cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Scalable moment-based inference for Latent Dirichlet Allocation

Topic models such as Latent Dirichlet Allocation have been useful text analysis methods of wide interest. Recently, moment-based inference with provable performance has been proposed for topic models. Compared with inference algorithms that approximate the maximum likelihood objective, moment-based inference has theoretical guarantee in recovering model parameters. One such inference method is tensor orthogonal decomposition, which requires only mild assumptions for exact recovery of topics. However, it suffers from scalability issue due to creation of dense, high-dimensional tensors. In this work, we propose a speedup technique by leveraging the special structure of the tensors. It is efficient in both time and space, and only requires scanning the corpus twice. It improves over the state-of-the-art inference algorithm by one to three orders of magnitude, while preserving equal inference ability.
MRI Findings and Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Microvascular Decompression for Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia.

Background and purpose Glossopharyngeal neuralgia causes extreme paroxysmal pain in the posterior pharynx, tonsillar region, base of tongue, or deep ear, that is, the distribution of the glossopharyngeal nerve. Some cases of glossopharyngeal neuralgia are associated with neurovascular conflict, usually by the posterior inferior cerebellar artery. Such symptomatic compression occurs only in proximal, centrally myelinated portions of the glossopharyngeal nerve near the brainstem. Microvascular decompression provides effective and durable pain relief for properly selected patients with medically refractory glossopharyngeal neuralgia. The purpose of this study is to describe a tailored MRI evaluation of neurovascular conflict in glossopharyngeal neuralgia to improve candidate selection for microvascular decompression. Methods Our team developed a glossopharyngeal neuralgia imaging and evaluation protocol including a grading system for neurovascular conflict of the glossopharyngeal nerve and applied it to evaluate candidates for microvascular decompression. Results Our team grades neurovascular conflict as "contact" (vessel touching nerve without intervening cerebrospinal fluid) versus "deformation" (deviation or distortion of nerve from its normal course by the offending vessel). MRIs of patients with glossopharyngeal neuralgia demonstrate proximal neurovascular conflict. Postoperative MRI demonstrates separation of the glossopharyngeal nerve from the offending vessel. Conclusion A tailored glossopharyngeal neuralgia imaging evaluation protocol is presented. We believe this approach has helped improve microvascular decompression outcomes and reduce unnecessary procedures at our institution. Further research may elucidate whether clinical and imaging features, including neurovascular conflict severity, predict surgical outcome for glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
Demographic, clinicopathologic and survival differences among left sided versus right sided metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma.

e15068Background: Clinical outcomes may differ between left versus right sided (CA) independent of stage. We utilized a large database to identify real world differences in characteristics and over...
The New Apparatus: Enhanced Optical and Electric Manipulation of Ultracold Polar Molecules

In this chapter, I describe our approach to combining all the tools together that are needed for large electric fields with high-resolution detection and addressing. I begin by describing the electrode system, which allows for large, stable, homogeneous electric fields that simultaneously allow arbitrary gradients in two dimensions (2D). I go on to describe how we can couple AC microwave frequencies onto the electrodes to drive rotational transitions with high polarization fidelity. I then describe the high-resolution imaging system.
Confronting the Challenge of COPD: What Is New in the Approaches to Diagnosis, Treatment, and Patient Outcomes.

As seen in this CME online activity (available at http://courses.elseviercme.com/730), COPD is the third leading cause of death in the United States among people 65 years of age and older and the fourth leading cause of death among people 45 to 65 years of age. A recent survey reported that about 12 to 15 million people in the United States have physician-diagnosed COPD. However, COPD is significantly underdiagnosed, and data suggest as many as 12 million people in the United States have undiagnosed COPD. In addition to being underdiagnosed, COPD is significantly undertreated, with numerous literature sources indicating that patients with COPD are not receiving guideline concordant pharmacotherapy. Consistent with these sources, an analysis of claims data for > 50,000 patients with COPD indicated a high degree of undertreatment in these patients. For patients using an inhaler, adherence to inhaler medications and correct inhaler device technique are crucial to successful COPD management. However, the literature indicates > 50% of patients with COPD demonstrate poor medication adherence and rates of incorrect inhalation technique range from 35% to 85%. Studies have shown that regular training by a physician improved inhaler techniques among patients with COPD. Further, studies have shown that repeated instruction on inhalation techniques improved both adherence and quality of life outcomes. This CME-certified webcast provides insights into new approaches to identifying patients with undiagnosed COPD, the importance of early initiation of pharmacologic treatment in a guideline-congruent manner, and the importance of repeated patient training in correct inhaler techniques to improve adherence and patient outcomes. Additionally, the online program is part of a larger learning platform (available at https://copd.elsevierresource.com/) that provides free access to the latest clinical information related to the diagnosis and management of COPD. The COPD Learning Center is a freely accessible platform that aims to increase clinical knowledge by providing CME activities, research articles, and resources for health-care providers who treat patients with COPD.
Radiolabeling an Electronic Cigarette Aerosol Using Technetium Carbon Ultrafine Particles.

Abstract Background: Electronic cigarettes (ECIGs) are widely used, but their health effects are not well known. ECIG exposure is difficult to quantify, and a direct measurement of deposition would...
In vivo ESR observation of bioradical metabolites in living animals

L-band ESR spectroscopy with a loop-gap resonator demonstrated the first in vivo detection of a “bioradical”, generated from the metabolism of nitrosobenzene in live mice, A broad three-line ESR spectrum (aN = 11.6 G) was detected in the buttocks or stomach region of a mouse after intramuscular or intraperitoneal injection of 0.2 mmol/kg nitrosobenzene. The signal intensity reached a maximum at 20 to 30 min and remained constant well beyond twelve hours. When muscle tissue was doped with nitrosobenzene and excised within 5 min, a similar three-line spectrum was also detected at X-band, which was preceded by the rapid growth and subsequent decay of a spectrum identical to that of the phenylhydronitroxide radical. A model system containing nitrosobenzene and unsaturated fatty acids yielded an identical three-line spectrum which came from the radical adduct of nitrosobenzene across double bonds. These results suggest that one of the first possible targets of nitroso compounds in vivo may be regions of polyunsaturated fatty acid clusters in fat or membranes. From the success in detecting “bioradicals” generated by pollutants in vivo, two- and three-dimensional visualization of localized bioradicals seems quite feasible.
Human Behavioral Ecology and Technological Decision-Making

Archaeological research grounded in evolutionary ecology (EE), and specifically human behavioral ecology (HBE), has sought to explain past behavior using models that derive predictions from quantitative analyses of fitness-related trade-offs. The appeal of these frameworks is their broad applications across many categories of human behavior, from prey choice and acquisition to tool manufacture and post-encounter processing decisions. The goal of most HBE models is to predict which decision a forager might make given the desired outcome of obtaining the highest return per unit effort, the maximization of which is assumed to enhance fitness. Here we explore applications of these models as they pertain to stone tool procurement and design and investments in novel and/or existing technology.
The role of interfacial free energy and interface kinetics during the growth of precipitate plates and needles

An exact mathematical solution to the diffusion equation is obtained for the growth of precipitate plates from a supersaturated matrix during solid-solid phase transformations. This solution rigorously takes into account the interface curvature and the interface kinetics effects under the assumption that the shape of the advancing interface corresponds to a parabolic cylinder. Present results have been compared with those for a needle precipitate growth and it is found that, for a given supersaturation, a needle always grows faster than a plate. It is, however, shown that the variation of the diffusion coefficient with solute concentration and the presence of transformation stresses would cause a plate to grow at a higher rate when supersaturation in the matrix is increased, thereby causing the transition from needle to plate morphology.
Application of Traditional and Emerging Methods for the Joint Analysis of Repeated Measurements With Time-to-Event Outcomes in Rheumatology.

Objective The goal of this paper is to describe approaches for the joint analysis of repeatedly measured data with time-to-event end points, first separately and then in the framework of a single comprehensive model, emphasizing the efficiency of the latter approach. Data from the Johnston County Osteoarthritis (JoCo OA) Project will be used as an example to investigate the relationship between the change in repeatedly measured body mass index (BMI) and the time-to-event end point of incident worsening of radiographic knee OA that was defined as an increased Kellgren/Lawrence grade in at least 1 knee over time. Methods First, we provide an overview of the methods for analyzing repeated measurements and time-to-event end points separately. Then, we describe traditional (Cox proportional hazards model [CoxPH]) and emerging (joint model [JM]) approaches, both of which allow combined analysis of repeated measures with a time-to-event end point in the framework of a single statistical model. Finally, we apply the models to JoCo OA data and interpret and compare the results from the different approaches. Results Applications of the JM (but not the CoxPH) showed that the risk of worsening radiographic OA is higher when BMI is higher or increasing, thus illustrating the advantages of the JM for analyzing such dynamic measures in a longitudinal study. Conclusion Joint models are preferable for simultaneous analyses of repeated measurement and time-to-event outcomes, particularly in the context of chronic disease, where dependency between the time-to-event end point and the longitudinal trajectory of repeated measurements is inherent.
3D Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) Modeling of Nonlinear RF Thin Film Magnetic Devices

An unconditionally stable three-dimensional (3D) finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) algorithm has been proposed to predict the dynamic interaction between nonlinear magnetic spins and electromagnetic (EM) fields in nonlinear magnetic devices. The proposed modeling solves simultaneously Maxwell’s equations and the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert (LLG) equation with full nonlinear effects. The accuracy of the modeling has been validated by 1. Small signal simulation of a linear ferrite isolator and 2. Large signal simulation of the dispersive permeability of a continuous ferrite film. The simulations agree with the theoretical and experimental predictions. The fact that the 2-µm-thick film exhibits strong nonlinearity shows the potential of magnetic thin film applied in miniature RF front ends.
Time-Resolved EPR Study of H2 Reductive Elimination from the Photoexcited Nitrogenase Janus E4(4H) Intermediate.

Nitrogenase is activated for N2 reduction through the accumulation of four reducing equivalents at the active-site FeMo-cofactor (FeMo-co: Fe7S9MoC; homocitrate) to form the key Janus intermediate, denoted E4(4H), whose lowest-energy structure contains two [Fe–H–Fe] bridging hydrides and two protons bound to the sulfurs that also bridge the Fe pairs. In the critical step of catalysis, a H2 complex transiently produced by reductive elimination (re) of the hydrides of E4(4H), denoted E4(H2;2H), undergoes H2 displacement by N2, which then undergoes the otherwise energetically unfavorable cleavage of the N≡N triple bond. In pursuing the study of the re activation process, we have employed a photochemical approach to obtaining its atomic-level details. Continuous 450 nm irradiation of the ground state of the dihydride Janus intermediate, denoted E4(4H)a, in an EPR cavity at cryogenic temperatures causes photoinduced re of H2 to generate E4(H2;2H). We here extend this photochemical approach with time-resolved E...
Bowel Perforation in the Emergency Department Related to Bevacizumab Therapy and Recurrent Ovarian Cancer.

Author(s): Ostby, Stuart A.; Olushoga, Michael; Leath III, Charles A.; Burleson, Samuel L. | Abstract: Case Presentation: We describe the presentation to the emergency department of a patient with recurrent ovarian cancer treated with bevacizumab with the complication of bowel perforation. Discussion: We review the frequency and outcomes of bevacizumab-related bowel perforation. We also report the patient’s imaging findings, including the radiologic presentation of free intraperitoneal air and portal venous gas, both indicative of bowel perforation and the need for emergent surgical evaluation. Our case also illustrates the potentially catastrophic side effects of bevacizumab and other targeted oncologic therapies of which emergecny physicians may not be aware.
The Ray and Wave Theory of Lenses

This PDF file contains the editorial “The Ray and Wave Theory of Lenses” for OE Vol. 35 Issue 04
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Understanding and Addressing Disparities in Breast Cancer Outcomes

The goal of our paper is to explore the role of AI in understanding health disparities in cancer care and its potential role in resolving them. Multiple studies have shown that with the recent advances in AI, its integration in cancer care has the potential to impact earlier diagnosis and improve clinical decision making. While AI risks to further widen health disparities, some studies suggest that it represents an excellent opportunity for resolving them. With active engagement, incorporating AI in breast cancer care represents an excellent opportunity for elucidating and resolving health disparities; however, without deliberate effort, it risks to further widen them.
Dynamic foraminal dimensions during neck motion 6.5 years after fusion and artificial disc replacement

Objective To compare changes in foraminal motion at two time points post-surgery between artificial disc replacement (ADR) and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Methods Eight ACDF and 6 ADR patients (all single-level C5-6) were tested at 2 years (T1) and 6.5 years (T2) post-surgery. The minimum foraminal height (FH.Min) and width (FW.Min) achieved during neck axial rotation and extension, and the range of these dimensions during motion (FH.Rn and FW.Rn, respectively) were measured using a biplane dynamic x-ray system, CT imaging and model-based tracking while patients performed neck axial rotation and extension tasks. Two-way mixed ANOVA was employed for analysis. Results In neck extension, significant interactions were found between year post-surgery and type of surgery for FW.Rn at C5-6 (p 0.7). Conclusions Changes were observed in the range of foraminal geometry at adjacent levels from 2 years to 6.5 years post-surgery that were different between ACDF and ADR for neck extension. These changes are contrary to the notion that motion at adjacent levels continue to increase following ACDF as compared to ADR over the long term.
The Sensitivity of Word Embeddings-based Author Detection Models to Semantic-preserving Adversarial Perturbations.

Authorship analysis is an important subject in the field of natural language processing. It allows the detection of the most likely writer of articles, news, books, or messages. This technique has multiple uses in tasks related to authorship attribution, detection of plagiarism, style analysis, sources of misinformation, etc. The focus of this paper is to explore the limitations and sensitiveness of established approaches to adversarial manipulations of inputs. To this end, and using those established techniques, we first developed an experimental frame-work for author detection and input perturbations. Next, we experimentally evaluated the performance of the authorship detection model to a collection of semantic-preserving adversarial perturbations of input narratives. Finally, we compare and analyze the effects of different perturbation strategies, input and model configurations, and the effects of these on the author detection model.
Survey of American College of Surgeons Members on Firearm Injury Prevention.

Background Firearm-related injuries and deaths continue to be a substantial public health burden in the US. The purpose of this study was to describe the results of a survey of US members of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) on their practices, attitudes, and beliefs about firearms and firearm policies. The survey was designed to gain a representative understanding of the views of all US ACS members to help inform ACS positions related to firearm injury prevention. Study Design A professional survey firm was engaged to facilitate the design of the survey and to support a web-based platform. Data collection through an anonymous survey began in July 2018, with the survey closing in September 2018. Survey data were weighted and analyses included descriptive and bivariate statistics. Results There were 54,761 ACS members invited to participate in the survey. Of those, 11,147 respondents completed the survey, for an overall response rate of 20.4%. Respondents were questioned on firearm experience, purpose of firearm ownership, opinions on firearm ownership, and importance of ACS support for specific firearm legislation. Survey results varied by practice and training location, practice type, military experience, gender, age, presence of children in the home, level of training, and race and ethnicity. Most survey respondents were ACS fellows (n = 7,579 [68%]), male (n = 8,671 [77.8%]), and White (n = 8,639 [77.5%]). Forty-two percent of respondents keep guns in their home. Seventy-five percent of respondents believe that it is very or extremely important for the ACS to support policy initiatives to lower the incidence of firearm injury. Conclusions There is broad support among ACS members for many initiatives related to firearm injury prevention. The degree of support for these measures varies based on both the specific initiative and demographic characteristics. The results align with the ACS strategy of healthcare professionals working together to better understand and address the root causes of violence, and simultaneously working together to make firearm ownership as safe as reasonably possible.
The singularity structure of quantum-mechanical potentials

We investigate nonrelativistic quantum-mechanical potentials between fermions generated by various classes of quantum field theory (QFT) operators and evaluate their singularity structure. These potentials can be generated either by four-fermion operators or by the exchange of a scalar or vector mediator coupled via renormalizable or nonrenormalizable operators. In the nonrelativistic regime, solving the Schr\"odinger equation with these potentials provides an accurate description of the scattering process. This procedure requires providing a set of boundary conditions. We first recapitulate the procedure for setting the boundary conditions by matching the first Born approximation in quantum mechanics to the tree-level QFT approximation. Using this procedure, we show that the potentials are nonsingular, despite the presence of terms proportional to ${r}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ and ${\ensuremath{\nabla}}_{i}{\ensuremath{\nabla}}_{j}{\ensuremath{\delta}}^{3}(\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{r})$. This surprising feature leads us to bifurcate the space of nonrelativistic quantum mechanical potentials into those which can be UV completed to a QFT and those which cannot. We identify preliminary criteria for distinguishing between these two classes of potentials. We also consider extensions to potentials in higher dimensions and find that Coulomb potentials are nonsingular in an arbitrary number of spacetime dimensions.
The frequency of Raynaud's phenomenon, very early diagnosis of systemic sclerosis, and systemic sclerosis in a large Veteran Health Administration database.

Background We describe Raynauds phenomenon (RP), potential very early diagnosis of systemic sclerosis (VEDOSS), and systemic sclerosis (SSc) in Veterans deployed in support of Post-9/11 operations. We sought to describe the military occupation specialty, clinical features, and vasodilator use across the three diagnoses. Methods Individual Veterans medical records were assessed for RP (ICD-9443.0), VEDOSS with swelling of hands (ICD-9729.81) and RP (ICD-9443.0), and SSc (ICD-9710.1). The distribution of sociodemographic, military service branch, job classification, vasodilator use, and comorbidities were examined across the three classifications of disease. The chi-squared test and Fisher's exact compared frequency of these categorical variables. Logistic regression assessed the likelihood of characteristics of the three classifications. Results In this population of 607,665 individual Veteran medical records, 857 had RP, 45 met possible VEDOSS criteria, and 71 had a diagnosis of SSc. The majority of RP, potential VEDOSS and SSc cases were white males. Those in craftworks, engineering or maintenance, and healthcare had a greater likelihood of RP. Less than half of RP and VEDOSS patients were on vasodilators. The most common comorbidities in this population were the diagnostic code for pain (highest in the potential VEDOSS group [81.6%]), followed by depression in all groups. Conclusion This is a unique Veteran population of predominately-male patients. Our data suggests that vasodilator medications are potentially being under-utilized for RP and potential VEDOSS. Our data highlights mood and pain management as an important aspect of SSc care.
Citizenship from Below: Erotic Agency and Caribbean Freedom

Acknowledgments xi Introduction 1 1. History from the Bottom(s) Up 19 2. Quasheba, Mother, Queen 48 3. Her Majesty's Sable Subjects 89 4. Lost Glimpses of 1865 114 5. Sword-Bearing Citizens 142 6. "You Signed My Name But Not My Feet" 166 7. Arboreal Landscapes of Power and Resistance 187 8. Returning the Tourist Gaze 210 9. Erotic Agency and a Queer Caribbean Freedom 239 Notes 281 Works Cited 305 Index 339
Conservatism and Switcher’s Curse

This article formally models the virtues of Edmund Burke’s conservatism, characterizes the optimal level of conservatism, and applies the model to management, law, and policy. I begin by introducing “switcher’s curse,” a trap in which a decision maker systematically switches too often. Decision makers suffer from switcher’s curse if they forget the reason that they maintained incumbent policies in the past and if they naively compare rival and incumbent policies with no bias for incumbent policies. Conservatism emerges as a heuristic to avoid switcher’s curse. The longer a process or policy has been in place, the more conservative one should be. On the other hand, the more conservative were past decision makers, the more progressive one should be today.
Changing freeze‐thaw seasons in northern high latitudes and associated influences on evapotranspiration

Seasonal frozen states in the northern terrestrial cryosphere limit vegetation photosynthetic activities and evapotranspiration (ET) through cold temperature constraints to biological processes and chemical unavailability of water as a result of being frozen. Seasonal transitions of the landscape between predominantly frozen and thawed conditions are analogous to a biospheric and hydrological on/off switch, with marked differences in ET, vegetation productivity and other biological activity between largely dormant winter and active summer conditions. We investigated changes in freeze–thaw (FT) seasons and ET from 1983 to 2006 and their connections in the northern cryosphere by analyzing independent satellite remote sensing derived FT and ET records. Our findings show that the northern cryosphere (≥ 40°N) has experienced advancing (−2.5 days/decade; P = 0.005) and lengthening (3.5 days/decade; P = 0.007) non-frozen season trends over the 24-year period, coinciding with an upward trend (6.4 mm/year/decade; P = 0.014) in regional mean annual ET over the same period. Regional average timing of spring primary thaw and the annual non-frozen period are highly correlated with regional annual ET (|r| ≥ 0.75; P < 0.001), with corresponding impacts to annual ET of approximately 0.6 and 0.5% per day, respectively. The impact of primary fall freeze timing on ET is relatively minor compared with primary spring thaw timing. Earlier onset of the non-frozen season generally promotes annual ET in colder areas but appears to suppress summer ET by increasing drought stress in the southernmost parts of the domain where water supply is the leading constraint to ET. The cumulative effect of future freeze-thaw changes on ET in the region will largely depend on future changes of large-scale atmosphere circulations and rates of vegetation disturbance and adaptation to continued warming. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High speed optical diagnostics of an exploding wire fuse for power conditioning of explosive flux compression generators

Summary form only given, as follows.This paper presents high speed optical diagnostics of an exploding wire fuse, which is used in the power conditioning system for an explosive flux compression generator. The images were taken using an IMACON high-speed camera with a gated image intensifier tube. For our measurements, the camera was operated in the high-speed multiple frame mode, yielding 10-12 sequential, 2 dimensional pictures with 100 ns between exposures. The experiments were conducted in a coaxial system with inductive energy storage. In this system, the current in the inductor is commutated into the load when the fuse opens. The experimental results from the high-speed framing camera can be related to the fuse current and other parameters such as the fuse material and give valuable insight into the current interruption process.
Multicast scheduling algorithms in mobile networks

We consider the problem of multicasting data to mobile users in a cellular mobile network. In the absence of mobility, a single channel can be used to multicast to all mobile users within a cell. However, mobility combined with the effects of fading necessitates a more complex channel allocation policy. In this paper we develop theoretical bounds on the maximum obtainable efficiency and present algorithms that acheive this bound. Our results hold for the case when mobiles travel on a highway, as well as for the more general case where mobiles roam in a two-dimensional region.
The Empowering (Super) Heroine? The Effects of Sexualized Female Characters in Superhero Films on Women

The present study was conducted with female undergraduates in the Midwestern region of U.S. to examine the potential positive and negative influences of the gendered depictions of women in superhero films. This study utilized social cognitive and objectification theory frameworks to experimentally examine the short-term effects of exposure to sexualized female characters in superhero films on 83 female viewers’ gender role beliefs, body esteem, and self-objectification. Results show that exposure to the sexualized-victim images of women in superhero films decreased egalitarian gender role beliefs. Exposure to the sexualized-heroine images resulted in lower body esteem. Additionally, a positive effect emerged with a greater belief in the importance of body competence to the self-concept for women who were exposed to the superheroine characters. This study demonstrates short-term effects from viewing sexualized images of women in superhero films and provides a significant understanding of how sexualized female representations may impact gender related beliefs as well as perceptions of one’s self-esteem and body objectification.
On The Future Of Psychodynamic Therapy Research

AbstractObjective and Method: Two psychodynamic therapists and researchers from different generations reflected upon the past and present state of psychodynamic therapy research as well as possibilities for the future. Results and Conclusions: Several issues (e.g., decreased research funding, increased medicalization of mental health problems, and declining psychodynamic representation among research faculty) were identified as potential impediments for future high-quality research. In addition to encouraging the field to face these challenges directly, a number of specific recommendations were provided. These included not only suggestions for traditional process and outcome research, but also recommendations to modify our current assessment practices, improve our field's cohesiveness, increase our public visibility, and improve relationships with our non-psychodynamic colleagues. In is argued that, if the field confronts these many challenges in a creative and flexible manner, psychodynamic therapy resea...
On the six conics problem

There do not exist six points in the plane and six distinct congruent hyperbolas, each containing exactly five of the points. The methods are elementary. Part of the discussion includes determining how two congruent hyperbolas may intersect in four points. When combined with a result of Seidel and van Vollenhoven for ellipses, the above solves the six conics problem in the negative.
The genetic epidemiology and autoimmune pathogenesis of alopecia areata

Abstract Until recently, there was only circumstantial evidence to support the autoimmune and genetic etiology of alopecia areata. The advent of HLA stereotyping and linkage analysis has revealed an increase in specific HLA alleles in patients with alopecia areata and controls. Even more current is the detection of autoantibodies to the hair follicle in the sera from humans with alopecia areata and laboratory animal models of the disease. Recent experiments suggest that there may even be specific HLA class II alleles that play a protective role against the development of alopecia areata. Herein, the circumstantial data and the confirmed linkage data to support a genetic/autoimmune interplay theory of alopecia areata are discussed. The temporal advancements of research in the area of the HLA typing are reviewed for the disease.
An ATRActive future for differentiation therapy in AML

The success of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) therapy in acute promeylocytic leukemia (APL) has spawned numerous attempts to translate the paradigm of differentiation therapy to non-APL acute myelocytic leukemia (AML). However, the results of clinical trials have been overall disappointing. In this review we discuss the mechanism of retinoic acid signaling and the results of major clinical trials that have attempted to incorporate ATRA into AML regimens. We discuss recent evidence that indicate that the retinoic acid signaling pathway may be dysfunctional in AML. Preliminary studies suggest that targeting the pathways that modify retinoic acid receptor activity may reactivate the dormant retinoic acid-signaling pathway. Such strategies may revive the ability of ATRA to induce myeloid differentiation and apoptosis in non-APL AML.
The effect of decaying leaves on the ph and buffer capacity of waters

Abstract Acid rain has become a significant environmental problem in the United States1,2,3,4. The survival of aquatic life depends on the ability of the aquatic's system to withstand acidic rainwater. This in turn is very dependant on the buffer capacity of the system. Understanding the factors that effect buffer capacity would be very valuable in formulating solutions for the protection of aquatic life. The effect of decaying vegetation (leaves) on the buffer capacity of water was studied. The buffer capacity of decaying leaves from oak, pine and cypress trees was studied because they are common in Louisiana and a primary source of leaf litter in local lakes and streams. Results showed that when the leaves decomposed the pH initially decreased but over a period of time the pH and the buffer capacity increased. The increase in pH and buffer capacity depended on the species of leaves studied Indicating that some leaves may be beneficial but others, perhaps pine, aggrevate acidity problems.
Nuclear matter in the skyrme model

Abstract The applicability of the Skyrme model to the analysis of nuclear matter is discussed. Constraints on an ansatz that describes a cubic skyrmion crystal are presented. Properties of this ansatz are studied numerically. Results are used to discuss nuclear matter in the large-N limit and at N = 3.
Histamine effects on cardiac contractility, phosphorylase and adenyl cyclase☆

Abstract Histamine was found to produce a positive inotropic effect and to activate the enzyme glycogen phosphorylase in isolated, perfused guinea pig hearts. Both effects were greatly enhanced by theophylline and proved resistant to blockade by tripelennamine. Histamine stimulated cardiac adenyl cyclase and this stimulation also proved resistant to blockade by antihistamines whereas stimulation of the enzyme by epinephrine was blocked by propranolol. Betazole and a triazole derivative, both analogs of histamine, also increased adenyl cyclase activity but were less effective than histamine and more effective than epinephrine. The combined effects of maximum doses of betazole or the triazole derivative and epinephrine were greater than that obtained with either drug alone. Betazole decreased the histamine stimulation of adenyl cyclase. The data suggest that there are separate receptors for histamine and epinephrine on cardiac adenyl cyclase and that stimulation of adenyl cyclase could account for the cardiac actions of histamine. The data also confirm reports that the cardiac histamine receptor differs from other histamine receptors.
Manure and Fertilizer Effects on Carbon Balance and Organic and Inorganic Carbon Losses for an Irrigated Corn Field

Little is known about inorganic fertilizer or manure effects on organic carbon (OC) and inorganic C (IC) losses from a furrow irrigated field, particularly in the context of other system C gains or losses. In 2003 and 2004, we measured dissolved organic and inorganic C (DOC, DIC), particulate OC and IC (POC, PIC) concentrations in irrigation inflow, runoff, and percolation waters (6-7 irrigations/y); C inputs from soil amendments and crop biomass; harvested C; and gaseous C emissions from field plots cropped to silage corn (Zea mays L.) in southern Idaho. Annual treatments included: (M) 13 (y 1) and 34 Mg/ha (y 2) stockpiled dairy manure; (F) 78 (yr 1) and 195 kg N/ha (y 2) inorganic N fertilizer; or (NA) no amendment--control. The mean annual total C input into M plots averaged 16.1 Mg/ha, 1.4-times greater than that for NA (11.5 Mg/ha) or F (11.1 Mg/ha), while total C outputs for the three treatments were similar, averaging 11.8 Mg/ha. Thus, the manure plots ended each growing season with an average net gain of 3.8 Mg C/ha (a positive net C flux), while the control (-0.5 Mg C/ha) and fertilizer (-0.4 Mg C/ha) treatments finished the season with a net C loss. Atmospheric CO2 incorporated into the crop biomass contributed 96% of the mean annual C input to NA and F plots but only 68% to M plots. We conclude that nutrient amendments substantially influence the short-term carbon balance of our furrow-irrigated system. Amendments had both direct and indirect influences on individual C components, such as the losses of DIC and POC in runoff and DOC in percolation water, producing temporally complex outcomes which may depend on environmental conditions external to the field.
Essential Role of NADPH Oxidase-Dependent Reactive Oxygen Species Generation in Regulating MicroRNA-21 Expression and Function in Prostate Cancer

Abstract Aims: Oncogenic microRNAs (miRs) promote tumor growth and invasiveness. One of these, miR-21, contributes to carcinogenesis in prostate and other cancers. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that NADPH oxidase-dependent reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulate the expression and function of miR-21 and its target proteins, maspin and programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4), in prostate cancer cells. Results: The highly aggressive androgen receptor negative PC-3M-MM2 prostate cancer cells demonstrated high expression of miR-21 and p47phox (an essential subunit of NADPH oxidase). Using loss-of-function strategy, we showed that transfection of PC-3M-MM2 cells with anti-miR-21- and p47phox siRNA (si-p47phox) led to reduced expression of miR-21 with concurrent increase in maspin and PDCD4, and decreased the invasiveness of the cells. Tail-vein injections of anti-miR-21- and si-p47phox-transfected PC-3M-MM2 cells in severe combined immunodeficient mice reduced lung metastases. Clinical samples from pat...
Arguments for Qualitative Risk Assessment: The StAR Risk Adviser

Calculating risk is relatively straightforward when there is reliable statistical evidence on which to base a judgment. However, novel technologies are often characterised by a lack of such historical data, which creates a problem for risk assessment. In fact, numerical risk assessments can be positively misleading in such situations. We describe a decision support system – StAR – that gives quantitative assessments where appropriate, but which is also able to provide qualitative risk assessments based on arguments for and against the presence of risk. The user is presented with a summary statement of risk, together with the arguments that underlie this assessment. Furthermore, the user is able to search beyond these top-level arguments in order to discover more about the available evidence. Here we suggest that this approach is well-suited to the way in which people naturally make decisions, and we show how the StAR approach has been implemented in the domain of toxicological risk assessment.
Structure−Reactivity−Mechanistic Considerations in Heavy Oil Desulfurization

In recent years, sulfur regulations for transportation fuels have been considerably tightened. Moreover, there has been an increasing trend to refine heavier crudes, which are typically more difficult to process. Because of these reasons, it is becoming increasingly important to enhance the desulfurization efficiency of commercial heavy oil hydrotreating units. A molecular level understanding about the reactivity of sulfur compounds in heavy oils is expected to assist the optimization of the heavy oil hydrotreaters. Unfortunately, the desulfurization chemistry in heavy oil range is enormously complex. As compared to the lower petroleum fractions such as gasoline/diesel, it is considerably more difficult to obtain a fundamental understanding about sulfur species in heavy oils. Studies dealing with fundamental aspects of heavy oil desulfurization have been addressed in this minireview. The following related topics have been reviewed: (a) characterization of sulfur compounds, (b) kinetics/reactivity of indi...
Demonstration of a mental analog of an external rotation

Subjects imagined a designated two-dimensional shape rotating within a blank, circular field at a self-determined rate. At some point during the mental rotation, a test shape was presented at one of 12 picture-plane orientations, and the subject was required to determine as rapidly as possible whether the test shape was the same as the originally designated shape or was its mirror image. When the test shape was presented in the expected orientation (the orientation assumed to correspond to the current orientation of the rotating internal representation), reaction time was short and constant, regardless of the angular departure of that orientation from a previously trained position. This was true even when the test shape was presented in an orientation which had not previously been tested. When the test shape was presented at some other, unexpected orientation, reaction time increased linearly with the angular difference between the expected orientation and the orientation of the test shape. It is argued that these results provide a demonstration of the \ldanalog\rd nature of mental rotation.
TH-A-9A-10: Prostate SBRT Delivery with Flattening-Filter-Free Mode: Benefit and Accuracy

Purpose: Flattening-filter-free (FFF) beam mode offered on TrueBeam™ linac enables delivering IMRT at 2400 MU/min dose rate. This study investigates the benefit and delivery accuracy of using high dose rate in the context of prostate SBRT. Methods: 8 prostate SBRT patients were retrospectively studied. In 5 cases treated with 600-MU/min dose rate, continuous prostate motion data acquired during radiation-beam-on was used to analyze motion range. In addition, the initial 1/3 of prostate motion trajectories during each radiation-beam-on was separated to simulate motion range if 2400-MU/min were used. To analyze delivery accuracy in FFF mode, MLC trajectory log files from an additional 3 cases treated at 2400-MU/min were acquired. These log files record MLC expected and actual positions every 20ms, and therefore can be used to reveal delivery accuracy. Results: (1) Benefit. On average treatment at 600-MU/min takes 30s per beam; whereas 2400-MU/min requires only 11s. When shortening delivery time to ~1/3, the prostate motion range was significantly smaller (p<0.001). Largest motion reduction occurred in Sup-Inf direction, from [−3.3mm, 2.1mm] to [−1.7mm, 1.7mm], followed by reduction from [−2.1mm, 2.4mm] to [−1.0mm, 2.4mm] in Ant-Pos direction. No change observed in LR direction [−0.8mm, 0.6mm]. The combined motion amplitude (vector norm) confirms thatmore » average motion and ranges are significantly smaller when beam-on was limited to the 1st 1/3 of actual delivery time. (2) Accuracy. Trajectory log file analysis showed excellent delivery accuracy with at 2400 MU/min. Most leaf deviations during beam-on were within 0.07mm (99-percentile). Maximum leaf-opening deviations during each beam-on were all under 0.1mm for all leaves. Dose-rate was maintained at 2400-MU/min during beam-on without dipping. Conclusion: Delivery prostate SBRT with 2400 MU/min is both beneficial and accurate. High dose rates significantly reduced both treatment time and intra-beam prostate motion range. Excellent delivery accuracy was confirmed with very small leaf motion deviation.« less
Development and Evaluation of Individualized Clothing Construction Modules

The major purpose of the study was to develop and evaluate a series of individualized modules for selected fundamental skills used in clothing construction. The sample (43 sub jects) of two sections of basic clothing construction was randomly selected from the six sections offered during a given term. The hypothesis stated that there would be no difference between a control group (traditional lecture-demonstration) and an experimental group (using in dividualized modules) as measured by clothing construction experience in cognitive, perfor mance, and attitude scores. Statistical analyses included t-test based upon experience score, analysis of variance, and chi-square test for attitude questionnaire on all variables by group and experience level. Results indicated that: (1) individualized instruction may be a more ef fective mode of instruction than lecture-demonstration, (2) integrating individualized instruc tion into a regular class situation can be managed with some degree of success, and (3) the in structional modules were effective instructional tools.
Preparation and Characterization of Bis[dihalo(μ-bis(diphenylphosphino)amine)molybdenum(II)] Complexes

Complexes having the formula Mo2X4(μ-dppa)2 (X = Cl (2) Br (3); dppa = bis(diphenylphosphino)amine) can be synthesized by the reaction of Mo2(OAc)4 (OAc = μ-CH3COO) with dppa and an excess of (CH3)...
Measuring Reading Comprehension Using the Paraphrase Test and the Reading-Storage Test.

The newly developed reading-storage type of test was compared to the paraphrase type of test to determine the extent to which each test was sensitive to the comprehension of prose passages as opposed to word memorization. Comprehension was manipulated using passages that were difficult to comprehend without the aid of context cues, and memorization was manipulated by administering the tests without the opportunity to read the passages. The average gain from the No Context to Context condition was greater for the reading-storage test, thus suggesting that it was more sensitive to comprehension than the paraphrase test. The average gain from the Non-Reading to No Context condition was greater for the paraphrase test, thus suggesting that the paraphrase test was more sensitive to word memorization than the reading-storage test. These data suggested that the completely objective, reading-storage test deserves further research, and that paraphrase questions may not be as valid as intuition would suggest.
THE IMPACT OF NEGATIVE AFFECT ON COGNITION AND PERSONALITY1

On Saturday, November 23, 1963, the day after John F. Kennedy had been assassinated, a six-hour battery of cognitive and personality measures was administered to a sample of 58 undergraduates at a small eastern college. Three months later, another comparable sample from the same college was administered the same battery for comparison purposes. The effects of the assassination on cognition and personality were found to be fairly specific. In terms of overall main effects, all three marker tests for flexibility of perceptual closure were implicated, along with a measure of the speed of closure factor. Experimental subjects were also found to be more indifferent than comparison subjects in their affective reactions to stimuli and tended to be more constricted in graphic expression. Several significant interactions were also observed with sex of subject and with birth order, and these interactions primarily involved these same variables–measures of the two factors of speed and flexibility of perceptual closure, of graphic constriction-expansiveness, and of indifference in affective reactions to stimuli. The effects of the assassination on personality scales were also quite specific. Experimental subjects were significantly more yielding and conventional than comparison subjects, but at the same time were more dogmatic and extreme in expressing opinions.