cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reanalysis of the cocorp deep seismic reflection profile across the San Andreas fault, Parkfield, California

In 1977, COCORP recorded a short, seismic reflection test line across the San Andreas fault through Parkfield, California, where the Salinian crustal block is juxtaposed against a contrasting terrane of Franciscan and overlying material. Although analysis of this seismic line has been limited by crooked geometry, lack of cross-lines, complex terrain, possible recording noise, and perhaps most of all, its short length, gross crustal features are discernible after extensive reprocessing and reanalysis. The Salinian block southwest of the San Andreas consists of a maximum of 2 km of relatively underformed sediments overlying a reflective and inhomogeneous basement which exhibits deep, subhorizontal layering. At 8 to 10 km depth, density and amplitude of reflections markedly decay, perhaps corresponding to the base of a Salinian “granitic” crust which overlies Franciscan or other contrasting material. Northeast of the San Andreas, subhorizontal reflections suggest that Franciscan material may extend as deeply as 13 km, below which is a nonreflective zone which might represent relict oceanic crust. Reflections from Moho depths differ across the San Andreas fault. Beneath the Salinian block is a thick zone of reflections beginning at about 22 km depth, while less layered and weaker reflections seem to define the Moho discontinuity at 29 km beneath the Franciscan terrane. The San Andreas fault zone appears to be traceable as a distinct feature on the reflection section throughout the entire crust, forming a near-vertical zone about 3 km wide. In the seismogenic upper crust (down to 15 km), the fault zone is marked by sharp structural truncations and short reflection or diffraction segments. At depth, it seems to be distinguished by a nonreflective column. This vertical change in reflection character may correspond to the transition from a brittle to a ductile deformation regime.
Experimental Production of Hypercalcemia in Human Beings by Means of Irradiated Ergosterol

Since the work of Hess1 Steenbock,2 and others showing that by the administration of irradiated ergosterol in small doses it was possible to prevent or cure rickets, there has been much interest in the effect of this substance on all diseases concerned with the metabolism of calcium. A number of investigators1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 found that very large doses of irradiated ergosterol administered to experimental animals led to a rapid loss of weight and death. They observed an increase in the blood calcium and phosphorus during life and the post mortem examination showed that the arterial walls, heart muscle, stomach, lungs, kidneys, and other tissues contained deposits of calcium. The medical profession warned against the danger of excess vitamin D and viosterol was then restricted to an irradiated ergosterol content of 100 D. More recently it has been found that viosterol can be safely increased in potency with therapeutic benefit.10It is certain from animal experimentation5, 6 and from the recent obs...
Enhanced Ps-Ps Interactions due to Quantum Confinement

Slow positrons implanted into a porous silica film may efficiently form positronium (Ps) atoms that diffuse through a network of interconnected pores. At high Ps densities, the long lifetime of ortho-positronium atoms is reduced due to Ps-Ps spin dependent interactions at a rate that implies an effective free-space scattering cross section, ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{e}=(3.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}14}\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$, at least 25 times larger than the theoretical value. This enhanced interaction rate may be explained if the quantum confinement of Ps results in interpore tunneling rates that depend critically on the distribution of pore sizes, so that rather than uniformly sampling the porous matrix Ps diffusion is limited to a small subset of the pores.
Effects of lovastatin and dietary cholesterol on bile acid kinetics and bile lipid composition in healthy male subjects

We measured bile acid kinetics and bile lipids in 12 human subjects on a metabolic ward in four randomly allocated, 6-7 week periods: 1) lovastatin (40 mg b.i.d) + low cholesterol diet (mean 246 mg/day); 2) lovastatin + high cholesterol diet (mean 1071 mg/day); 3) low cholesterol diet alone; and 4) high cholesterol diet alone. Lovastatin did not significantly alter frac- tional turnover, synthesis, absorption, enterohepatic cycling, or pool sizes of bile acid measured by the Lindstedt method. The high cholesterol diet increased fractional turnover and synthesis rate of cholic acid, but not chenodeoxycholic acid, without alter- ing pool size of either bile acid. The high cholesterol diet decreased bile acid absorption, but only during lovastatin treat- ment, suggesting the possibility of a "cholestyramine-like" effect of dietary cholesterol, appreciable at least when biliary choles- terol secretion is reduced by lovastatin. llllD As in previous studies, lovastatin markedly lowered saturation index of gall- bladder bile. Increased cholesterol consumption did not sig- nificantly alter cholesterol saturation index, suggesting that dietary cholesterol may not be a major factor in cholesterol gall- stone pathogenesis.-Duane, W. C. Effects of lovastatin and dietary cholesterol on bile acid kinetics and bile lipid composi- tion in healthy male subjects. J Lipid Res. 1994. 35: 501-509.
Prosthesis following hemipelvectomy.

A MAJOR problem in the rehabilitation of patients subjected to hemipelvectomy has been the adaptation of a suitable prosthetic appliance. Owing to the rarity of this type of amputation, both the su...
Transmitting Data to Application Program by Automation Interface

For multiple application of network enquiry result, an automation interfacing method based on COM is employed with simple and effective data transmission to application, procedures of the method are introduced in detail, which would be employed in big database application system with good result.
Quantification of intraruminal recycling of microbial nitrogen using nitrogen-15.

Studies were done to derive a technique to quantify intraruminal recycling of microbial nonammonia nitrogen (NAN). After dosing 15NH4+ into the rumen, ruminal NH3N and NAN pools were sampled over time for analyses of 15N enrichment. Compartmental analysis of both pools was used to quantify the percentage of microbial NAN that recycles in the rumen. Microbial NAN does not need to be fractionated from total NAN, assuming that only microbial NAN becomes labeled with 15N and that the ratio of microbial NAN:nonmicrobial NAN remains constant over time. Based on the data obtained from eight nonlactating cattle fed 85% corn silage diets at 1.5 to 1.0% BW, percentage of intraruminal recycling of microbial NAN was related to efficiency of bacterial protein synthesis (grams of CP/100 g of OM truly digested) in a curvilinear manner (y = 100 - .073x2). From this function, recycling was predicted to be approximately 75% for dairy cows consuming 50:50 forage:concentrate diets at 3.5% of BW. However, more data are needed to evaluate intraruminal recycling of microbial NAN using this technique under different dietary conditions.
Cellular Basis of Head Direction and Contextual Cues in the Insect Brain.

Summary Animals rely upon integrated sensory information for spatial navigation. A question of wide importance in navigation is how sensory cues get transformed into neural codes that represent the animal's orientation within its proximal environment. Here, we investigated the possibility of head-direction coding in the central complex of the cockroach, Blaberus discoidalis . We used extracellular recordings in restrained animals that were rotated on a platform relative to a fixed landmark. The passive rotations allowed us to test for head-direction coding in the absence of self-generated motion cues. Our results indicate that individual cells in the central complex encode the animal's heading relative to a landmark's position in several ways. In some cells, directional tuning was established even in the absence of visual cues, suggesting that the directional code can be maintained solely based on the internal motion cues derived from the passive rotations. Additionally, some cells in the central complex encoded rotation-direction history, a navigational context cue, by increasing or decreasing the firing rate during the stationary periods following clockwise or counterclockwise rotations. Together, these results unveil head-direction cell-like activity in the insect central complex, which highly resemble similarly functioning cells in the mammalian brain that encode head direction. We predict that the observed head-orientation coding and directionally sensitive cells are essential components of the brain circuitry mediating insect navigation.
Gangnam Style and Global Visual Culture

Global visual culture has emerged as a significant art-educational site and requires a critical examination of its characteristics and properties in relation to art education theory and practices. In this article, by analyzing the viral music video, Gangnam Style (2012), and its broad popular appeal, I discuss how global visual culture facilitated by social media and networking has become participatory, transnational, and cosmopolitan while providing critical foundations and implications for art educators to address a new global culture landscape in art education. I also argue for engaging students in global learning sites for cosmopolitan and participatory learning offered in and through social media and networking.
Accurate measurement system for low loss materials

This paper reports an improved Fabry-Perot open resonator operating at 60 GHz which is used to measure the dielectric properties of low-absorbing materials. Two techniques are employed, namely, frequency-variation and cavity-length-variation techniques. High resolution can be reached as small as 10 nanometers, which makes the resonator an accurate system to provide precise measurements.
About Theory of Knowledge Organization

To understand the importance of theory in the development of scientific thought one has to rely on a thorough comprehension of the tools and paradigms of research. At the most basic level, theory is a frequently‐tested (and thereby affirmed) statement of the interacting requirements of a phenomenon. In empirical research, theory is both the accumulated wisdom of the paradigm from which hypotheses are cast and the constant reaccumulation that occurs as each hypothesis is tested. The essence of empirical theory is the notion that probability theory allows us to state with great precision the degree to which our statements likely mirror reality. In other domains theories have more the aura of accumulated statements that describe positions within a system. In sum, the presence of a theoretical basis in a domain, whether a single theory or a system of theoretical statements, implies not just the cleverness of the actors in the domain, but rather their scientific productivity. Theory exists in domains where a large quantity of research has been very productive at generating workable explanations and also at identifying inadequate or erroneous statements.
Adsorption of Antimonate by Kaolinite

The environmental fate and behavior of antimony (Sb) is controlled by adsorption processes at the solid–solution interface of surface-reactive solids. One such solid is kaolinite, which bears the aluminol (≡AlOH) surface functional group. The objectives of this study are to characterize antimonate [Sb(V) in the Sb(OH)₆– species] adsorption by kaolinite as a function of pH, ionic environment, and competing ligands (PO₄ and SO₄); to describe the reversibility of the adsorption and the influence of adsorbed Sb(V) on the surficial properties of kaolinite; and to develop predictive surface complexation models. The results of this study show adsorbed Sb(V) is at a maximum in strongly acidic suspensions, and retention decreases with increasing pH and ionic strength. Adsorption is hysteretic in pH < 5 suspensions, becoming reversible with increasing pH. The point of zero net proton charge (PZNPC) increases from 4.5 in KNO₃ to 5.6 in KSb(OH)₆. Correspondingly, the isoelectric point decreases from 4.5 in KNO₃ to <3 in KSb(OH)₆. The macroscopic findings indicate that Sb(V) is retained by a combination of inner and outersphere mechanisms, with the former dominating in acidic suspensions. The inclusion of SO₄ had little impact on the retention of Sb(V); however, PO₄ reduced Sb(V) retention. The inclusion of both inner- and outersphere complexes in the triple layer surface complexation model (TLM) provided an adequate description of the Sb(V) adsorption envelopes. Further, the TLM successfully predicted ligand retention in competitive systems without re-optimization.
Statistical Analysis of Computed Energy Landscapes to Understand Dysfunction in Pathogenic Protein Variants

The energy landscape underscores the inherent nature of proteins as dynamic systems interconverting between structures with varying energies. The protein energy landscape contains much of the information needed to characterize protein equilibrium dynamics and relate it to function. It is now possible to reconstruct energy landscapes of medium-size proteins with sufficient prior structure data. These developments turn the focus to tools for analysis and comparison of energy landscapes as a means of formulating hypotheses on the impact of sequence mutations on (dys)function via altered landscape features. We present such a method here and provide a detailed evaluation of its capabilities on an enzyme central to human biology. The work presented here opens up an interesting avenue into automated analysis and summarization of landscapes that yields itself to machine learning approaches at the energy landscape level.
Surgery in 2017: Moving towards successful penile transplantation programmes.

Implementing a successful penile transplantation programme requires a multidisciplinary approach to overcome social, institutional, and patient-related obstacles. The literature in 2017 presents controversial ethical solutions, novel research models to evaluate immunosuppression, and long-term patient reports that help advance the field towards developing successful penile transplantation programmes.
A Randomized Controlled Dosing Study of Iyengar Yoga and Coherent Breathing for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder: Impact on Suicidal Ideation and Safety Findings

Abstract Background Yoga interventions offer promise for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), yet their safety and potential impact on suicidal ideation (SI) have not been well documented. This study evaluated the safety of a randomized controlled dose-finding trial of Iyengar yoga plus coherent breathing for individuals with MDD, as well as the potential effects of the intervention on SI without intent. Methods Participants with Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) scores ≥14 and a diagnosis of MDD (using DSM-IV criteria) were randomized to either a low dose group (LDG) or high dose group (HDG) and received a 12-week manualized intervention. The LDG included two 90-min yoga classes plus three 30-min homework sessions weekly. The HDG offered three 90-min classes plus four 30-min homework sessions weekly. Results Thirty-two individuals with MDD were randomized, of which 30 completed the protocol. At screening, SI without intent was endorsed on the BDI-II by 9 participants; after completing the intervention, 8 out of 9 reported resolution of SI. There were 17 adverse events possibly-related and 15 definitely-related to the intervention. The most common protocol-related adverse event was musculoskeletal pain, which resolved over the course of the study. Conclusions The Iyengar yoga plus coherent breathing intervention was associated with the resolution of SI in 8 out of 9 participants, with mild side effects that were primarily musculoskeletal in nature. This preliminary evidence suggests that this intervention may reduce SI without intent and be safe for use in those with MDD.
3D Global Router: a Study to Optimize Congestion, Wirelength and Via for Circuit Layout

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1.
La implantación de la Agenda 21 Local en las diferentes Comunidades Autónomas. Orígenes, evolución y valoración global del proceso

The serious problem posed by the interaction between society and the environment is a challenge whose solution seems to be difficult a priori; in the last few decades, many experts have attempted to elaborate a global plan of action aimed at sustainable development. Among other alternatives is the proposal for the use of a common tool for everyone: Local Agenda 21. This article summarises the process involved in the introduction of LA21 into the Autonomous Spanish Communities and also analyses its most characteristic and relevant features. With this in mind, two aspects have been considered: on one hand, the actions and programmes promoted by different Public Administrations to initiate the LA21 and, on the other hand, measures taken to procure economic support. Last of all there is a global evaluation of the whole process.
The extraction of uranium (VI) from nitric acid solutions by di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phosphoric acid

Abstract The partition of uranium (VI) between nitric acid solutions and solutions of di-(2-ethylhexyl)-hosphoric acid (DEHPA) in kerosene have been investigated under varying conditions Changes in acidity of the organic solutions have been measured and infra-red spectra of the organic phases obtained. The mechanism of extraction is discussed in the light of the results obtained.
An Unsupervised Approach for Semantic Relation Interpretation.

In this work we propose a hybrid unsupervised approach for semantic relation extraction from Italian and English texts. The system takes as input pairs of ""distributionally similar"" terms, possibly involved in a semantic relation. To validate and label the anonymous relations holding between the terms in input, the candidate pairs of terms are looked for on the Web in the context of reliable lexico-syntactic patterns. This paper focuses on the definition of the patterns, on the measures used to assess the reliability of the suggested specific semantic relation and on the evaluation of the implemented system. So far, the system is able to extract the following types of semantic relations: hyponymy, meronymy, and co-hyponymy. The approach can however be easily extended to manage other relations by defining the appropriate battery of reliable lexico-syntactic patterns. Accuracy of the system was measured with scores of 83.3% for hyponymy, 75% for meronymy and 72.2% for co-hyponymy extraction.
Posttraumatic stress disorder in police, firefighters, and emergency dispatchers.

Abstract Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may develop after exposure to an event in which death, severe physical harm, or violence occurred or was threatened. First responders, including police, fire rescue personnel, and emergency dispatchers, have been viewed as populations at high risk for developing PTSD symptoms. Indeed, over 80% of first responders report experiencing traumatic events on the job, and it is estimated that 10–15% have been diagnosed with PTSD. However, to date, limited research has reviewed the impact and services available following these traumatic events across first responders. This review examines research regarding PTSD in police officers, firefighters, and emergency dispatchers with particular attention to the prevalence, comorbid diagnoses, risk and protective factors, and resources available to each group. A discussion of limitations of the available research in this area, and suggestions for directions that future work might take, are offered.
Predictive value of laryngeal adductor reflex testing in patients with dysphagia due to a cerebral vascular accident

Purpose: To determine the relationship between air pulse vs. touch laryngeal adductor reflex (LAR) tests and the clinical sensory findings of fiberoptic endoscopic evaluations of swallowing.Method: A retrospective review was conducted for 43 patients with dysphagia due to stroke that underwent fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing with sensory testing (FEESST). Each patient received LAR testing using air pulse or touch methodologies. Clinically, responsiveness to pharyngeal residue and responsiveness to penetration or aspiration were analysed.Result: The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for both LAR test groups indicate that LAR testing did not effectively predict sensory function during the clinical swallow evaluation. Across both LAR groups, specificity values were higher than sensitivity values. In fact, the specificity values for the light touch LAR test group were extremely high, but the negative predictive values did not support those findings. Sensitivity and positive predictive values were low for both groups.Conclusion: Although LAR testing provides valuable information regarding laryngeal sensory discrimination, the results of the current study suggest that a clinical evaluation of swallowing is critical for effectively assessing the way in which patients utilise sensory information during swallowing.
Northern and Southern Moche: The Stylistic Distinctions of Face-Neck Vessels Across Regions

This essay is an investigation of stylistic differences in the ceramic production of “face-neck” vessels from the Middle Moche Period (400-600 CE) of the Northern and Southern Moche regions. These face-neck vessels are also referred to as effigy vessels or cantaros cara gollete in Andean ceramic classifications. Face-neck vessels take the shape of human bodies where the torso and limbs have been condensed into a large globular mass; on the neck (the spout of the vessel) appears a human face in relief. In this paper, I focus on fineware face-necks rather than utilitarian wares since the majority of the vessels in this discussion originate from monumental funerary complexes for the elite. Face-neck vessels were commonly used to holds liquids like corn beer, which was consumed in ceremonial practices. By comparing vessels produced contemporaneously by Northern and Southern Moche polities, I have developed a set of distinctions in form, surface decoration, and finishing techniques that appear to distinguish each group. Using these distinctions, I argue that two face-neck vessels from the Harn Museum of Art, which have an unknown provenience, originate from the Southern Moche region between stages III and IV in the Moche ceramic sequence. In the process, I discuss burial practices, the concept of dualism in Moche culture, and the significance of mold technology (with implications for Moche funerary practice). While my research relies heavily on external observation of effigy vessels, I integrate my knowledge and experience as a ceramicist to provide insight on production processes.
Coup de Grâce for a Tough Old Bull: “Statistically Significant” Expires

Many controversies in statistics are due primarily or solely to poor quality control in journals, bad statistical textbooks, bad teaching, unclear writing, and lack of knowledge of the historical l...
Treatment modalities in sinonasal mucosal melanoma: A national cancer database analysis

Objectives/hypothesis The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of demographic factors, tumor stage, and treatment modalities for overall survival in patients with sinonasal mucosal melanoma (SNMM). Study design Retrospective database review. Methods The National Cancer Database was queried for patients of all ages with SNMM between 2004 and 2015. Univariate Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association of suspected prognostic factors with overall survival. Results A total of 1,874 patients with SNMM were included in the analysis. The 5-year overall survival was 24%. Prognostic factors associated with decreased survival include advanced age (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.03), T4 disease (HR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.09-1.89), and presence of distant metastases (HR: 3.22. 95% CI: 2.06-5.04). Improved survival was associated with surgical resection only when margins were negative (HR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.30-0.65). In patients with metastatic disease, administration of immunotherapy (HR: 0.14; 95% CI: 0.04-0.49) was associated with improved survival. Surgical approach, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy were nonsignificant predictors of survival. Conclusions This investigation is the largest to date to analyze the association of treatment modalities with overall survival in SNMM. Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment in patients with SNMM. However, administration of immunotherapy may confer survival benefit to patients with metastatic disease. Level of evidence NA Laryngoscope, 130:275-282, 2020.
Correction to: Radiation exposure to the surgeon during minimally invasive spine procedures is directly estimated by patient dose

Unfortunately, the first author surname was incorrectly published as “Harrison Farber” instead of “Farber” in original publication.
A Multiresolution Ensemble Hybrid 4DEnVar for Global Numerical Prediction

AbstractA multiresolution ensemble (MR-ENS) method is developed to resolve a wider range of scales of the background error covariance (BEC) in the hybrid four-dimensional ensemble–variational (4DEn...
Phenotypic alterations in liver cancer cells induced by mechanochemical disruption

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly fatal disease recognized as a growing global health crisis worldwide. Currently, no curative treatment is available for early-to-intermediate stage HCC, characterized by large and/or multifocal tumors. If left untreated, HCC rapidly progresses to a lethal stage due to favorable conditions for metastatic spread. Mechanochemical disruption of cellular structures can potentially induce phenotypic alterations in surviving tumor cells that prevent HCC progression. In this paper, HCC response to mechanical vibration via high-intensity focused ultrasound and a chemical disruptive agent (ethanol) was examined in vitro and in vivo. Our analysis revealed that mechanochemical disruption caused a significant overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in multiple HCC cell lines (HepG2, PLC/PRF/5, and Hep3B). This led to a decrease in cell viability and long-term proliferation due to increased expression and activity of death receptors TNFR1 and Fas. The cells that survived mechanochemical disruption had a reduced expression of cancer stem cell markers (CD133, CD90, CD49f) and a diminished colony-forming ability. Mechanochemical disruption also impeded HCC migration and their adhesion to vascular endothelium, two critical processes in hematogenous metastasis. The HCC transformation to a non-tumorigenic phenotype post mechanochemical disruption was confirmed by a lack of tumor spheroid formation in vitro and complete tumor regression in vivo. These results show that mechanochemical disruption inhibits uncontrolled proliferation and reduces tumorigenicity and aggressiveness of HCC cells through ROS overproduction and associated activation of TNF- and Fas-mediated cell death signaling. Our study identifies a novel curative therapeutic approach that can prevent the development of aggressive HCC phenotypes.
Reducing Discipline Disparities by Expanding the Black Teacher Pipeline: A Descriptive Analysis of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District

There is now a burgeoning of literature that addresses the effects of teacher racial identity on school discipline. Scholars have recently found evidence to support the hypothesis that exposure to Black teachers can significantly reduce suspensions for same-race identity students; this being particularly true for Black students in North Carolina at all grade levels. Still, additional inquiries are required to explicate how this can be implemented into reality, with a limited Black teacher workforce. To expand upon this new body of literature, the present study utilizes 12 years of employment data, and historical factors which have influenced the recruitment, hiring and retention of qualified Black teachers in the largest urban school district in North Carolina, Charlotte-Mecklenburg. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of our findings, suggesting that concerted efforts to hire and retain Black teachers should center upon drawing from currently employed teaching assistants, through a multimodal, collaborative approach. It is our intention that this article is read by teachers, school leaders, teacher education programs and policymakers.
IF THE SHOE DOESN’T FIT, TRY A DIFFERENT SHOE: A MISSED DIAGNOSIS OF ENDOCARDITIS

Endocarditis typically presents with hallmark features of fever, positive blood cultures, and specific echocardiographic findings. Atypical presentations of endocarditis can complicate the diagnosis and delay treatment. A 67 year old woman with poorly controlled diabetes and moderate mitral
Peyronie’s disease: Contemporary evaluation and management

Peyronie's disease is a common yet poorly understood condition characterized by penile pain, curvature, sexual dysfunction and psychological bother. Peyronie's disease represents a penile wound healing disorder, and is thought to arise from exuberant scarring in response to penile trauma in genetically predisposed men. In the absence of active treatment, the majority of men experience stable or worsening symptoms, with few reporting spontaneous resolution in penile curvature or other deformity. In contrast, penile pain improves or resolves in the majority of men. Treatment options vary based on symptom severity and stability. Several oral therapies are commonly prescribed, although to date there are no strong data to support any oral agents as monotherapy for Peyronie's disease. Other options including penile traction therapy and intralesional injections result in modest improvements for many patients, particularly when used early after symptom onset. Penile straightening through approaches, such as penile plication and plaque incision or partial excision and grafting, represent the most rapid and reliable approach to correct penile curvature once the symptoms have stabilized. Side-effects vary based on the type of surgery carried out, and include penile shortening, sensation changes and erectile dysfunction in the minority of men. In patients with drug refractory erectile dysfunction and Peyronie's disease, placement of a penile prosthesis will address both issues, and is associated with high levels of patient satisfaction. The current review provides a practical approach to the modern evaluation and management of patients presenting with Peyronie's disease.
Sequence analysis of the HA gene of influenza virus (H1N1) in Shenzhen from 1995 to 2007

Objective To analyze the genetic characteristics of H1N1 influenza viruses isolated in Shenzhen during 1995 to 2007. Methods The hemagglutinin(HA) gene of these viruses were sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequences was performed with Simmonic and Mega software. Results The H1N1 influenza viruses isolated in Shenzhen from 1995 to 2007 were divided into chide A, B and C. Some viruses from 2005 to 2006 clustered in the same group with the viruses of 2001. Furthermore, some of the vaccine strains recommended by WHO were found lagged behind the strains isolated in Shenzhen. Some mu-tations occurred on the antigenic sites as well as receptor-binding site(RBS). Except the viruses of 1995, the other viruses had deleted at the site 137. Conclusion Characterization of the HA gene revealed that most of the amino acid substitutions occurred on the antigenic sites and RBS. Furthermore, it was discovered that the mutations occurred on different antigenic regions in different years. Key words: H1N1; HA gene; Sequence analysis
Slow Accumulation and Elimination of Diazepam and Its Active Metabolite With Extended Treatment in the Elderly

Age-related changes in disposition of diazepam and its principal active metabolite, desmethyldiazepam (DMDZ), during and after extended dosage with diazepam were studied in healthy volunteers. Eight elderly subjects (ages 61-78 years) and 7 young subjects (21-33 years) received 2.5 mg of diazepam twice daily for 15 days. Predose (trough) concentrations of diazepam and DMDZ were measured during the 15 days of dosing, and in the postdosage washout period. Kinetic properties were determined by nonlinear regression using a sequential drug-to-metabolite pharmacokinetic model. Steady-state plasma concentrations of diazepam and DMDZ were 30% to 35% higher in elderly subjects compared to young volunteers, and steady-state clearances correspondingly lower, though differences did not reach significance. Large and significant differences were found between young and elderly groups in mean half-life of diazepam (31 vs 86 hours; P < .005) and DMDZ (40 vs 80 hours; P < .02). Half-life values from the multiple-dose study were closely correlated with values from previous single-dose studies of diazepam (R2 = 0.85) and DMDZ (R2 = 0.94) in the same subjects. With extended dosing of diazepam in the elderly, slow accumulation and delayed washout of diazepam and DMDZ is probable. After discontinuation, withdrawal or rebound effects are reduced in likelihood, but delayed recovery from sedative effects is possible due to slow elimination of active compounds. Safe treatment of elderly patients with diazepam is supported by understanding of age-related changes in pharmacologic and pharmacokinetic properties.
Abstract PO-161: Racial differences in the association of one-carbon metabolism polymorphisms and prostate cancer aggressiveness

Introduction: Prostate Cancer (PCa) disproportionately affects African Americans, as AA men are more commonly diagnosed with aggressive PCa and twice as likely to have mortality from the disease compared to European Americans (EA). The one- carbon metabolism pathway has been extensively studied for cancer development, yet little research has been reported on its association with aggressiveness of cancer at diagnosis. The purpose of our study is to determine whether there is difference by race for the impact of a DHFR 19bp polymorphism together with multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in one-carbon metabolism genes on a cohort of men diagnosed with either low-aggressive or high-aggressive PCa. Methods: DNA samples from a population-based study of 1,498 PCa subjects in the North Carolina- Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project were analyzed. The DHFR 19bp polymorphism was targeted by utilizing two TaqMan TAMRA probes, one with a FAM fluorescent probe to identify the insertion allele and one with a VIC fluorescent probe to identify the deletion allele. Six SNPs were genotyped via TaqMan SNP genotyping assays by Applied Biosystems. Chi-Square analyses were performed to examine differences in genotype between race. A multivariable logistic regression model adjusted for confounders was utilized to estimate the association of the 19bp DHFR polymorphism and one-carbon metabolism SNPs with PCa aggressiveness. Results: A total of 152 participants were excluded due to insufficient DNA samples, resulting in a sample of 1,346 participants. The analysis consisted of 993 low-aggressive and 345 high aggressive PCa cases. Chi-square analyses revealed significant frequency differences between AAs and EAs for the 19bp DHFR deletion polymorphism (31.2% vs 17.6%), as well as MTHFR rs1801131, MTHFR rs1801133, MTR rs1805087, MTHFD1 rs2236225, and MTHFD2 rs7587117 (P values Citation Format: C. Tyler Ratliff, Lora J. Rogers, L. Joseph Su. Racial differences in the association of one-carbon metabolism polymorphisms and prostate cancer aggressiveness [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: Thirteenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2020 Oct 2-4. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(12 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-161.
The Effects of Action Observation with Functional Electrical Stimulation on Corticomuscular Coherence

Objective: To investigate the action observation effects of functional electrical stimulation (FES) on the communication between motor cortex and muscle through corticomuscular coherence (CMC) analysis. Methods: Electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) of 27 healthy, nonathlete subjects were measured during action observation, FES, and action observation with FES, which lasted for 7sper session for 10 times. All trials were repeated for 30 times. Simultaneously measured EEG raw data and rectified EMG signals were used to calculate CMC. Only confidence limit values above 0.0306 were used for analysis. CMC was divided into three frequency domains, andthe grand average coherence and peak coherence were computed. Repeated ANOVA was performed to analyze the coherence value difference for each condition’s frequency band. Results: CMC showed significant differences in peak coherence and average coherence between the conditions (p<0.05). Action observation application with FES in all frequency band showed the highest peak and average coherence value. Conclusions: The results of this study are assumed to be the combination of increased eccentric information transfer from the sensory-motor cortex by action observation and an increased in concentric sensory input from the peripheral by the FES, suggesting that these are reflecting the sensorimotor integration process.
The effect of multi-nationality on the precision of management earnings forecasts

This study examines the relationship between a firm's degree of multi-nationality and its managers' earnings forecasts. Firms with a high degree of multi nationality are subject to greater uncertainty regarding earnings forecasts due to the additional risk resulting from the morecomplex multi-national environment. Prior research demonstrates that firms that fail to meet or beat market expectations experience disproportionate market losses at earnings announcement dates. The complexities and greater uncertainty resulting from higher levels of multi nationality are expected to be negatively associated with management earnings forecast precision. Results indicate that precision of management earnings forecasts is significantly negatively related to multi nationality (foreign sales/total sales and the number of geographic segments). These findings should be of interest to investors, analysts and other stakeholders who make decisions based on management earnings forecasts and to those interested in how multi-nationality affects business in general.
Purges of intelligence services: motives, methods, and consequences

The intelligence literature little addresses why national leaders purge their intelligence agencies as a variety of ‘reform’. Motives and consequences have varied dramatically over time, across cou...
The East and the West

This chapter reviews the cultural aspects of the East and the West. A wide range of differences between the East and the West is discussed in terms of the extrinsic and intrinsic differences. The extrinsic differences comprise architecture, the mode of clothing, everyday practices, and language and script, while the intrinsic differences consist of culture and value systems, attention and perception (holistic vs. analytic), problem solving (relation vs. categorization), and rhetorical structure (linear vs. roundabout). The locus of these differences is identified with respect to philosophical foundations and the characteristics of Eastern and Western cultures. The prevalent interpretations of the differences between the East and the West center on Diamond’s (1999) guns, germs, and steel, Nisbett’s (2003) geography of thought, and Logan’s (2004) alphabet effects. However, these interpretations cannot explain differences in ideologies, religious practices, and societal values among Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans. Therefore, script relativity becomes a new interpretation of the engine behind the differences among the three East-Asian nations and between the East and the West.
From Fisher to Fisher: a critical race feminist counterstory about access to U.S. higher education

Most education and legal scholarship overlook gendered-race themes in pre-Brown v. Board of Education desegregation higher education cases that remain relevant to examining post-Brown race-consciou...
Inhabiting the City

This article uses theological resources found in the work of James Wm McClendon, Jr to articulate a way for Christians, particularly baptists, to reconceptualise their purpose in a pluralistic and pluralising world. Two themes are highlighted as being especially important for such a context: a robust affirmation of the need for Christians to be receptive to others, rather than putting themselves in the position of perpetual teachers; and the importance of articulating a Christian conception of power that can counter the rise of authoritarian political movements throughout the West.
Pregnancy outcomes in very advanced maternal age women.

BACKGROUND Advanced maternal age is associated with adverse pregnancy and delivery outcomes. Few studies have directly compared outcomes between women of advanced maternal age (35–44 years old) and women of very advanced maternal age (≥45 years old). OBJECTIVE We aimed to determine the differences in outcomes between women of advanced maternal age and women of very advanced maternal age. STUDY DESIGN This was a retrospective cohort study conducted at a large urban US medical center. Demographic and obstetrical data were collected in all patients who delivered within the study window (2012–2018). Characteristics and outcomes were compared between women of advanced maternal age and women of very advanced maternal age. Chi-square analyses were used to compare categorical variables. The Student t test or Wilcoxon tests were used, depending on the distribution, to compare continuous variables. RESULTS A total of 45,435 women had delivery data for analysis. Of these women, 26,700 (59%) were not of advanced maternal age, 18,286 (40%) were of advanced maternal age, and 449 (1%) were of very advanced maternal age. Race and ethnicity varied significantly by age group. Nulliparity and postpartum hemorrhage were statistically higher in the very advanced maternal age group. Of note, cesarean delivery rates were 69.5% in the very advanced maternal age group and 39.5% in the advanced maternal age group (P 5 days after cesarean delivery were higher in neonates from mothers of very advanced maternal age. Birthweights of neonates were significantly lower in mothers of very advanced maternal age. CONCLUSION There were several important significant differences in the outcomes between women of very advanced maternal age women and women of advanced maternal age, especially concerning hypertensive disorders and cesarean delivery rates. These findings may influence patient counseling and strategies for antepartum surveillance.
Strong Edge-Coloring of Cubic Bipartite Graphs: A Counterexample.

A strong edge-coloring $\varphi$ of a graph $G$ assigns colors to edges of $G$ such that $\varphi(e_1)\ne \varphi(e_2)$ whenever $e_1$ and $e_2$ are at distance no more than 1. It is equivalent to a proper vertex coloring of the square of the line graph of $G$. In 1990 Faudree, Schelp, Gy\'{a}rf\'{a}s, and Tuza conjectured that if $G$ is a bipartite graph with maximum degree 3 and sufficiently large girth, then $G$ has a strong edge-coloring with at most 5 colors. We disprove this conjecture.
Wiregrass Tubeling Response to Postplant Herbicides

Abstract Wiregrass (Aristida beyrichiana Trin. & Rupr.) seedlings were germinated and grown in trays of 96 medium-filled conical tubes. Four-month-old seedlings were treated with Aatrex 4L (atrazin...
Scombrotoxic fish poisoning.

We report the case of a 30-year-old patient who developed scombrotoxic fish poisoning after eating cooked fresh tuna. Symptoms included a bright red rash, tightness of the chest, palpitations, anxiety, mild headache and dizziness, all of which resolved spontaneously within 2–3 h. Such poisoning results from the consumption of spoiled fish of the families Scomberesocidae or Scombridae— in particular tuna, mackerel, skipjack and bonito — which contain high levels of histidine. Incorrect storage of fish allows bacterial histidine decarboxylase to convert histidine to histamine. The ensuing symptoms are thought to result from the ingestion of histamine. Scombrotoxic fish poisoning is preventable by the correct handling and refrigeration of these fish.
Surgical skin markers impair human saphenous vein graft smooth muscle and endothelial function.

Over one million coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) and peripheral revascularization procedures are performed each year. Despite the higher patency rate of the internal mammary artery when compared with the human saphenous vein (HSV) and increased interest in other arterial conduits, HSV remains the most widely used conduit for CABG procedures. Vein graft failure rate remains high, however, approaching 40 per cent at 18 months postoperatively.1 The predominant histological finding in failed vein grafts is intimal hyperplasia, which is thought to be the manifestation of cellular responses to injury.2 Vein graft injury during intraoperative graft preparation leads to intimal hyperplasia, accelerated atherosclerosis, and subsequent graft failure.2, 3 Injurious mechanisms during graft preparation include endovascular harvesting techniques, radial distension, and choice of storage solution.1, 4, 5 Optimal vein graft preparation before surgical anastomosis is hence important for long-term graft patency.6 Vein graft marking is a practice frequently used to properly orient the graft before implantation. Originally intended for use in marking the skin area around surgical sites, surgical skin markers are sterile, inexpensive, and readily available to surgeons for vein graft marking. The chemical constituents of these markers consist of alcohol-based solvents and the dyes methylene blue or gentian violet. Vein marking with methylene blue impairs both endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent graft function.7 Similarly, gentian violet leads to a decrease in endothelium-independent relaxation to sodium nitroprusside.8 Although the deleterious effects of gentian violet and methylene blue are well established, the practice of using skin markers still remains widely accepted for CABG and peripheral vascular procedures. Although surgical skin markers are nontoxic in dermatology applications, little is known about the effects of applying the marker directly to the vein grafts. This study examined the effects of surgical skin markers on functional viability of HSV used for autologous bypass procedures.
Unearthing the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Self and Practice

Bringing the principles and characteristics of the scholarship of teaching and learning into my university classroom has helped me support the development of teaching as scholarly activity for my students while cementing my own commitment in this regard. These students are preservice teachers, who have the opportunity to conduct peer observations and provide feedback to one another establishing a learning commons of sort. While engaged in an initial practicum experience, preservice elementary teachers observe and provide feedback on each other’s teaching. This paper will describe and analyze this peer observation and feedback activity as part of the cycle of the scholarship of teaching and learning. My engagement in the scholarship of teaching and learning has also stimulated further research in this area among my peers. Establishing praxis in the scholarship of teaching and learning is beneficial at all levels of teaching and learning.