cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Palpable Adenopathy Does Not Indicate High-Volume Axillary Nodal Disease in Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer

Axillary metastases in the form of palpable adenopathy indicate the need for neoadjuvant chemotherapy or axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Patients with hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2−) disease infrequently have nodal pathologic complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and often require ALND. Sentinel lymph node biopsy is an accepted treatment for patients with two or fewer non-palpable nodal metastases who are undergoing breast conservation. The proportion of patients with HR+/HER2− disease with palpable adenopathy and two or fewer nodal metastases is unknown. Patients with cT1-T3N1 HR+/HER2− disease with palpable adenopathy were identified from a prospective database. Patients who underwent mastectomy or breast-conserving therapy with ALND were included in this study, whereas patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy were excluded. Clinicopathologic characteristics were compared between patients with two or fewer or more than two positive nodes on ALND. Of 180 patients included, 78 (43%) had two or fewer positive nodes on ALND, including 40/72 patients (56%) who underwent lumpectomy. On univariate analysis, cT1 tumor, unifocal tumor, only one palpable node, and two or fewer suspicious nodes on ultrasound were associated with two or fewer positive nodes on ALND. On multivariable analysis, number of suspicious nodes on ultrasound and cT stage were independently associated with two or fewer positive nodes on ALND. A substantial minority of patients with cT1-3N1 HR+/HER2− disease with palpable adenopathy had two or fewer positive nodes on ALND. Standard clinicopathologic features and ultrasound findings can help identify candidates for upfront sentinel lymph node biopsy as a strategy to avoid ALND. Prospective studies evaluating this approach are warranted.
Dactyls and inward gripping stance for amphibious crab-like robots on sand.

Sandy beaches are areas that challenge robots of all sizes, especially smaller scale robots. Sand can hinder locomotion and waves apply hydrodynamic forces which can displace, reorient, or even invert the robot. Crab-like legs and gaits are well suited for this environment and could be used as inspiration for an improved design of robots operating in this terrain. Tapered, curved feet (similar to crab dactyl shape) paired with a distributed inward gripping method are hypothesized to enable better anchoring in sand to resist hydrodynamic forces. This work demonstrates that crab-like legs can withstand vertical forces that are larger than the body weight (e.g., in submerged sand, the force required to lift the robot can be up to 138% of the robot weight). Such legs help the robot hold its place against hydrodynamic forces imparted by waves (e.g., compared to displacement of 42.7 mm with the original feet, crab-like feet reduced displacement to 1.6 mm in lab wave tests). These feet are compatible with walking on sandy and rocky terrain (tested at three speeds: slow, medium, and fast), albeit at reduced speeds from traditional feet. This work shows potential for future robots to utilize tapered and curved feet to traverse challenging surf zone terrain where biological crabs thrive.
Prevalence and characteristics of thoracic diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis in 3299 black patients

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and characteristics of thoracic diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (T-DISH) in the Black patients using the computed tomography (CT) analysis. This study is a cross-sectional study. All patients who underwent chest CT for the trauma screening and whose race was categorized as “Black” on the questionnaire were recruited in the study from Mar 2019 to Mar 2020. Demographic data, including age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and presence of diabetes mellitus (DM), were recorded. A total of 3299 Black patients (1507 women and 1792 men) were included for the analysis. The prevalence of T-DISH was 7.7% (255 patients), with 8.6% for females and 7.0% for males. The highest prevalence was observed in patients at the age of 70 years (11.7%), followed by the age of 80 years (10.5%). The highest prevalence level of T-DISH segment was at T8, followed by T9, and T7. The most frequent number of contiguous vertebrae was seven (21%). BMI was not associated with T-DISH. The presence of DM was significantly higher in male patients with T-DISH than those without T-DISH (P = 0.02).
“Radical Examination” and the Current of Man’s Life

It has been said that man is a being who interrogates himself about himself. Has not the endowment of reason been made for us to examine ourselves about our actions, our thoughts, our inclinations? The use of reason is at the service of life. But our self-interrogation is not solely the work of reason. We reflect upon ourselves on various occasions, for various “reasons”, and towards the various ends that life creates. Finally, self-examination belongs to the dealings of life itself: it arises at one of these moments, follows the ongoing current of life and refers to this same current. We reflect on the interior of this current. However, among the various kinds of self-examination that can be distinguished, there seems to be one which — although it appears at one precise point in our existence — does not follow its course. On the contrary, this type rises up against existence. This happens at the precise moment when we distance ourselves from familiarity with world and the self. It happens all of a sudden when our total adhesion to our own acts weakens; that is, when we sense ourselves no longer absorbed by our existence, and solidarity with this existence breaks. Against the on-rushing current of life, we delineate a “radical examination.”
Observations on the blood sugar during pregnancy and the puerperium

Abstract 1. 1. The average range for blood sugar concentration in normal pregnant women is 0.09 per cent to 0.11 per cent which is the same as that found in nonpregnant women. 2. 2. The average value in fifty-three observations of the blood sugar concentration during pregnancy was 0.11 per cent. 3. 3. The average value in thirty-two observations of the sugar concentration of fetal blood taken from the umbilical cord immediately after delivery was 0.09 per cent. 4. 4. The average value for twenty-two observations of the blood sugar concentration on the second day postpartum was 0.14 per cent. 5. 5. Placental interchange of glucose is undoubtedly dependent on the higher concentration of blood sugar in the mother. 6. 6. The influence of muscular exertion during labor is not a factor in postpartum hyperglycemia. 7. 7. Anesthesia with ether is a contributing but not a determining factor in producing a rise in the sugar concentration of the cord blood. 8. 8. Asphyxia produces a more marked rise than anesthesia with ether. 9. 9. Involution of the uterus cannot be shown to be the primary factor in producing postpartum hyperglycemia. 10. 10. The general physiologic change associated with involution may be a factor in producing postpartum hyperglycemia. 11. 11. In certain types of toxemia there is an increase in the blood sugar concentration.
Augmenting real-time DSP in implantable high-density neuroprosthetic devices

Developments in microfabrication of high-density electronic interfaces to the central nervous system rapidly evolved in recent years. Nonetheless, there is a lack of higher digital signal processing capability to cope with the larger data throughput. Multiresolution analysis by means of the wavelet transform has shown to yield substantial processing and compression capabilities of high volumes of neural signals while preserving the necessary information needed to understand the neural coding mechanism. We describe a systems approach for reducing the complexity of on-chip discrete wavelet transform (DWT) computation for multiple data channels. The reduction is achieved by exploiting regularity in the filtering steps of the lifting-based DWT algorithm associated with negligible degradation in signal fidelity with integer fixed point arithmetic representation. The main advantages of the proposed architecture lie in the scalability to an arbitrary number of channels and decomposition levels. The results demonstrate that on-chip computation is feasible prior to data transmission, permitting large savings in bandwidth requirements and communication costs.
Putting International Aviation into the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme: Can Europe Do It Flying Solo?

In December 2006, the European Commission announced a proposal for a directive that would bring international civil aviation within its Emissions Trading Scheme, the most ambitious international carbon dioxide emissions trading scheme to date, and the European Union’s primary means of meeting its Kyoto Protocol obligations. While aviation and environmental stakeholders throughout the world have showed strong support for the proposal, representatives of aviation interests inside, and especially outside, the European Union have reacted with skepticism and concern. This Note discusses the international civil aviation regulatory framework and the mechanics of the proposed directive. It then explores the political, technical, and legal implications of the proposed legislation and concludes that the European Commission should not include international aviation in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme, but rather should vigorously pursue multilateral international aviation emissions reductions through the International Civil Aviation Organization.
MO-DE-303-03

This session will focus on quantitative imaging for assessment of tumor response to radiation therapy. This is a technically challenging method to translate to practice in radiation therapy. In the new era of precision medicine, however, delivering the right treatment, to the right patient, and at the right time, can positively impact treatment choices and patient outcomes. Quantitative imaging provides the spatial sensitivity required by radiation therapy for precision medicine that is not available by other means. In this Joint ESTRO -AAPM Symposium, three leading-edge investigators will present specific motivations for quantitative imaging biomarkers in radiation therapy of esophageal, head and neck, locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Experiences with the use of dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI, diffusion- weighted (DW) MRI, PET/CT, and SPECT/CT will be presented. Issues covered will include: response prediction, dose-painting, timing between therapy and imaging, within-therapy biomarkers, confounding effects, normal tissue sparing, dose-response modeling, and association with clinical biomarkers and outcomes. Current information will be presented from investigational studies and clinical practice. Learning Objectives: 1. Learn motivations for the use of quantitative imaging biomarkers for assessment of response to radiation therapy 2. Review the potential areas of application in cancer therapy 3. Examine the challenges for translation, including imaging confounds and paucity of evidence to date 4. Compare exemplary examples of the current state of the art in DCE-MRI, DW-MRI, PET/CT and SPECT/CT imaging for assessment of response to radiation therapy Van der Heide: Research grants from the Dutch Cancer Society and the European Union (FP7) Bowen: RSNA Scholar grant
Fear and Progress: Ordinary Lives in Franco's Spain, 1939–1975 – By Antonio Cazorla Sánchez

Despite the fact that he considered himself a friend of Hitler and Mussolini and despite the central role he played in unleashing a vengeful repression against his republican enemies following a de...
Enhancing Palliative Care Education in Medical School Curricula: Implementation of the Palliative Education Assessment Tool

ABSTRACTThe authors report the results of a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation—funded project that catalyzed New York State medical schools to develop and implement strategic plans for curricular change to enhance palliative care education. The project used the Palliative Education Assessment Tool for c
Binding site of the M-domain of human protein SRP54 determined by systematic site-directed mutagenesis of signal recognition particle RNA

The interaction of protein SRP54M from the human signal recognition particle with SRP RNA was studied by systematic site-directed mutagenesis of the RNA molecule. Protein binding sites were identified by the analysis of mutations that removed individual SRP RNA helices or disrupted helical sections in the large SRP domain. The strongest effects on the binding activity of a purified polypeptide that corresponds to the methionine-rich domain of SRP54 (SRP54M) were caused by changes in helix 8 of the SRP RNA. Binding of protein SRP19 was diminished significantly by mutations in helix 6 and was stringently required for SRP54M to associate. Unexpectedly, mutant RNA molecules that resembled bacterial SRP RNAs were incapable of interaction with SRP54M, showing that protein SRP19 has an essential and direct role in the formation of the ternary complex with SRP54 and SRP RNA. Our findings provide an example for how, in eukaryotes, an RNA function has become protein dependent.
North Carolina family practice physicians' perceptions of pharmacists as vaccinators.

ABSTRACT Objective To determine whether family practice physicians are aware that pharmacists can administer vaccines and assess their support of pharmacists as vaccinators. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting North Carolina. Participants 571 family practice physicians. Interventions Mail survey. Main OutcomeMeasures Physician attitudes toward pharmacists’ involvement with a variety of vaccines and patient populations. Results A total of 25% of physicians correctly reported that pharmacists could administer vaccines in North Carolina, a state that had recently passed legislation permitting this practice. Almost 50% of the physicians supported pharmacists administering the influenza vaccine. Pharmacist administration of other vaccines received less support. Physicians who were newer to family practice had more positive attitudes than physicians who were in practice for longer periods of time. Conclusion While agreeing that the role of the pharmacist in patient care is becoming more important, physicians were neither very knowledgeable about nor supportive of pharmacists as vaccinators.
Let's get sTARTed!: creating an online technology orientation

The Student Technology Access Readiness Training (START) orientation provides a standardized technology overview for all new, transfer and existing students at Arizona State University, West. Using a database-backed system that tracks individual student progress, the online orientation delivers step-by-step instructions that guide students through the process of activating their computer accounts and subscribing to technology services. After a student completes the process, START automatically sends individual reports to units or departments, allowing ASU West staff and faculty to verify that students have successfully established access to necessary resources. After students complete the required components, the application offers tutorials on technology services such as the ASU course management system (Blackboard). These additional modules are optional, but faculty can instruct students to take the tutorials and send an automated e-mail verifying their completion. By providing a single point of access to technology resources and just-in-time tutorials, the START orientation benefits all ASU West students, faculty and staff and has significantly reduced the amount of time and resources spent providing face-to-face assistance over the course of the academic year.
Measurements of the deuteron elastic structure function A(Q2) at large momentum transfers at Jefferson laboratory

Measurements of the deuteron elastic structure function A ( Q 2 ) for 0.7 ≤ Q 2 ≤ 6.0 (GeV/c) 2 are reported. The experiment performed elastic electron-deuteron scattering in coincidence, using the Hall A Facility of Jefferson Laboratory. The data are compared to theoretical models based on the impulse approximation with the inclusion of meson-exchange currents, and to predictions of quark dimensional scaling and perturbative quantum chromodynamics.
Medicaid Expenditures for Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders: 1994 to 1999.

This study used data from 1994 to 1999 from one large county in Pennsylvania to estimate the Medicaid expenditures of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and to compare these expenditures with those of other Medicaid-eligible children. On average, children diagnosed with ASD had expenditures 10 times those of other children. Differences in expenditures were driven in large part by inpatient psychiatric care. Further research is required to determine whether hospitalized children could be served in less restrictive and less expensive settings. Lack of differences in ambulatory care expenditures suggests that children with ASD are not receiving additional primary care services that would be indicative of appropriately coordinated services as suggested by the medical home model.
Measurement of the electrostrictive constants of silica and their impact on poled silica devices

In an electro-optic poled-silica switch, modulation arises from both the electro-optic effect and electrostriction. To investigate the magnitude of these two contributions, we measured the phase shift induced in a thin slab of unpoled silica subjected to a strong dc plus a small, low-frequency (0 - 19 MHz) ac voltage. The frequency responses for light polarized parallel and perpendicular to the applied field exhibit a constant term due to electronic dc Kerr, and strong peaks due to electrostriction enhanced by mechanical resonances of the slab. A theoretical model is presented that gives good quantitative agreement with these observations. From this comparison we infer the values of the dc Kerr and electrostrictive constants of silica for each polarization. For the perpendicular polarization, electrostriction largely dominates in the frequency range under study. A potential electrostrictive modulator and the impact of electrostriction on the polarization dependence of poled-silica devices are discussed.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The baggage system at Denver: prospects and lessons

Abstract This article discusses the fundamental design difficulties of the fully automated baggage system originally planned for the New Denver Airport, and their implications for airport and airline management. Theory, industrial experience, and the reality at Denver emphasize the difficulty of achieving acceptable standards of performance when novel, complex systems are operating near capacity. United Airlines will thus make the Denver system ‘work’ by drastically reducing its complexity and performance. Automated baggage systems are risky. Airlines and airports considering their use should assess their design cautiously and far in advance, and install redundant, supplemental systems from the start.
Chondrogenic Differentiation of Cultured Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Marrow

In the adult human, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) resident in bone marrow retain the capacity to proliferate and differentiate along multiple connective tissue lineages, including cartilage. In this study, culture-expanded human MSCs (hMSCs) of 60 human donors were induced to express the morphology and gene products of chondrocytes. Chondrogenesis was induced by culturing hMSCs in micromass pellets in the presence of a defined medium that included 100 nM dexamethasone and 10 ng/ml transforming growth factor-beta(3) (TGF-beta(3)). Within 14 days, cells secreted an extracellular matrix incorporating type II collagen, aggrecan, and anionic proteoglycans. hMSCs could be further differentiated to the hypertrophic state by the addition of 50 nM thyroxine, the withdrawal of TGF-beta(3), and the reduction of dexamethasone concentration to 1 nM. Increased understanding of the induction of chondrogenic differentiation should lead to further progress in defining the mechanisms responsible for the generation of cartilaginous tissues, their maintenance, and their regeneration.
Subaortic Stenosis Missed by Invasive Hemodynamic Assessment

We present a case of 61-year-old man that was evaluated for possible aortic stenosis but did not show a left ventricular outflow gradient on invasive assessment in the catheterization laboratory. Transthoracic echocardiography showed subaortic stenosis secondary to a discrete membranous structure in the left ventricular outflow tract. This is the first case in the literature of a patient with discrete subaortic stenosis missed by invasive hemodynamic assessment.
Stretching sub-micron DNA fragments with optical tweezers

Optical tweezers have become an important tool for the manipulation of single biomolecules. However, their application to stretching biopolymers is usually limited to molecules that are several microns in length because conventional optical tweezers manipulate molecules laterally in the focal plane of the microscope objective, a mode in which steric hindrances from the attached microsphere and the surface are substantial. In order to study the properties of short DNA fragments that are typically 1000 bp long, we used optical tweezers in the axial direction to pull microsphere away from the cover glass surface. The microsphere was held in the linear region of the optical potential where the optical force is least sensitive to the bead position. By varying the laser intensity, different stretching forces were applied to the DNA molecule, and the axial position of the tethered microsphere was obtained from its diffraction pattern. The results indicate that the wormlike chain model is still valid for such short DNA fragments.
Metal fate and partitioning in soils under bark beetle-killed trees.

Abstract Recent mountain pine beetle infestation in the Rocky Mountains of North America has killed an unprecedented acreage of pine forest, creating an opportunity to observe an active re-equilibration in response to widespread land cover perturbation. This work investigates metal mobility in beetle-impacted forests using parallel rainwater and acid leaches to estimate solid–liquid partitioning coefficients and a complete sequential extraction procedure to determine how metals are fractionated in soils under trees experiencing different phases of mortality. Geochemical model simulations analyzed in consideration with experimental data provide additional insight into the mechanisms controlling metal complexation. Metal and base-cation mobility consistently increased in soils under beetle-attacked trees relative to soil under healthy trees. Mobility increases were more pronounced on south facing slopes and more strongly correlated to pH under attacked trees than under healthy trees. Similarly, soil moisture was significantly higher under dead trees, related to the loss of transpiration and interception. Zinc and cadmium content increased in soils under dead trees relative to living trees. Cadmium increases occurred predominantly in the exchangeable fraction, indicating increased mobilization potential. Relative increases of zinc were greatest in the organic fraction, the only fraction where increases in copper were observed. Model results reveal that increased organic complexation, not changes in pH or base cation concentrations, can explain the observed differences in metal partitioning for zinc, nickel, cadmium, and copper. Predicted concentrations would be unlikely to impair human health or plant growth at these sites; however, higher exchangeable metals under beetle-killed trees relative to healthy trees suggest a possible decline in riverine ecosystem health and water quality in areas already approaching criteria limits and drinking water standards. Impairment of water quality in important headwater streams from the increased potential for metal mobilization and storage will continue to change as beetle-killed trees decompose and forests begin to recover.
Engineering the Melanocortin-4 Receptor to Control Constitutive and Ligand-Mediated Gs Signaling In Vivo

The molecular and functional diversity of G protein–coupled receptors is essential to many physiological processes. However, this diversity presents a significant challenge to understanding the G protein–mediated signaling events that underlie a specific physiological response. To increase our understanding of these processes, we sought to gain control of the timing and specificity of Gs signaling in vivo. We used naturally occurring human mutations to develop two Gs-coupled engineered receptors that respond solely to a synthetic ligand (RASSLs). Our Gs-coupled RASSLs are based on the melanocortin-4 receptor, a centrally expressed receptor that plays an important role in the regulation of body weight. These RASSLs are not activated by the endogenous hormone α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone but respond potently to a selective synthetic ligand, tetrahydroisoquinoline. The RASSL variants reported here differ in their intrinsic basal activities, allowing the separation of the effects of basal signaling from ligand-mediated activation of the Gs pathway in vivo. These RASSLs can be used to activate Gs signaling in any tissue, but would be particularly useful for analyzing downstream events that mediate body weight regulation in mice. Our study also demonstrates the use of human genetic variation for protein engineering.
Multi-dimensional QSAR in drug discovery

Quantitative structure–activity relationships (QSAR) is an area of computational research that builds virtual models to predict quantities such as the binding affinity or the toxic potential of existing or hypothetical molecules. Although a wealth of experimental data emphasizes the active role of the target protein in the binding process, QSAR studies are frequently restricted to the properties of the small-molecule ligand. This review aims at discussing recent QSAR concepts exploring higher dimensions (simulation of induced fit, simultaneous exploration of alternative binding modes, and solvation scenarios), and their benefit for the drug-discovery process.
Hybrid image plane/stereo (HIPS) manipulation for robotic space applications

Manipulation systems for planetary exploration operate under severe limitations due to power and weight restrictions and extreme environmental conditions. Typically such systems employ carefully calibrated stereo cameras and carefully calibrated manipulators to achieve precision on the order of ten millimeters with respect to instrument placement activities. The environmental and functional restrictions under which these systems are used limit the operational accuracy of these approaches. This paper presents a novel approach to stereo-based manipulation designed to robustly achieve high precision levels despite the aforementioned limitations. The basic principle of the approach, known as Hybrid Image Plane/Stereo (HIPS) Manipulation, is the generation of camera models through direct visual sensing of the manipulator's end-effector. The HIPS method estimates and subsequently uses these models to position the manipulator at a target location specified in the image-planes of a stereo camera pair using stereo correlation and triangulation. In-situ estimation and adaptation of the manipulator/camera models in this method accounts for changes in the system configuration, thus ensuring consistent precision for the life of the mission. The end result is a increase in positioning precision by a factor of approximately two for a limited version of HIPS, and an order of magnitude increase in positioning precision for the full on-line version of HIPS.
Evaluation of the Hologic gen-probe PANTHER, APTIMA Combo 2 assay in a tertiary care teaching hospital.

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of the Hologic Gen-Probe (San Diego, CA) PANTHER system. Methods: The performance of PANTHER was compared with the Hologic Gen-Probe TIGRIS and/or Roche (Indianapolis, IN) COBAS AMPLICOR systems through testing of patient specimens and the spiked-urine matrix. Results: After discrepant resolution, PANTHER demonstrated a 99.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 96.0%–99.9%) positive and 100% (98.5%–100.0%) negative agreement for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and 100% (96.6%–100.0%) positive and 100% (98.6%–100.0%) negative agreement for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) for all male, female, unsexed, and NG-spiked female urine specimens combined. For other specimen types collectively, the PANTHER demonstrated 100% (95% CI, 90.6%–100.0%) positive and 100% (88.3%–100.0%) negative agreement for CT and 90.9% (62.8%–98.4%) positive and 100% (93.5%–100.0%) negative agreement for NG. Analytical sensitivity of the PANTHER in urine matrix was similar to the TIGRIS system. Conclusions: The PANTHER system provides an excellent new addition to options for detecting CT and NG, is appropriate for testing urine samples, and will facilitate high-throughput testing in the clinical laboratory.
Dietary patterns and risk of hip fractures in postmenopausal women and men over 50 years

We followed 74,540 postmenopausal women and 35,451 men above age 50 for up to 30 years. Neither the prudent pattern, characterized by higher intakes of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, nor the Western pattern, characterized by higher intakes of red/processed meats, and refined grains were associated with hip fracture risk. We examined the association between predominant dietary patterns and risk of hip fractures in postmenopausal women and men over 50 years. We used data from 74,540 women in the Nurses’ Health Study followed between 1980 and 2010, and 35,451 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study followed between 1986 and 2012 for this analysis. Health and lifestyle information was assessed every 2 years. Diet was assessed approximately every 4 years with a food frequency questionnaire. Two major dietary patterns were previously derived using principal component analysis. The prudent pattern is characterized by higher intakes of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and poultry, and the Western pattern is characterized by higher intakes of red and processed meats, sweets, and refined grains. We computed relative risks (RR) for hip fracture by dietary pattern scores using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusting for potential confounders. During follow-up, there were 1891 hip fractures in women and 596 in men. No association was observed between the prudent or Western pattern and risk of hip fractures in either men or women. We also did not find an association among lean (body mass index (BMI) <25) or overweight (BMI ≥25) individuals or among those with higher or lower levels of physical activity. Neither the prudent nor the Western dietary pattern was associated with risk of hip fractures in postmenopausal women or men over 50 years of age.
How local public administrators, nonprofit providers, and elected officials perceive impediments to fair housing in the suburbs: an analysis of Erie County, New York

This article examines how local public administrators, nonprofit providers, and elected officials in the suburbs of Erie County, NY perceive impediments to fair housing. This article is based on research conducted from 2007–2008 for the Analysis of Impediments for Fair Housing Choice in Erie County, NY. The research involved an examination of trends related to fair housing and housing discrimination complaints between 2000 and 2006. It also involved a series of focus group interviews with local public administrators, nonprofit providers, and elected officials. The results from this research indicate that key stakeholders emphasize specific issues and groups when discussing impediments to fair housing. These predispositions result in uneven policy implementation. In particular, there is a tendency to emphasize impediments encountered by the elderly while paying less attention to those impacting minorities, families, the disabled, and the poor. The article concludes with our recommendations to promote a mor...
The effect of concentration driving force on liquid-liquid mass transfer

Abstract The enhancement of the rate of mass transfer due to concentration driving force-induced interfacial turbulence has been investigated in several typical liquid-liquid systems. The three solvent pairs studied were: isobutanol-water, 85 volume % tributyl phosphate (TBP) in n-hexane-water, and 85 volume % tributyl phosphate in carbon tetrachloride-water. Nitric acid was the solute in all three systems. The experiments were conducted in an unbaffled stirred-vessel extractor operated as a steady state continuous flow device. The stirring speed was 72 rev/min for all experiments. For all the systems transfer from the organic to the aqueous phase was unstable. The over-all mass transfer coefficient increased sharply by factors of 1·5–4 as the driving force was increased. Transfer from aqueous to organic was stable, except for the TBP-n-hexane system where the mass transfer coefficient increased at high driving forces. The transfer coefficient was found to depend only on the concentration driving force, except for the TBP-hexane system where it appeared to be a function of concentration level as well as driving force. The results were consistent with the qualitative features of Marangoni instability, although several aspects of the data could not be explained on this basis.
Coming of Age of Genetic Investigations in Late-Life Mental Health

enetic epidemiologic studies have documented Gthe heritability of clinically psychiatric disorders over and over again. Molecular genetic studies have been challenging and success has been slow. Nevertheless, the last decade has seen hundreds of positive genetic findings for complex human diseases. The reason for this turn-around is not only to be found in the dramatic progress in methodology and technology, but as important has been the development of the necessary infrastructure that has enabled large-scale collaborations on an unprecedented scale. Bioand data-repositories spearheaded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), for example, the NIMH Repository and Genomics Resource (NRGR), the NIMH Phenotypic and Genetic Database (NPGD), and the National Center for Biotechnology Information Database of Genotypes and Phenotypes (dbGaP), made tens of thousands of samples and millions of genotypes available to researchers all over the globe. Replication of results is standard and without such replication, getting published has become challenging. Researchers are sharing data and biomaterials so that their use is maximized. Psychiatric genetics is finally blooming. Although the field of genetics of psychiatric disorders has thus bourgeoned over the past decade, the field of geriatric psychiatry has been slower to take part in these developments. Studies in late-life mental health have been dominated by candidate genetic approaches typically considered in the context of a specific psychiatric disorder, or focused on a specific genetic marker due to its potential involvement in the
Staying in control: Cybersecurity and the modern electric grid

This article discusses cybersecurity and the modern electric grid. There is an increasing amount of evidence showing that attackers are now focusing on control systems, operating with varying motivations and intentions.
Interactions of the local anesthetic tetracaine with glyceroglycolipid bilayers: a 2H-NMR study.

We have examined the effects of the local anesthetic tetracaine on the orientational and dynamic properties of glycolipid model membranes. We elected to study the interactions of tetracaine with the pure glycolipid 1,2-di-O-tetradecyl-3-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyl)sn-glycerol (β-DTGL) and a mixture of β-DTGL (20 mol%) in dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) by deuterium NMR (2H-NMR) spectroscopy. 2H-NMR spectra of β-DTGL have been measured as a function of temperature in the presence of both the charged (pH 5.5) and uncharged forms (pH 9.5) of tetracaine. The results indicate that the anesthetic induces the formation of non-lamellar phases. Specifically, the incorporation of uncharged tetracaine results in the formation of a hexagonal phase which is stable from 52 to 60° C. At lower pH, the spectrum at 52° C is very reminescent of that of the β-glycolipid alone in a bilayer environment, while as the temperature is elevated to 60° C, a transition from a spectrum indicative of axial symmetry to one due to nearly isotropic motion or symmetry occurs, which may result from the formation of a cubic phase. Although it leads to an alteration in the phase behavior, the presence of tetracaine does not induce large changes in the headgroup orientation of β-DTGL. In contrast to the pure glycolipid situation, the interaction of tetracaine with β-DTGL (20 mol%) in DMPC does not trigger the formation of non-lamellar phases, but leads to a slight reduction in molecular ordering. The presence of the charged form of the local anesthetic near the aqueous interface of the bilayer appears to induce a small change in the conformation about the C2-C3 bond of the glycerol backbone of β-DTGL in the mixed lipid system. Thus, the major influence of the local anesthetic on glycolipids is a change in the stability of the lamellar phase, facilitating conversion to phases with hexagonal or isotropic environments for the lipid molecules.
Homologies in the primary structure of immunoglobulin heavy chains from different animal species

Abstract To identify certain peptides which might play a role in the biological activities of immunoglobulins and to estimate the degree of conservation of the primary structure of the Fc fragment ∗ , nine different H chains from six animal species were compared by peptide mapping. Fifty-one peptides were shared by the H chains of at least two different species, and most of these were derived from the Fc portion as determined by comparison with the maps of Fc fragments of rabbit and guinea-pig immunoglobulins. A number of peptides in combination were present only in H chains that can fix complement or sensitize the guinea pig for anaphylaxis; it is tentatively suggested, therefore, that some or all of these peptides are in some way related to biological activities.
Mussolini's Concentration Camps for Civilians. An Insight into the Nature of Fascist Racism

Luigi Reale (2011) Mussolini's Concentration Camps for Civilians. An Insight into the Nature of Fascist Racism (Portland: Vallentine Mitchell), 204 pp., ISBN 9780853038849, $79.95, hard cover Post-...
Thermodynamics of Fe(II)Fe(III) oxide systems II. Zinc- and cadmium-doped Fe3O4 and crystalline magnetite☆

Abstract Four doped samples of composition MzFe3 − xO4, in which for M = cadmium, x = 0.005 and 0.010, and for M = zinc, x = 0.005 and 0.066, were prepared using a high-temperature solid-state ceramic technique. X-ray, magneto-t.g.a., chemical analysis, and comparative thermophysical data confirmed the quality of the samples. The heat capacities of the doped samples were measured from 5 to 350 K using adiabatic calorimetry; magnetite crystals were studied over the range 65 to 350 K by the same technique. Temperature elevation of the higher-temperature transition was observed for the doped sample Zn0.005Fe2.995O4. Elimination of the double anomaly is occasioned by high mole fraction of dopant and crystal-structure expansion as demonstrated by the doped samples Cd0.005Fe2.995O4, Cd0.010Fe2.990O4, and Zn0.066Fe2.934O4. Displacements of the lower-temperature transition to higher and lower temperatures were observed. Systematic variations in the transitional thermal properties have been related also to dopant type and mole fraction. Tentative assignment of the two lambda-type transitions to interdependent Wigner and structural order-disorder mechanisms is proposed. Although adjuvant measurements would be desirable to confirm this analysis, the pre-eminence of the heat capacity as a sensitive detector and indicator of dopant level has been demonstrated.
Laparoscopic colectomy for cancer

Laparoscopic segmental colectomy has been widely accepted as a surgical procedure for benign colonic disease. With improving technology and surgeon experience, more complex procedures have been performed. However, a minimal invasive approach may not be justified for all colonic diseases. The use of laparoscopic surgery for colonic cancer, for example, has been controversial and the results of our national and international trials are yet unknown. We anticipate, given the positive findings of multiple small randomized and nonrandomized trials, that laparoscopic colectomy for cancer may soon prove to be appropriate in this setting. Our aim in this paper is to explore the indications, contraindications, and techniques regarding laparoscopic surgery that we have used in the treatment of colon cancer for patients enrolled in the national trial.
The politics of paradigms: Contrasting theories of consciousness and society

Perception is born of lived experience and, in turn, shapes this stream of ex? perience. The very models that are imposed upon experience, however, both in reconstructing and expressing it, modify the quality and essence of all experi? ence, in particular social experience. As social scientists investigate diverse cultural forms in an effort to examine the relationship between language, aware? ness, and experience, they are repeatedly confronted with a lack of scientific resolution.1 Contrasting approaches to perception are often characterized as nonlineal, atemporal, and experiential, while Western systems are presented as exemplars of lineal, syllogistic logic that must be formally learned and are, therefore, in a certain sense, nonexperiential. The biological evidence on the differentiation of neurological functions in terms of synthetic and analytic mental capacities and cross-cultural psychological research appears to validate these distinctions with regard to perceptual abilities and consciousness. It may be argued, however, that there is a missing link between the two types of studies, specifically, the very interpretive paradigms that are applied to locate evidence for differential perception. Unfamiliar systems of interpretation and communication are often romanticized as "simpler," "truer to experience," and "more concrete" than Western models without further attempts to understand the systematic and logical groundings of these forms of reasoning. In this case, the very logic of the paradigms used to evaluate alternative approaches to reason? ing becomes suspect and must be examined. I propose that a model for describing alternate theories of reasoning and consciousness can be analyzed on the basis of
Decreased serum adiponectin: an early event in pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Objective To evaluate the relative concentrations of cytokines in pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Study design Thirty children were evaluated at a fasting morning visit to a pediatric research unit. Results Compared with normal-weight children (n = 12) and children who were overweight (n = 11), children who had presumed NAFLD (elevated Alanine aminotransferase [ALT] with negative work-up) (n = 7) had significantly lower mean serum adiponectin levels ( P = .004). Adiponectin negatively correlated with body mass index (r = −0.60, P = .001), insulin (r = −0.74, P P = .004), and ALT (r = −0.53, P = .003). There was no difference between normal-weight, obese, and presumed NAFLD subjects in mean serum tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-6 and -8 concentrations nor in tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-8 and -10 levels in an ex vivo lipopolysaccharide-stimulated system. Conclusions Serum adiponectin is reduced in children with elevated ALT, similar to adults. However, children with presumed NAFLD do not have elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. This suggests that depressed adiponectin plays a more proximal role than elevated levels of circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines in the development of NAFLD in children.
Laser-induced thermal desorption of Silicon-containing surface reaction intermediates from Si(111)7 × 7

Abstract Laser-induced thermal desorption (LITD) was used to remove surface reaction intermediates from Si(111)7×7. Silicon-containing species were detected in the LITD yield from Si(111)7×7 surfaces covered with hydrogen, water or methanol. These silicon-containing LITD products include SiH n , Si(OH) n and Si(OCH 3 ) n where n = 1–3. None of these species were observed in the conventional temperature programmed desorption (TPD) spectra. TPD and temperature-programmed LITD studies were also performed and correlated for Si(111)7×7 surfaces as a function of hydrogen coverage. The SiH 2 LITD products were related directly to the low-temperature β 2 -peak in the H 2 TPD spectra. Previous infrared studies have demonstrated that this β 2 -peak corresponds to H 2 desorption from silicon dihydride species on the silicon surface. The ability of LITD to desorb silicon-containing surface reaction intermediates should be extremely useful in investigations of silicon surface reaction kinetics.
The legitimation crisis in the German Democratic Republic before the opening of the Wall: Views from below

greferred to live in the real, democratic Germany, the Federal epublic of Germany (FRG). They conjured up images of cities and towns filled witn drab buildings and depressed people who enviously hungered for the consumer products that people in the other Germany, on the other side of the "Iron Curtain," could easily obtain, and who would have fled from their miserable living conditions if they had had the opportunity to do so. The only positive images for most Westerners were tne GDR's successes in the Olympics (in which it generally had placed second to the Soviet Union and ahead of the United States), and Katarina Witt, the world-famous ice skating champion. Liberal scholars who presented a more sophisticated view of GDR society tended to stereotype it as the staunchest ally of the Soviet Union.1 And even progressive scholars often depicted it as an example of a "frozen revolution."2 Most scholarly accounts of the ?DR focused on the inner workings of the Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschland (SED); on the relationship between the GDR and the Soviet Union and other East European states; on its relationship with capitalist states, particularly the FRG; and on an economic system that had produced the highest material standard of living in the Eastern bloc. However, the realities of every-day life were largely ignored.3 Stereotypes, both popular and scholarly, often contain an element of truth, but basically they make exaggerated and distorted statements about social reality. This observation applies no less to common depictions of GDR society, which, in large part, were