in our ability to describe mental retardation and to differentiate it from conditions that superficially resemble it; such as, autism, learning disabilities, schizophrenia, etc., (Baroff, 1974; Robinson & Robinson, 1976). Our ability to identify variables that relate to mild mental retardation also has developed substantially, but correlation does not necessarily lead to understanding. One of the large set of variables that often is associated with mild mental retardation in the U.S. is poverty. But “poverty” is too broad a variable to be explanatory. Such a dimension is a surrogate factor standing in the place of other variables, not yet understood, that control, in part, the actual process, by which the child develops the condition of mild mental retardation (Kirk & Gallagher, 1983). A series of papers has been presented by psychologists in Sweden that allow us to address this issue. The ability to observe two cultures, Sweden and the U.S., that have both substantial similarities and differences provides a natural comparison of the prevalence of mental retardation that would be impossible to achieve through experimental manipulation. Prevalence is used here as the total number of cases present in a population group during a specific interval of time (Kramer, 1975).