cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Contribution of Foreign Assistance to Agricultural Development

cross sectional sample of 13 major aid receiving countries was investigated. Changes in agricultural production between two three-year periods (19601962 and 1964-66) were statistically related to the increase in land area cultivated, the increase in labor employed, and agricultural aid per hectare. The form of the statistical relationship was derived from a Cobb-Douglas production function. Aid to agriculture was subdivided into three categories: (a) aid in financing agricultural inputs, such as fertilizer; (b) technical assistance; and (c) aid to finance facilities to produce agricultural inputs (e.g., fertilizer plants). The analysis showed that there was a statistically significant relationship between aid-financed inputs and agricultural output. This type of aid explained nearly one-third of the average 15 percent increase in agricultural output experienced by the 13 countries. On the other hand, there were no statistically significant relationships between the other two types of aid and agricultural production; but this is not surprising, considering the short period of time investigated. T HERE can be little doubt that agricultural development is one of the major tasks facing the less developed nations. The dimensions of the world food problem have been described vividly by the President's Science Advisory Committee [6]. More generally, it has been argued effectively that agricultural development is a necessary prerequisite to general economic development [2, 3]. Recognizing the importance of agricultural progress, the United States and other advanced nations have channeled a major portion of their foreign development assistance into agricultural development and food aid programs [1, p. 23]. Little quantitative analysis, however, is available regarding the effectiveness of foreign assistance to agricultural development, and that which is available is directed primarily toward an evaluation of food aid and related programs [7, 10]. The purpose of this paper is to report on research designed to measure the impact of foreign economic assistance on agricultural output in the
Transition in flexural microbuckling mechanisms in unidirectional glass fibre-reinforced thermoplastics

Abstract A transition in the mechanism of flexural failure previously observed in low matrix modulus unidirectional glass fibre composites is semi-quantitatively explained by considering the criterion for each of the failure modes. The failure strength for cooperative fibre microbuckling is controlled by the shear modulus of the composite which is linearly related to the Young's modulus of the matrix, while the failure strength for delamination splitting microbuckling is controlled by the composite shear strength which is not as strongly dependent on the Young's modulus of the matrix. Because the critical failure stresses have different dependencies on the matrix modulus, a transition from cooperative fibre microbuckling to delamination splitting microbuckling occurs as the matrix modulus increases. Due to the stress gradient in the beam, the compressive failure behaviour in bending is not the same as in uniform compression. When the failure mode is cooperative fibre microbuckling, the bending strength is higher than expected, especially in the thin beams. In bending, the delamination splitting microbuckling mode does not lead to abrupt splitting of the entire beam, but rather occurs by gradual accumulation of surface damage.
The electron beam curing of dialkyltin diacrylates

Dibutyltin diacrylate, di-2-methylpropyltin diacrylate and dioctyltin diacrylate cure to give tack-free films at much lower doses than the commonly used diluents hexanediol diacrylate, trimethylolpropane, triacrylate etc. Their reactivity is ascribed to their greater stopping power due to the presence of the tin atom and to the homolysis of the weak tin-carbon bond which leads to the production of initiating radicals. Film formation is also aided by the tin carboxylates being able to form an intermolecularly associated structure. The tin acrylates can be used in conjunction with prepolymers, e.g. an epoxidized soya bean oil (Synocure 3111) and a urethane acrylate (Synocure 3134). The tin acrylates are less effective than tripropyleneglycol diacrylate (TPGDA) in reducing the viscosity of the prepolymers. Electron beam curing of mixtures of the tin acrylates and prepolymers gave films possessing greater solvent resistance than those obtained from corresponding mixtures of TPGDA and the prepolymers.
Toward a theory of competitive market signaling: A research agenda

Competitive market signals are conceptualized as announcements or previews of potential actions intended to convey or to gain information from competitors. This paper develops a set of propositions based on research in economics, social psychology, and marketing on the risk/reward trade-off in signaling, the receiver's signal interpretation, and the receiver's reaction alternatives. The overall objective is to develop a research agenda toward a theory of competitive market signaling.
Uncertainties in limits on TeV-gravity from neutrino-induced showers

Abstract In models with TeV-scale gravity, ultrahigh energy cosmic rays can generate microscopic black holes in the collision with atmospheric and terrestrial nuclei. It has been proposed that stringent bounds on TeV-scale gravity can be obtained from the absence of neutrino cosmic ray showers mediated by black holes. However, uncertainties in the cross section of black hole formation and, most importantly, large uncertainties in the neutrino flux affects these bounds. As long as the cosmic neutrino flux remains unknown, the non-observation of neutrino induced showers implies less stringent limits than present collider limits.
BRCA2 T2722R is a deleterious allele that causes exon skipping.

Patients with a strong family history of breast cancer are often counseled to receive genetic screening for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, the strongest known predictors of breast cancer. A major limitation of genetic testing is the number of inconclusive results due to unclassified BRCA1 and BRCA2 sequence variants. Many known deleterious BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations affect splicing, and these typically lie near intron/exon boundaries. However, there are also potential internal exonic mutations that disrupt functional exonic splicing enhancer (ESE) sequences, resulting in exon skipping. Using previously established sequence matrices for the scoring of putative ESE motifs, we have systematically examined several BRCA2 mutations for potential ESE disruption mutations. These predictions revealed that BRCA2 T2722R (8393C→G), which segregates with affected individuals in a family with breast cancer, disrupts three potential ESE sites. Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis confirms that this mutation causes exon skipping, leading to an out-of-frame fusion of BRCA2 exons 17 and 19. This represents the first BRCA2 missense mutation shown to be a predicted deleterious protein-truncating mutation and suggests a potentially useful method for determining the clinical significance of a subset of the many unclassified variants in BRCA1 and BRCA2.
Multiple surface cracks in pressure vessels

Abstract An alternating method, in conjunction with the finite element method and a solution for multiple coplanar elliptical cracks in an infinite solid, is used to determine stress intensity factors for semi-elliptical surface flaws in cylindrical pressure vessels. The solution technique for multiple cracks in an infinite body has recently been developed by the present authors which implements a well-known analytical solution for a single crack in an infinite body. The present finite element alternating method leads to a very inexpensive procedure for routine evaluation of accurate stress intensity factors for flawed pressure vessels. Numerical examples are presented for the situation of two equal surface cracks in a pressure vessel. Comparison is made between these results and the procedure for multiple cracks in the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code.
Vesicoureteral reflux nephropathy. Evidence for immunologically mediated glomerular injury.

Abstract A retrospective clinicopathologic analysis was done on 8 patients with bilateral vesicoureteral reflux, bacteriuria, and renal failure. Although none of the patients had a history of glomerulonephritis, quantitative urinary protein excretion of the 6 patients examined exceeded 2.3 Gm. per day and was greater than 5.2 Gm. per day in 4. Examination of the resected kidneys revealed an interstitial nephritis consistent with chronic pyelonephritis along with significant degrees of glomerular sclerosis. In addition, a granular deposition of immunoglobulin M and complement was seen in glomeruli of all 5 cases examined by immunofluorescence microscopy, and 2 cases had subendothelial electron dense deposits along glomerular capillary walls. The heavy proteinuria along with the deposition of immunoglobulin M and complement along glomerular capillary walls suggests that the terminal renal disease associated with vesicoureteral reflux has a component of glomerular injury possibly related to immunologic mechanisms.
A structural investigation of monoclinic SmCo(CN)6 · 4H2O

Abstract The crystal structure of SmCo(CN) 6 · 4H 2 O has been determined from three-dimensional, single-crystal, X-ray diffraction data and refined by the full-matrix least-squares method to give R = 0.0137 (R w = 0.0137) and ∑ 2 = 1.04. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2 1 /m, a = 7.365(1), b = 13.653(2), c = 7.385(2) A˚, and β = 120.08(2)°. For Z = 2 , the calculated density is 2.261 Mg m −3 ( D m = 2.24(2)Mg m −3 ). A total of 882 unique reflections were measured with MoKα radiation by the ω-2θ scan technique. The Sm ion is eight-coordinated in a square antiprism geometry, the SmN 6 (H 2 O) 2 group. The Co ion is octahedrally coordinated to six carbon atoms, the CoC 6 group. These groups are connected by cyanide bridges. Two uncoordinated water molecules occupy holes in the structure. Important mean bond distances are: Sm N = 2.512, Sm O = 2.404, Co C = 1.890, and C N = 1.146A˚. Dehydration, fluorescence, and infrared data are reported.
Late Triassic Bivalvia (chiefly Halobiidae and Monotidae) from the Pardonet Formation, Williston Lake area, northeastern British Columbia, Canada

The Upper Triassic of the Williston Lake area of northeastern British Columbia is represented by a nearly continuous series of fossil-rich sediments that were deposited in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin in an offshore mid-paleolatitude setting on the western margin of cratonic Pangea. The fossils in this report come primarily from the upper Carnian–upper Norian Pardonet Formation, which has been the subject of numerous paleontologic studies on ammonoids and conodonts, yet has received little attention with regard to its bivalve fauna. Fossil bivalves belonging to the thin-shelled bivalve genera Halobia, Eomonotis, and Monotis dominate the benthic macrofauna and occur within unique shell accumulations that are interpreted to represent oxygen-controlled monospecific paleocommumities that have undergone little post-mortem transportation. Systematic analyses of more than 1,000 individual bivalve specimens resulted in the identification of 25 species-rank taxa, a majority of which belong to the pterioid genus Halobia and the pectinoid genera Eomonotis and Monotis. Of these, four new species are recognized, including 1) upper Carnian Halobia tozeri n. sp. characterized by a unique triangular outline; 2) lowermost Norian Halobia selwyni n. sp. closely related to H. beyrichi and first appearing with H. austriaca which is proposed as a potential datum for the Carnian–Norian boundary; 3) Norian Meleagrinella mclearni n. sp., a new name for previously identified species; and 4) upper Norian Otaparia norica n. sp. which has a delicate thin shell, unique outline, and fine ornament. A revised and refined biochronology of Upper Triassic Bivalvia (chiefly Halobiidae and Monotidae) integrated with conodont and ammonoid zones and standard Triassic stages is presented for the Upper Triassic of the Williston Lake area and permits enhanced correlation to coeval faunas elsewhere in the North American Cordillera, and to the Boreal, Panthalassan and Tethyan faunal realms.
Brain damage induced by prenatal exposure to dexamethasone in fetal rhesus macaques. I. Hippocampus

Abstract Neurotoxic effects of prenatal administration of dexamethasone were examined in the fetal rhesus monkey brain at 135 and 162 days of gestation (term is 165 days). In an experimental design mimicking human clinical trials, dexamethasone was given intramuscularly to pregnant monkeys on day 132 (single injection with doses of 0.5, 5, or 10 mg/kg maternal body weight) or on days 132 and 133 (multiple injections at 12-h intervals with 0.125 × 4, 1.25 × 4, or 2.5 mg/kg × 4). The fetuses were delivered by caesarean section on day 135 or day 162 and hippocampal slices were prepared for evaluation. Light and electron microscopic observation revealed decreased numbers of pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal CA regions and of granular neurons in the dentate gyrus associated with degeneration of neuronal perikarya and dendrites. Axodendritic synaptic terminals of the mossy fibers in the CA3 hippocampal region showed pronounced degeneration. Degeneration was dose-dependent and multiple injections induced more severe damage than single injections of the same total dose. Even the lowest dose (0.5 mg/kg, which is similar to the dose used in human clinical trials) produced these changes. Degenerative changes induced by dexamethasone treatment (5 mg/kg) on days 132 and 133 were also clearly evident in fetuses studied at 162 days. Therefore, caution is recommended in the use of prenatal corticosteroids in premature deliveries.
Successful bone marrow transplantation for IPEX syndrome after reduced-intensity conditioning

Immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked (IPEX) syndrome is a rare, fatal autoimmune disorder caused by mutations in the FOXP3 gene leading to the disruption of signaling pathways involved in regulatory T-lymphocyte function. Lifelong multiagent immunosuppression is necessary to control debilitating autoimmune manifestations such as colitis and food allergies. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can restore T-cell regulatory function but has been previously associated with poor outcome. We describe successful HSCT in 4 patients with IPEX syndrome using a novel reduced-intensity conditioning regimen that resulted in stable donor engraftment, reconstitution of FOXP3+ T regulatory CD4+ cells, and amelioration of gastrointestinal symptoms.
Studies on Feedback Control of Cardiac Alternans.

Abstract A beat-to-beat variation in the electric wave propagation morphology in myocardium is referred to as cardiac alternans and it has been linked to the onset of life threatening arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Experimental studies have demonstrated that alternans can be annihilated by the feedback modulation of the basic pacing interval in a small piece of cardiac tissue. In this work, we study the capability of feedback control to suppress alternans both spatially and temporally in an extracted rabbit heart and in a cable of cardiac cells. This work demonstrates real-time control of cardiac alternans in an extracted rabbit heart and provides an analysis of the control methodology applied in the case of a one-dimensional (1D) cable of cardiac cells. The real-time system control is realized through feedback by proportional perturbation of the basic pacing cycle length (PCL). The measurements of the electric wave propagation are obtained by optical mapping of fluorescent dye from the surface of the heart and are fed into a custom-designed software that provides the control action signal that perturbs the basic pacing cycle length. In addition, a novel pacing protocol that avoids conduction block is applied. A numerical analysis, complementary to the experimental study, is also carried out, by the ionic model of a 1D cable of cardiac cells under a self-referencing feedback protocol, which is identical to the one applied in the experimental study. Furthermore, the amplitude of alternans linear parabolic partial differential equation (PDE) that is associated with the 1D ionic cardiac cell cable model under feedback control is analyzed. We provide an analysis of the amplitude of alternans parabolic PDE which admits a standard evolutionary form in a well defined functional space. Standard modal decomposition techniques are used in the analysis and the controller synthesis is carried out through pole placement. State and output feedback controller realizations are developed and the important issue of measurement noise in the controller implementation is addressed. The analysis of stabilization of the amplitude of alternans PDE is in agreement with the experimental results and numerical results produced by the ionic 1D cable of cardiac cells model. Finally, a discussion is provided in light of these results in order to use control to suppress alternans in the human myocardium.
Preparation of poly(p-phenylene vinylene) deuterium labelled in the vinylene positions

Abstract The preparation of poly( p -phenylene vinylene) specifically labelled at the vinylene positions is herein described. The extent of deuteration is estimated by i.r. spectroscopy, and the mechanism of hydrogen/deuterium exchange during the polymerization process is discussed.
Area postrema mediation of physiological and behavioral effects of lithium chloride in the rat

Abstract The area postrema (PA), a chemoreceptor trigger zone for nausea and vomiting, has been implicated in taste aversion conditioning with LiCl. In addition to taste aversion acquisition, the present studies indicate that a number of other responses to LiCl administration are eliminated by lesions of the AP. These include a behavioral response, ‘lying-on-belly’ as well as two physiological responses, delayed stomach emptying and hypothermia. These findings suggest that the area postrema is critically involved inn the detection of LiCl and in a wide range of responses to this toxin. They also provide strong evidence that the failure to acquire conditioned taste aversions to LiCl-paired flavors after AP lesions can be attributed to the absence of a significant ‘illness’ response in lesioned animals.
Seasonal and Diel Activity of Filth Fly Parasites (Hymenoptera: Pteronalidae) in Caged-layer Poultry Manure in Southern California

Periodic exposure of laboratory-reared Musca domestica L. pupae was used to study seasonal and diel activity patterns of pteromalid pupal parasites in poultry manure. Muscidifurax zaraptor Kogan & Legner (July to October), M. raptor (Girault & Sanders (June to October), and Spalangia cameroni Perkins (May to November) were most commonly collected. Others included S. nigroaenea Curtis (July, September, November), S. endius Walker (July), and Nasonia vitripennis (Walker) (March, July). Exposure of pupae during a 12-h daytime or 12-h nighttime period indicated that M. zaraptor and probably S. cameroni were primarily diurnal in their searching activity. Some nocturnal activity was noted for S. cameroni . Predation of pupae by Solenopsis maniosa Wheeler appeared to be severe in peripheral surface manure areas during the summer. A treatment of extensive wet manure areas with dimethoate larvicide appeared to have a deleterious impact on parasite activity, particularly M. zaraptor and M. raptor , in the summer of 1984.
Neurosteroid, GABAergic and hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis regulation: what is the current state of knowledge in humans?

Rationale A robust epidemiological literature suggests an association between chronic stress and the development of affective disorders. However, the precise biological underpinnings of this relationship remain elusive. Central to the human response and adaptation to stress, activation and inhibition of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis involves a multi-level, multi-system, neurobiological stress response which is as comprehensive in its complexity as it is precarious. Dysregulation in this complex system has implications for human stress related illness.
Conflict as a Catalyst for Learning

Rashne R. Jehangir challenges her students and herself to engage with tough issues like class, race, gender, disability, and homophobia. How does she help them learn from, and even embrace, the confict that inevitably arises? Read on to find out.
Determination of Critical Thickness for Epitaxial ZnTe Layers Grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy on (211)B and (100) GaSb Substrates

Cross-section electron micrographs, cathodoluminescence images, and confocal photoluminescence (cPL) images have been acquired for ZnTe layers deposited to various thicknesses on GaSb substrates with (211)B and (100) orientations. The critical thickness of ZnTe on GaSb is predicted to range between 115 nm and 329 nm, depending on the theoretical approach chosen. For ZnTe layers grown on (211)B GaSb with thickness exceeding 150 nm, dark spots and lines are present in all images. We associate these with dislocations generated at the ZnTe/GaSb interface. The discrepancy between this thickness value and a critical thickness value (350 nm to 375 nm) obtained for the (211)B orientation in a previous study is related to the distinction between the onset of misfit dislocations and the onset of significant plastic deformation. The former requires a direct imaging technique, as strain-related measurements such as x-ray diffraction do not have the resolution to detect the effects of small numbers of dislocations. For ZnTe layers on (100) GaSb, x-ray diffraction measurements indicate an abrupt change characteristic of dislocation multiplication at a thickness value in the range from 250 nm to 275 nm. High-resolution electron micrographs of the ZnTe/GaSb interface indicate that deoxidation using atomic hydrogen produces GaSb surfaces suitable for ZnTe epitaxy. cPL images of a 1.2-μm-thick lattice-matched ZnTe0.99Se 0.01 layer grown on a 150-nm-thick ZnTe buffer layer on a (211)B GaSb substrate yield a threading dislocation density of ∼7 × 104 cm−2.
Racial/ethnic and sex differences in the ability of metabolic syndrome criteria to predict elevations in fasting insulin levels in adolescents.

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) was first described as a cluster of clinical findings that are strongly associated with insulin resistance (1, 2). Nevertheless, measurements of insulin itself are not a criterion for diagnosis of MetS, which is instead based on specific cut-off values used to identify elevated waste circumference (WC), hypertension, low HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), hypertriglyceridemia, and elevated fasting glucose (1, 2). Although multiple sets of criteria have been proposed for classifying MetS in children—including one by the International Diabetes Federation (3–5)—the majority of research in this area has utilized criteria based on the adult ATP III criteria (2, 6, 7), with cut-off levels adjusted to be more consistent with adolescent ranges (1, 8–10). The utility of MetS as a clinical tool in pediatrics has been shown in that children with MetS have an odds ratio of 11.5 for developing type 2 diabetes (T2DM) within 30 years (10), and in adults MetS predicts earlier cardiovascular disease (6). This makes a diagnosis of MetS an appealing trigger for early intervention among at-risk youths (5). Non-Hispanic-black adolescents have lower rates of MetS diagnosis than Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites (4, 7, 9) despite having a higher degree of insulin resistance than seen in non-Hispanic whites (11, 12) and higher rates of T2DM and CVD, as adults (13, 14). Similarly, adolescent females have lower rates of MetS (4, 9) and comparisons of insulin resistance between sexs have been mixed (12, 15). Thus, the value of MetS in identifying females and non-Hispanic-black adolescents with insulin resistance is unclear. Our goal was to determine whether the relationship between insulin resistance and MetS varied by sex and race/ethnicity among non-Hispanic-white, non-Hispanic-black, and Hispanic adolescents (12–19 y.o.) who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Evaluation Survey (NHANES) ’99-’08. On a sex- and race/ethnicity-specific basis, we compared: (1) the degree of insulin resistance (estimated as either levels of fasting insulin or the homeostasis model of insulin resistance, HOMA-IR) in the presence and absence of MetS; and (2) the sensitivity of a MetS diagnosis to detect elevations in fasting insulin. In doing so, we aimed to identify sex- and racial/ethnic variation in the ability of a diagnosis of MetS to identify insulin resistance in adolescents.
Atrial activity during thePR segment of the MCG

Sloping signals were observed in thePR segment of normal magnetocardiograms recorded from five dogs. Larger ramps were observed after first-degree AV nodal blockade was induced pharmacologically, and complete atrial repolarization was observed following isolated atrial contractions in two animals with second-degree block. These ramps, ranging up to 6.7 pT in size and arising from the atria, may complicate magnetic detection of His-Purkinje activity.
Hollow cone sieve for top

Abstract A method of top tagging is introduced. Using the anti-kt algorithm to define jets, events with n j = 2 fat jets of cone size R = 1.5 are decomposed into R = 0.6 subjets and retained if n j ( R = 0.6 ) ⩾4. One pair of subjets reconstructs the W mass and another two subjets are tagged as a b-jet, as necessary for hadronic or semileptonic events of t t ¯ origin. This “hollow cone” method distinguishes the t t ¯ events from the light parton QCD dijet events. Our simulations are made for the LHC at 7 TeV. The sieve allows for top identification at lower p T than other proposed methods and thus allows a higher signal retention.
Neural activation during facial emotion processing in unmedicated bipolar depression, euthymia, and mania.

Background Studies incorporating direct comparisons across all phases of bipolar (BP) disorder are needed to elucidate the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. However, functional neuroimaging studies that differentiate bipolar mood states from each other and from healthy subjects are few and have yielded inconsistent findings. Methods One hundred five unmedicated adults were recruited: 30 with current bipolar depression (BPD), 30 with current bipolar hypomania or mania (BPM), 15 bipolar euthymic (BPE), and 30 healthy control subjects (HC). All subjects were diagnosed with DSM-IV BP (type I or II) using a structured clinical interview. Groups were age- and gender-ratio matched. In 3T functional magnetic resonance imaging experiments, subjects completed a negative facial emotion matching task. Results Bipolar euthymic and BPD groups exhibited increased amygdala activation compared with HCs in response to the negative faces; however, in the BPM group, this increase was not seen. Conversely, both BPE and BPM groups had increased activation in the insula relative to HCs, but in the BPD group, this effect was not seen. All three BP groups exhibited increased activation of the putamen compared with HCs. In the cortical areas, the BPM group exhibited decreased left lateral orbitofrontal cortex activation compared with both BPEs and HCs, increased dorsal anterior cingulate cortex activation compared with the BPD group, and increased dorsolateral prefrontal cortical activation compared with all other groups. Conclusions Both state- and trait-related abnormalities in corticolimbic activation were seen in response to the negative facial emotion processing in a large sample of unmedicated adults across BP mood states.
Sebaceous adenoma with a cutaneous horn

Cutaneous horns are common lesions that usually represent actinic keratoses, verrucae, seborrheic keratoses, and squamous cell carcinomas. We present a remarkable example of a sebaceous adenoma with cutaneous horn formation. The solitary lesion occurred over the left clavicle of a 71-year-old man without evidence of the Muir-Torre syndrome. There have been only three previous reports of sebaceous tumors (one sebaceous adenoma and two sebaceous carcinomas) producing cutaneous horns, the latter of which are actually pseudohorns, exophytic extensions of tumor without hyperkeratosis.
Using Simulation Modeling to Inform Strategies to Reduce Breast Cancer Mortality in Black Women in the District of Columbia.

Background. Black women in the District of Columbia (DC) have the highest breast cancer mortality in the US. Local cancer control planners are interested in how to most efficiently reduce this mortality. Methods. An established simulation model was adapted to reflect the experiences of Black women in DC and estimate the past and future impact of changes in use of screening and adjuvant treatment. Results. The model estimates that the observed reduction in mortality that occurred from 1975 to 2007 attributable to screening, treatment, and both was 20.2%, 25.7%, and 41.0% respectively. The results suggest that, by 2020, breast cancer mortality among Black women in DC could be reduced by 6% more by initiating screening at age 40 versus age 50. Screening annually may also reduce mortality to a greater extent than biennially, albeit with a marked increase in false positive screening rates. Conclusion. This study demonstrates how modeling can provide data to assist local planners as they consider different cancer control policies based on their individual populations.
Recent advances in high speed silicon optical modulator

High-speed silicon optical modulator is one of key components for integrated silicon photonic chip aiming at Tb/s data transmission for next generation communication networks as well as future high performance computing applications. In this paper we review the recent development of the silicon modulator. In particular, we present a high-speed and highly scalable silicon optical modulator based on the free carrier plasma dispersion effect. The fast refractive index modulation of the device is due to electric-field-induced carrier depletion in a Silicon-on-Insulator waveguide containing a reverse biased pn junction. To achieve high-speed performance, a traveling-wave design is employed to allow co-propagation of electrical and optical signals along the waveguide. We demonstrate high-frequency modulator optical response with 3 dB bandwidth of ~20 GHz and data transmission up to 30 Gb/s. We also highlight the future device optimization for 40 Gb/s and beyond.
Possible spin-Peierls transition in La2RuO5

Abstract The semiconductor–semiconductor transition of La2RuO5 is studied by means of augmented spherical wave (ASW) electronic structure calculations as based on density functional theory and the local density approximation. This transition has lately been reported to lead to orbital ordering and a quenching of the local spin magnetic moment. Our results give strong hints for a different orbital ordering scenario than the one previously proposed. In our type of ordering the local S = 1 moment at the Ru sites is preserved in the low-temperature phase. The unusual magnetic behaviour is interpreted by the formation of spin ladders resulting from the structural transformations occurring at the transition. The spin ladders are characterized by antiferromagnetic coupling along the rungs. The loss of the total spin moment is attributed to a spin-Peierls transition.
On automorphism groups of countable structures

Strengthening a theorem of D. W. Kueker, this paper completely charaterizes which countable structures do not admit uncountable L ω1ω -elementarily equivalent models. In particular, it is shown that if the automorphism group of a countable structure M is abelian, or even just solvable, then there is no uncountable model of the Scott sentence of M . These results arise as part of a study of Polish groups with compatible left-invariant complete metrics.
Taming hyperbolic growth

Abstract A simple modification of the hyperbolic growth model is proposed which results in close agreement with past and present population data but removes the singularity at the critical date. However, the values of the parameters in the model such as the population at the critical date cannot be estimated until the population deviates significantly from the simple model. The family of distributions suggested by this analysis may have other applications.
Aerobic and anaerobic energy expenditure during rest and activity in montane Bufo b. boreas and Rana pipiens.

The relations of standard and active aerobic and anaerobic metabolism and heart rate to body temperature (T b) were measured in montane groups of Bufo b. boreas and Rana pipiens maintained under field conditions. These amphibians experience daily variation of T b over 30°C and 23°C, respectively (Carey, 1978). Standard and active aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, heart rate, aerobic and anaerobic scope are markedly temperature-dependent with no broad plateaus of thermal independence. Heart rate increments provide little augmentation of oxygen transport during activity; increased extraction of oxygen from the blood probably contributes importantly to oxygen supply during activity. Development of extensive aerobic capacities in Bufo may be related to aggressive behavior of males during breeding. Standard metabolic rates of both species are more thermally dependent than comparable values for lowland relatives. Thermal sensitivity of physiological functions may have distinct advantages over thermally compensated rates in the short growing season and daily thermal fluctuations of the montane environment.
The Use of a Strength-Based Approach in Addressing Discrimination Against Gays and Lesbians

Gay parenting is a salient issue in American culture today and will continue to be a pressing issue in the near future. Just as society's definition of family has evolved over time, the meaning of family remains an important component within the gay community as well. This paper explores the topic of gay parenting and child rearing through an empirically based literature review. An overview of variables that tend to predict homophobia in heterosexuals is provided. Research is reviewed that explores social workers' and other helping professionals' feelings toward homophobia, and how these feelings can influence practice approaches in the area of adoptive services. In closing, an application of a strengths perspective to combating discrimination against gays and lesbians by social workers in adoptive services is proposed and analyzed.
Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 and Bovine Herpesvirus 1 Latency

Primary infection by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) can cause clinical symptoms in the peripheral and central nervous system, upper respiratory tract, and gastrointestinal tract. Recurrent ocular shedding leads to corneal scarring that can progress to vision loss. Consequently, HSV-1 is the leading cause of corneal blindness due to an infectious agent. Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) has similar biological properties to HSV-1 and is a significant health concern to the cattle industry. Latency of BHV-1 and HSV-1 is established in sensory neurons of trigeminal ganglia, but latency can be interrupted periodically, leading to reactivation from latency and spread of infectious virus. The ability of HSV-1 and BHV-1 to reactivate from latency leads to virus transmission and can lead to recurrent disease in individuals latently infected with HSV-1. During latency, the only abundant HSV-1 RNA expressed is the latency-associated transcript (LAT). In latently infected cattle, the latency-related (LR) RNA is the only abundant transcript that is expressed. LAT and LR RNA are antisense to ICP0 or bICP0, viral genes that are crucial for productive infection, suggesting that LAT and LR RNA interfere with productive infection by inhibiting ICP0 or bICP0 expression. Numerous studies have concluded that LAT expression is important for the latency-reactivation cycle in animal models. The LR gene has recently been demonstrated to be required for the latency-reactivation cycle in cattle. Several recent studies have demonstrated that LAT and the LR gene inhibit apoptosis (programmed cell death) in trigeminal ganglia of infected animals and transiently transfected cells. The antiapoptotic properties of LAT map to the same sequences that are necessary for promoting reactivation from latency. This review summarizes our current knowledge of factors regulating the latency-reactivation cycle of HSV-1 and BHV-1.
Effect of central angiotensin II on body weight gain in young rats.

Systemic infusion of ANG II decreases body weight and food intake and increases energy expenditure. We recently reported that young rats receiving a 1-week intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infusion of angiotensin II (ANG II) exhibited decreased body weight compared to control. The aim of the present investigation was to determine if chronic i.c.v. infusion of ANG II also decreases food intake and increases energy expenditure. Young rats were infused with i.c.v. 0.9% saline or ANG II (16.7 or 4.2 ng/min) for at least 10 days and body weight and food intake were monitored daily. Pair-fed rats had the same daily food intake as the ANG II-infused rats. The i.c.v. ANG II decreased body weight gain and food intake. The decrease in weight gain was greater than in the pair-fed groups. The expression of mRNA for uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1) in BAT was increased significantly in the ANG II-infused rats compared to the pair-fed animals. Subcutaneous infusion of ANG II at the same doses used for i.c.v. infusion had no effect on body weight or food intake. The expression of CRH mRNA in the paraventricular nucleus was not increased in the ANG II-infused rats. These data are consistent with the idea that i.c.v. ANG II decreases body weight gain in young rats, in part, by decreasing food intake and, in part, by increasing thermogenesis (although via a CRH-independent mechanism). This central effect of ANG II may contribute to or complement the effect of peripheral ANG II on body weight.
Elevated levels of HSF1 indicate a poor prognosis in breast cancer.

Evaluation of: Santagata S, Hu R, Lin NU et al. High levels of nuclear heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) are associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 108, 18378–18383 (2011). HSF1 is the transcriptional activator of heat shock protein genes in both cell stress and cancer. The studies of Santagata et al. clearly establish that HSF1 levels are increased in the nuclei of mammary cancer cells, both at the in situ and invasive stages, and that these levels are closely correlated with increased mortality. HSF1 levels were elevated in estrogen receptor-positive cells, as well as HER2-expressing and triple-negative breast cancer cells, and higher levels of nuclear HSF1 were associated with a poor prognosis. These studies establish a clear role for HSF1 in human mammary carcinoma and suggest the potential for targeting HSF1 in breast cancer treatment.
Real-time networking over HIPPI

HIPPI provides a very-high-speed communication medium, which is very well suited for a large number of bandwidth-demanding distributed applications. Unfortunately, its circuit-switched nature makes it very difficult to provide real-time guarantees when connections contend for network resources. We present a time-division-multiplex access scheme designed to give timing guarantees to high-speed connections. We describe the problem of scheduling the access to a HIPPI network, and show that, although the problem is very unlikely to be computationally tractable, very simple heuristics give high network utilizations for moderately-sized networks. We present the RMP/RMCP protocol, our implementation of the scheme described in this paper on the XUNET-West HIPPI testbed. >
αvβ3-Targeted nanotherapy suppresses inflammatory arthritis in mice

The purpose of this study was to assess whether an alternative treatment approach that targets angiogenesis, delivered through ligand-targeted nanotherapy, would ameliorate inflammatory arthritis. Arthritis was induced using the K/BxN mouse model of inflammatory arthritis. After arthritis was clearly established, mice received three consecutive daily doses of αvβ3-targeted fumagillin nanoparticles. Control groups received no treatment or αvβ3-targeted nanoparticles without drugs. Disease score and paw thickness were measured daily. Mice that received αvβ3-targeted fumagillin nanoparticles showed a significantly lower disease activity score (mean score of 1.4±0.4; P<0.001) and change in ankle thickness (mean increase of 0.17±0.05 mm; P<0.001) 7 d after arthritis induction, whereas the group that received αvβ3-targeted nanoparticles without drugs exhibited a mean arthritic score of 9.0 ± 0.3 and mean change in ankle thickness of 1.01 ± 0.09 mm. Meanwhile, the group that received no treatment showed a mean arthritic score of 9.8 ± 0.5 and mean change in ankle thickness of 1.05 ± 0.10 mm. Synovial tissues from animals treated with targeted fumagillin nanoparticles also showed significant decrease in inflammation and angiogenesis and preserved proteoglycan integrity. Ligand-targeted nanotherapy to deliver antiangiogenic agents may represent an effective way to treat inflammatory arthritis.—Zhou, H.-F., Chan, H. W., Wickline, S. A., Lanza, G. M., Pham, C. T. N. αvβ3-Targeted nanotherapy suppresses inflammatory arthritis in mice.
Tracking down the hedgehog's lair in the pancreas.

The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway plays a seminal role in developmental patterning, as well as in mature tissue homeostasis.1,2 A series of elegant studies published in Gastroenterology has elucidated the diverse functions of Hh signaling in morphogenesis, particularly in orchestrating foregut differentiation towards a gastrointestinal fate.3–5 In the context of the pancreas, the principal Hh ligand—Sonic Hh (Shh)—is largely excluded from the differentiating pancreatic anlage,6 and, until recently, no definitive evidence had been presented for Shh expression in the normal exocrine pancreas. In contrast, ligand-dependent Hh activation plays an important role in mediating epithelial regeneration after exocrine pancreatic injury, as documented by the impaired regeneration that occurs in the setting of genetic or pharmacologic blockade of Hh signaling.7 Multiple lines of evidence have also established the association between aberrant Hh signaling and exocrine pancreatic neoplasia. For example, up-regulation of Shh ligand is observed in the noninvasive precursor lesions that precede both human and murine pancreatic adenocarcinomas,8,9 and robust pathway activation persists well into metastatic disease.10 The Hh pathway is implicated in the maintenance of tumor-initiating cells (so-called cancer stem cells) in pancreatic adenocarcinoma,10,11 and it is believed that the persistence of these cells might be responsible for disease recurrence and metastases. Finally, recent seminal observations have confirmed the predominantly paracrine nature of Hh signaling in the pancreatic cancer microenvironment,12 wherein Shh ligand secreted by the neoplastic epithelium binds to the cognate Patched receptor on stromal cells, thereby facilitating stromal expansion (“desmoplasia”)13 that, in turn, could act as a physical impediment to efficient drug delivery to the tumor milieu.14 All of these mechanisms linking aberrant Hh signaling to pancreatic neoplasia underscore the rationale behind ongoing or proposed clinical trials of small molecule Hh antagonists in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.15
Fungal Factors Implicated in Pathogenesis

The diversity of fungi that cause disease as well as individual host differences make an understanding of the pathogenesis of human mycoses very difficult. The various fungal etiologic agents have impressive variations in virulence potential, as some are overt pathogens in that they can cause disease in immunologically normal individuals, while others are opportunistic pathogens. Along with the growing number of immunologically compromised individuals, the list of fungi belonging to the opportunistic pathogens continues to grow and even includes such species as Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Clemons et al. 1994). Pathogenesis is further complicated by variability among strains of fungi within a given species. Furthermore, the behavior of a fungus in an individual depends on the immunologic status of that person, the tissue or organ involved, and other ill-defined factors.
Thermal Lens Spectrophotometry in Agarose Gels

In this study, the application of thermal lens spectroscopy to detection of analytes in agarose gels was examined. It was found that a long-term refractive index gradient is produced in the sample, in addition to the thermally induced refractive index gradient, and gives rise to a long-term thermal lens signal. It is argued that the most likely source of the long-term signal is a concentration gradient formed in the sample. The long-term refractive index gradient results in a focusing lens, and is thus opposite to the thermal gradient. The formation of this gradient requires as much as 500 s to reach equilibrium during constant irradiation. The existence of the long-term refractive index gradient is verified by time-resolved Z-scan experiments. The signal resulting from this gradient is termed the long-term thermal lens and is shown to depend on temperature, is observed only for gelled agarose solutions, and is sensitive to anisotropies in the sample.
An approach for self-timed synchronous CMOS circuit design

In this paper we present a timing and control strategy that can be used to realize synchronous systems with a level of performance that approaches that of asynchronous circuits or systems. This approach is based upon a single-phase synchronous circuit/system architecture with a variable period clock. The handshaking signals required for asynchronous self-timed circuits are not needed. Dynamic power supply current monitoring is used to generate the timing information, that is comparable to the completion signal found in self-timed circuits; this timing information is used to modify the circuit clock period. This paper is concluded with an example of the proposed approach applied to a static CMOS ripple-carry adder.
A card requirements language enabling privacy-preserving access control

We address the problem of privacy-preserving access control in distributed systems. Users commonly reveal more personal data than strictly necessary to be granted access to online resources, even though existing technologies, such as anonymous credential systems, offer functionalities that would allow for privacy-friendly authorization. An important reason for this lack of technology adoption is, as we believe, the absence of a suitable authorization language offering adequate expressiveness to address the privacy-friendly functionalities. To overcome this problem, we propose an authorization language that allows for expressing access control requirements in a privacy-preserving way. Our language is independent from concrete technology, thus it allows for specifying requirements regardless of implementation details while it is also applicable for technologies designed without privacy considerations. We see our proposal as an important step towards making access control systems privacy-preserving.
Economics in the Service of Fisheries Policy and Practice

Abstract The failure to understand fundamental economic issues lies at the core of problems with fishery policy and practice. Fishery policy is high-level strategic direction; fishery practice is the implementation of policy. Economics education and outreach can strengthen fishery policy and practice, but they are underutilized as an avenue of influence. The position of economics in fisheries can be understood as a value chain, in which a sequence of activities gives economic information greater added value than the sum the individual activities. The value chain is weakened by the inadequacy of data and by the delivery of education and outreach at levels insufficient to robustly affect policy and management actions. The three primary reasons for this weakness are inadequate investment, unappealing language, and limited exposure. I give examples of policy areas that would benefit from stronger education and outreach and discuss the benefits and costs of participating in these activities. JEL Classification...