cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Polyfunctional epoxies. I - Rubber-toughened brominated and nonbrominated formulations for graphite composites. II - Nonrubber versus rubber-toughened brominated formulations for graphite composites

A new trifunctional epoxy resin, Tris-(hydroxyphenyl) methane triglycidyl ether, is compared to a state-of-the-art tetraglycidyl 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl methane (TGDDM), in graphite composites. Rubber-toughened brominated formulations of the epoxy resin are compared to nonbrominated ones in terms of their mechanical performance, environmental stability, thermochemical behavior, and flame retardancy. It is shown that the new resin performs almost the same way as the TGDDM does, but has improved glass transition temperature and environmental properties. Brominated polymeric additives (BPA) of different molecular weights are tested as a Br source to flame retardant graphite epoxy composites. The optimal molecular weight of the BPA and its polymeric backbone length are derived and compared with a 10 percent rubber-toughened formulation of the epoxy resin. Results indicate that when the Br content in the graphite composite is increased without the use of rubber, the mechanical properties improved. The use of BPAs as tougheners for graphite composites is also considered.
Observations of certain breeding behaviors in a bilateral gynandromorph Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)

We present observations of breeding behaviors exhibited by a bilateral gynandromorph Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) in Rhode Island during June and July 2017. The individual had the black plumage of a male towhee on the left side of its body and brownish plumage of a typical female towhee on the right side of its body. We observed this individual moving with, interacting with, and feeding fledged young. We also recorded the bird singing in similar locations over a 35 day observation period. This is one of the first observations of a free-living gynandromorph bird exhibiting certain breeding behaviors such as associating with another adult, singing, and feeding young.
The Relationship between School Absenteeism and Substance Use: An Integrative Literature Review.

Background: Chronic school absenteeism is prevalent among high school students in the United States. Its impacts on academic success and health are cause for concern. One specific area of concern i...
Moral Combat: The Dilemma of Legal Perspectivalism

This book explores the thesis that legal roles force people to engage in moral combat, an idea which is implicit in the assumption that citizens may be morally required to disobey unjust laws, while judges may be morally required to punish citizens for civil disobedience. Heidi Hurd advances the surprising argument that the law cannot require us to do what morality forbids. The 'role-relative' understanding of morality is shown to be incompatible with both consequentialist and deontological moral philosophies. In the end, Hurd shows that our best moral theory is one which never makes one actor's moral success turn on another's moral failure. Moral Combat is a sophisticated, well-conceived and carefully argued book on a very important and controversial topic at the junction between legal and political philosophy. It will be of interest to moral, legal, and political philosophers, as well as teachers and students of professional ethics in law.
Lip reconstruction: Primary full thickness closure and superficial partial thickness closure

The lips play a principle role in the lower third of the face. Defects of the lips can result in profound functional and aesthetic consequences. Small to medium sized full thickness defects of the lip are amenable to primary closure and can yield excellent results. Partial thickness cutaneous defects may be amenable to local flap techniques or conversion to a full thickness defect for primary closure. By understanding the anatomic basis, patient factors, defect characteristics, and surgical nuances in primary lip repair, reconstructive surgeons can achieve superior outcomes.
Linking IT Product Records.

Today’s enterprise decision making relies heavily on insights derived from vast amounts of data from different sources. To acquire these insights, the available data must be cleaned, integrated and linked. In this work, we focus on the problem of linking records that contain textual descriptions of IT products.
Interhemispheric Connectivity Supports Load-Dependent Working Memory Maintenance for Complex Visual Stimuli

A critical manipulation used to study the neural basis of working memory (WM) is to vary the information load at encoding followed by measurements of activity and connectivity during maintenance in the subsequent delay period. The hallmark finding is that delay period activity and connectivity increases between frontal and parietal brain regions as load is increased. Most WM studies, however, employ simple stimuli (e.g., simple shapes or letters) during encoding and utilize unfilled intervals (e.g., a blank screen or fixation cross) during the delays. In the present study, we asked how delay period activity and connectivity change during low and high load maintenance of complex stimuli. Twenty-two participants completed a modified Sternberg WM task with two or five naturalistic scenes as stimuli while scalp EEG was recorded. In each trial, the delay interval was filled with phase scrambled scenes to provide a visual perceptual control with color and spatial frequency similar to the non-scrambled scenes presented during encoding. The results showed that theta and alpha delay activity amplitude was reduced during high compared to low WM load across frontal, central, and parietal sources. Functional connectivity during the delay was assessed by phase-locking value (PLV) and revealed a network with higher connectivity during low WM load consisting of increased PLV between 1) left frontal and right posterior temporal sources in the theta and alpha bands, 2) right anterior temporal and left central sources in the alpha and lower beta bands, and 3) left anterior temporal and posterior temporal sources in the theta, alpha, and lower beta bands. These findings demonstrate a role for interhemispheric connectivity during WM maintenance of complex stimuli. We discuss significance with respect to allocation of limited attentional resources and the filtering of interference.
Understanding spinodal and binodal phase transformations in U-50Zr

Abstract Engineered spinodal decomposition and spinodal precursors to precipitation hardening are effective approaches for tailoring material's properties and performance. These approaches leverage the spinodal and binodal nature of miscibility gaps. However, little is known about the chemical and crystallographic mechanisms controlling phase evolution across the spinodal curve and into the binodal regime. This study aims to reveal spinodal-binodal phase transformation in a binary U-50 wt.% Zr model alloy through coupled X-ray diffraction (XRD), in-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atom probe tomography (APT). The hexagonal ⍵-UZr2+x phase initially undergoes a spinodal decomposition into interconnected nanosized hexagonal Zr-rich and hexagonal U-rich domains at ~575 °C, near the hexagonal-bcc phase transformation. Between 600 and 800 °C, the microstructure evolution is dominated by the coarsening and chemical purification of decomposed bcc domains and a transition from spinodal to binodal nucleation. At 800 °C, the metastable Zr domains transfer to stable α-Zr phase and stay the same phase up to 1000 °C. On the contrary, metastable U domains transfer to orthorhombic α’-U firstly at 800 °C and then to tetragonal β-U at 1000 °C. Spinodal decomposed domain size is found to be linearly related to extrinsic specimen geometry. The effect of oxygen on spinodal decomposition is also discussed. In-situ TEM observations successfully captured the spinodal decomposition and the subsequent transition to binodal phase separation with temperature, providing critical evidence for an expanded miscibility gap, concerning both composition and temperature, on the U-Zr phase diagram.
Regulation of Asymmetric Division in Myeloid Leukemogenesis

Abstract Early stage myeloid malignancies such as Chronic Myelogenous Leuekemia (CML) and Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are often indolent and slow growing, but can progress with additional mutations to blast crisis CML (bcCML) or AML (Acute Myelogenous Leukemia) which represent an acute aggressive phase marked by the rapid and uncontrolled growth of immature cells. In this more aggressive phase, myeloid leukemias are significantly more resistant to current therapies highlighting the need to better understand the mechanisms that drive their growth and propagation and identify new therapeutic targets. Our previous work has shown that uncontrolled symmetric renewal divisions and concomitant loss of asymmetric division may lead to the establishment and propagation of undifferentiated leukemias. To identify regulators of asymmetric division that may be aberrantly utilized in oncogenic progression, we have focused on the role of the cell fate determinant Staufen 2 (Stau2), a double-stranded RNA binding protein, which has been shown to regulate asymmetric division in Drosophila neuroblasts and mammalian neural stem cells. Our studies using shRNA-mediated knockdown indicate that loss of Stau2 significantly delays the onset of aggressive myeloid disease in vivo and the growth of patient derived myeloid leukemia cells in vitro . Experiments with our newly developed Stau2 genetic loss of function mouse indicate that while loss of Stau2 does not adversely affect normal hematopoiesis, it significantly impairs the propagation of bcCML in vivo by altering the balance between symmetric and asymmetric divisions of the leukemic stem cell populations. Finally, we have carried out a cross-linking immunoprecipitation (CLIP-seq) to identify the downstream targets of Stau2 in myeloid leukemia. Since very little is known about the role of asymmetric division regulators in leukemic progression, these studies collectively define Stau2 as an important new regulator of myeloid malignancies, and provide a basis for determining whether Stau2 inhibition could be an effective strategy in managing clinical disease. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Seeking quantum advantage for neural networks

A study based on effective dimension shows that a quantum neural network can have increased capability and trainability as compared to its classical counterpart.
Promoting Culture Change Within Organizations.

* Abbreviations: BIPOC — : Black, indigenous, and/or people of color COVID-19 — : coronavirus disease 2019 GPS — : greater purpose statement M&M — : morbidity and mortality Women physicians add value to health care organizations yet continue to lag behind men in career growth and leadership roles, in large part because of factors related to organizational culture. Promotion of culture change can facilitate equal access for both women and men to opportunities and resources. In this article, we identify and address the long-standing and urgently escalating need for culture change in medicine through the use of representative cases. Strategies are provided describing how to initiate and manage culture change. Examples of both process and outcome of such change include equal support for job positions, promotions, pay, and inclusion in decisions and discussions. The intersections of culture change and identified imperatives with respect to race, gender, and historically excluded and marginalized groups are specifically addressed. Finally, mechanisms of culture change are identified, as well as areas of opportunity to aid the long overdue evolution of medical culture toward one of inclusivity and equity. Women physicians bring added value to health care organizations yet continue to lag behind men in career growth and leadership roles, in large part because of factors related to organizational culture.1 Organizational culture is defined as the shared values, beliefs, or perceptions held by employees that drive interactions and functions within an organization or organizational unit. Shanefelt et al2 described these “shared and fundamental beliefs, normative values, and related social practices of a group” as “so widely accepted that they are implicit and no longer scrutinized.” Culture influences how physicians practice medicine, engage with colleagues, measure success, and even value their own contributions. Specific to medicine, culture change … Address correspondence to Bridgette L. Jones, MD, MS, Children’s Mercy Kansas City, 2401 Gillham Rd, Kansas City, Missouri 64108. E-mail: bljones{at}cmh.edu
Personalizing the BioPsychoSocial Approach: “Add-Ons” and “Add-Ins” in Generalist Practice

Generalist practitioners often find interacting with patients deeply satisfying and joyful; they also experience encounters that are challenging and complex. In both cases, they must be aware of the many issues that affect the processes and outcomes of patient care. Although using the BioPsychoSocial approach is an important, time-tested framework for cultivating one’s awareness of patients’ presenting concerns, recent developments suggest that additional frames of reference may enhance communication and relationships with patients. In this article, we describe several additions to the BioPsychoSocial approach, considerations we call “add-ons” and “add-ins”. We invite generalists and, indeed, all health care practitioners, to consider how they can improve their ongoing care of patients by personalizing these and other additions in their day-to-day work with patients.
6 – Analysis of Exploited Populations

The chapter analyzes the exploited fish populations in aquatic environments. The populations considered are of one or more of the following categories: populations that are geographically separated from each other, with slight opportunity for genetic interchange, gradually changing continuous populations, and sharply differentiated contiguous populations with zones of hybridization in between. It reviews the ecological concepts including how to discover new fisheries, time locations and shifts in centers of abundance, observation on age composition, sexual condition, and food habits. Such concepts are important for anyone who desires to make inferences based on available environmental data. This chapter not only explores the stock that is being fished but also reviews useful and meaningful information for fishery scientists who seek to measure the effects of fishing on that stock. It also explains the factors that have led to the exploitation of these populations. Stock size, survival and mortality, migration, intermingling, availability, and recruitment are among the major influencing factors. This has been done by correlating the changes in the amount of fishing with the changes in growth, distribution, and reproduction, especially the total mortality rate.
Numerical modelling of reactive chemical transport under multiphase systems

In this paper, a numerical model, is presented for modelling reactive chemical transport under non-isothermal multiphase flow systems. The model is a coupled hydrologic transport and biogeochemical reaction code, which is used to predict the spatio-temporal distributions of all the important chemical species. To reduce primary dependent variables (PDVs), Gauss-Jordan decomposition is applied to the governing matrix equations for transport, resulting in mobile components and mobile kinetic variables as PDVs. Methods for coupling reaction and transport, such as sequential iteration approach (SIA) and predictor corrector approach are incorporated into the code to make the model versatile. Weak coupling will be applied to solve a system of chemical transport and heat transfer to save computing resources. The model developed is a practical tool for assessing migration of subsurface contamination and proper designing of remediation technologies. Examples are presented to demonstrate the application of the new model.
Production of enterotoxin a.

A method for production of enterotoxin A in multiple liter lots is described. The medium contained 4% N-Z Amine NAK supplemented with 0.001% niacin and 0.00005% thiamine, and was adjusted to pH 6. The inoculated medium in lots of 400 to 600 ml, in 2-liter Erlenmeyer flasks, was incubated at 37 C for 24 hr on a gyrotory shaker at 280 rev/min. Production of 4 to 6 μg of enterotoxin A per ml occurred.
Efficiency of dye sensitized solar cells based on TiO2 nanotubes filled with nanoparticles

From comparative studies of dye sensitized solar cell (DSSCs) fabricated using nanotubes (NTs) filled with nanoparticles (NPs) and empty NTs it is shown that filling of TiO2 NTs with NPs significantly increase efficiency of DSSCs. This increase depended on NT diameter and was found to be 17.4%, 55.6%, and 131% for solar cells with 40 nm, 80 nm, and 160 nm diameter NTs. The highest efficiency was observed for samples with 80 nm diameter NTs, which was 5.94% for ∼5 μm NT thickness DSSCs.
An inverted U-shaped crude oil price return-implied volatility relationship

We examined the return–volatility relationship for USO ETF oil price return and CBOE Crude Oil ETF Volatility Index, OVX. The data for the USO and OVX covers the period covering May 11, 2007 to February 28, 2013. Our OLS regression results suggest evidence of regular feedback and leverage effects. When we employ linear quantile regression techniques, we find evidence of regular and inverse feedback effects. The inverse feedback effects being noticeable in the upper quantile region of the oil return distribution. There is also support for a regular leverage effect in USO prices. We also examined the return–volatility relationship using quantile regression copula methods for measuring the degree of asymmetry in the relationships between the oil price return and implied volatility. The results of the analysis indicate, first, that there exists a negative relationship between contemporaneous oil VIX and USO ETF oil returns. Second, that the relationship between oil returns and implied volatilities depends on the quartile at which the relationship is being investigated. Third, there exists an inverted U-shaped dependency relationship between returns and implied volatilities across quantiles. Fourth, though an inverted U-shape exists, the shape is different from those observed in stock markets.
Topologically invariant texture descriptors

Abstract Texture is one of the important image characteristics and is used to identify objects or regions of interest. The problem of texture classification has been widely studied. Texture classification techniques are either statistical or structural. Some statistical texture classification approaches use Fourier power-spectrum features, while others are based on first- and second-order statistics of gray level differences. Periodic textures that consist of mostly straight lines are of particular interest. In this paper, a new structural approach based on the Hough method of line detection is introduced. This classification is based on the relative orientation and location of the lines within the texture. With proper normalization, the classification is independent of geometrical transformations such as rotation, translation, and/or scaling. Experimental results will also be presented.
Is the Revised Psychopathy Checklist Clinically Useful for Adolescents

Recent studies have provided evidence for the reliability and validity of Hare's Psychopathy Checklist, Revised (PCL-R) for forensic samples. The present study investigated PCL-R psychometric properties among Caucasian and African-American adolescent males from forensic and school settings. The clinical utility of the PCL-R was investigated in terms of predicting future delinquency above and beyond data that are more readily available. Good reliability and validity for the PCL-R were found. PCL-R Total and Factors scores were greatest for participants with conduct disorder, followed by those with oppositional defiant disorder, with the smallest scores observed for participants with neither disorder. In a 1-year follow-up, PCL-R scores accounted for a unique proportion of the variance in juvenile criminal justice sentencing above and beyond the baseline number of delinquent acts recorded in juvenile criminal justice records and above a baseline disruptive behavior diagnosis continuum score. Compared to con...
The diet-induced proinflammatory state: a cause of chronic pain and other degenerative diseases?

Abstract Background: It is the rare physician who includes diet therapy and nutritional supplements in patient care. Perhaps this is because chiropractic and medical schools devote very few classroom hours to nutrition. It is also possible that physicians are under the misconception that a detailed biochemical understanding of each individual disease is required before nutritional interventions can be used. Objective: The purpose of this article is two-fold: (1) to demonstrate that chronic pain and other degenerative conditions encountered in clinical practice have similar biochemical etiologies, such as a diet-induced proinflammatory state, and (2) to outline a basic nutritional program that can be used by all practitioners. Data Sources: The data were accumulated over a period of years by reviewing contemporary articles and books and subsequently by retrieving relevant articles. Articles were also selected through MEDLINE and manual library searches. Results: The typical American diet is deficient in fruits and vegetables and contains excessive amounts of meat, refined grain products, and dessert foods. Such a diet can have numerous adverse biochemical effects, all of which create a proinflammatory state and predispose the body to degenerative diseases. It appears that an inadequate intake of fruits and vegetables can result in a suboptimal intake of antioxidants and phytochemicals and an imbalanced intake of essential fatty acids. Through different mechanisms, each nutritional alteration can promote inflammation and disease. Conclusion: We can no longer view different diseases as distinct biochemical entities. Nearly all degenerative diseases have the same underlying biochemical etiology, that is, a diet-induced proinflammatory state. Although specific diseases may require specific treatments, such as adjustments for hypomobile joints, β-blockers for hypertension, and chemotherapy for cancer, the treatment program must also include nutritional protocols to reduce the proinflammatory state.
Long-term effect of sildenafil citrate on erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy: 3-year follow-up.

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the long-term effect and safety of sildenafil citrate for the treatment of erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy (RP). Methods The study consisted of 91 patients with erectile dysfunction from our institution who received oral sildenafil citrate after RP. We surveyed these patients using a self-administered questionnaire during the first year of sildenafil citrate use to determine treatment satisfaction, patient compliance, and safety. Those who had responded positively to the drug were surveyed again 3 years later (n = 48). Sildenafil citrate was prescribed at a dose of 50 mg and increased to 100 mg if needed. Data were collected from a self-administered questionnaire using the abridged five-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire, referred to as the Sexual Health Inventory of Men, and the Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction. The patients were stratified according to the type of nerve-sparing (NS) RP procedure they underwent: bilateral NS, unilateral NS, and non-NS. Results At 3 years, 31 (71%) of the 43 patients who had returned the second surveys were still responding to sildenafil. Of these 31 respondents, 10 (31%) had augmented their dose from 50 to 100 mg. The dropout rate was 27%; 6 of 12 had discontinued because of the return of natural erections, 5 because of a loss of efficacy, and 1 because his spouse had died. No differences were found in the 1-year and 3-year five-item International Index of Erectile Function (Sexual Health Inventory of Men) and Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction scores between the NS groups. The most common side effects at 3 years were headache (12%), flushing (10%), and blue or blurred vision (2%). No patient discontinued the drug at 3 years because of side effects. Conclusions The results of this study indicate that the vast majority of patients with erectile dysfunction after RP who initially respond to sildenafil continue to do so at 3 years and are satisfied and compliant with the treatment regimen.
Advances in the measurement and computation of thermal phonon transport properties

Heat conduction by phonons is a ubiquitous process that incorporates a wide range of physics and plays an essential role in applications ranging from space power generation to LED lighting. Heat conduction has been studied for over two hundred years, yet many of the microscopic details have remained unknown in most crystalline solids, including which phonon–phonon interactions are primarily responsible for thermal resistance and how heat is distributed among the broad thermal spectrum. This lack of knowledge was the result of limitations on the available tools to study heat conduction. However, recent advances in both computation and experiment are enabling an unprecedented microscopic view of thermal transport by phonons in both bulk and nanostructured crystals, from the level of atomic bonding to mesoscopic transport in complex devices. In this topical review, we examine these techniques and the microscopic insights gained into the science and engineering of heat conduction.
Electoral Risk and Redistributive Politics in Mexico and the United States

What strategy does a rational party follow in allocating discretionary expenditure? This article conceives redistributive politics as an investment strategy where expenditure allocations respond to electoral risk. To show the effects of risk, it provides evidence from Pronasol in Mexico and an analysis of New Deal spending in the United States. The analysis finds that the federal administrations in both countries responded to systematic electoral risk. Spending diversification into risky voters was a rational response to chances of losing elections. The analysis hence connects electoral volatility with redistributive spending.
Aspects of non-stationarity ☆

Abstract This paper presents descriptive continuous time discrete state non-stationary Markov models that are useful exploratory tools in a first stage of longitudinal data analysis. Because the estimation schemes do not require a lot of arbitrary parametric structure they are useful in investigating data and isolating facts in areas in social science where the relevant theory is not well enough developed to suggest precise functional forms for estimating equations. The paper treats two problems that are especially difficult in non-parametric estimation of longitudinal models: non-stationarity and time aggregation. General non-parametric procedures are presented that enable analysts to assess whether or not data arise from certain special classes of inhomogeneous Markov chains that are of general interest. Explicit models of consumer purchase behaviour, labor market search and occupational mobility are presented.
The reactions of diethylselenium and diethylzinc on the surfaces of ZnSe thin films

Abstract The reactivity of diethylselenium (DESe) and diethylzinc (DEZ) on the surfaces of ZnSe thin films grown on GaAs(100) by chemical beam epitaxy were studied using temperature programmed desorption and high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy. DEZ and DESe adsorbed molecularly and did not decompose on clean ZnSe(100). Thermal cracking of the DESe reactant prior to adsorption was necessary in order to achieve film growth. Adsorption of DEZ on Se-covered surfaces resulted in transfer of the ethyl groups from the DEZ to the Se forming adsorbed monoethylselenium. This species underwent disproportionation at 600 K forming gaseous DESe and adsorbed Se atoms. β -Hydride elimination from surface ethyl groups to form gaseous ethylene was also observed. The implications of these results for chemical beam epitaxy of ZnSe thin films are discussed.
Use of expert judgment in exposure assessment. Part I. Characterization of personal exposure to benzene.

Use of expert judgment in exposure assessment. Part I. Characterization of personal exposure to benzene
Transynaptic stimulation of phosphatidylinositol metabolism in sympathetic neurons in situ.

— An increase in 32P labelling of phosphatidylinositol, associated with synaptic activity, has previously been reported in excised sympathetic ganglia excited by preganglionic nerve impulses. In the present experiments a similar effect occurred in naturally-stimulated ganglia. It occurred when the preganglionic impulses were either evoked by electrical stimulation of the preganglionic nerve or were discharged spontaneously from the central nervous system. Thus increased turnover of phosphatidylinositol appears to be a normal accompaniment of synaptic transmission in these ganglia.
Impact of the Sahelian drought in Mauritania, West Africa.

Abstract Data were needed for the planning of disaster relief in West Africa, which has been subject to a prolonged drought. A nationwide survey was undertaken to determine the nutritional status of the Mauritanians and the rates of important communicable diseases. The main findings were that: ( a ) acute malnutrition was most severe among nomads; ( b ) malnutrition was of the marasmic variety; ( c ) severe vitamin deficiency was present in isolated pockets; ( d ) measles was present in epidemic proportions; ( e ) a cholera outbreak occurred and was controlled; and ( f ) crude mortality-rates were as much as three times normal. The Government's remarkably effective food-distribution programme was modified as results of the survey became known. The cholera outbreak demonstrated the detection and response capability of the country's communicable-disease surveillance system. Vitamin supplementation was undertaken in areas with high rates of vitamin deficiency. Recommendations included intensified measles vaccination efforts and institution of periodic nutritional surveillance to facilitate appropriate food distribution.
A case study to examine the imputation of missing data to improve clustering analysis of building electrical demand

Building performance data are widely used for daily operation, improving building efficiency, identifying and diagnosing performance problems, and commissioning. In this study, the authors explore the use of missing data imputation and clustering on an electrical demand dataset. The objective was to compare four approaches of data imputation and clustering analysis. Results of this study suggest that using multiple imputation to fill in missing data prior to performing clustering analysis results in more informative clusters. Commonly used methods to fill in missing data lead to changes in cluster membership that are not suggestive of a change in the building's performance, but instead is a result of the choice of imputation method used.Practical application: The authors demonstrate, through the use of a case study, the application of a statistically sound method for filling in missing data in large buildings performance datasets. The methods used in this analysis are available through the open-source pro...
Ki-1(CD30) positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma: Primary nodal disease relapsing as erythroderma

Ki-1 (CD30) positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is an uncommon, high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with distinct morphologic and immunohistochemical features. Solitary or multiple ulcerated nodules typically characterize cutaneous involvement. Erythroderma is very rare. We report the first case of primary nodal ALCL in which disease relapse manifested as generalized papules, nodules, and erythroderma. This unusual case expands the spectrum of cutaneous disease associated with Ki-1 positive ALCL and highlights the need for early biopsy in patients with a history of Ki-1 positive ALCL who have skin lesions develop.
Peripheral and not central suppression of ovarian function during osmotic pump infusion of adrenocorticotropin-(1-24) for one menstrual cycle in the cynomolgus monkey and its partial compensation by a transitory elevation of sex hormone-binding globulin levels.

The purpose of our study was to assess the impact of subchronic administration of ACTH-(1-24) on ovarian function in the primate using a repeated measures experimental design. Osmotic pumps that released ACTH-(1-24) at a dose of 67 micrograms/day were implanted sc in four cynomolgus monkeys for one menstrual cycle. The pumps were filled with saline for the two control cycles, one of which preceded and one of which followed peptide infusion. Administration of ACTH-(1-24) elevated cortisol levels in serum 1.6-fold and those in urine 2.2-fold, without affecting adrenal androgen concentrations. In the follicular phase (FP) of the menstrual cycle, infusion of ACTH-(1-24) did not alter serum levels of estradiol, FSH, or LH. However, immunoreactive estrone excretion in urine was decreased by 71% (P less than 0.05), and serum concentrations of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were increased by 100% (P less than 0.01). In the luteal phase (LP) of the menstrual cycle, infusion of ACTH-(1-24) suppressed levels of...
Rapid qualitative protease microassay (RPM).

Abstract A rapid qualitative protease microassay (RPM) was developed as an alternative to conventional assays of cysteine protease activity in HPLC fractions. Using this technique protease activity in samples could be visually determined within 5 min. The method was sensitive to 3.3 × 10 − 7 U/mL of papain and detected cysteine protease activity in dilute HPLC fractions with activity of 5.4 × 10 − 5 U/mL. Because the method monitors the decolorization of Coomassie Brilliant Blue stained substrate, it can be modified to detect other classes of proteases.
Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists for the Treatment of Hypertension and the Metabolic Syndrome

See related article, pp 45–53 Increasing evidence suggests a link between the metabolic syndrome and aldosterone.1–5 Patients with obesity and the metabolic syndrome have been found to have increased adrenal production of aldosterone and increased cortisol levels, whereas weight reduction is associated with a decrease in aldosterone.6 A high-fat diet has been shown to lead to an upregulation of mineralocorticoid expression, and adipocytes produce aldosterone through angiotensin II–mediated aldosterone synthase, which is regulated by calcineurin.7 Increased levels of aldosterone are associated with brown fat dysfunction and inflammation of white fat,8 as well as several other adverse cardiovascular and renal effects including mitochondrial dysfunction, an increase in reactive oxygen species, macrophage infiltration and inflammatory cytokine activation, myocardial and vascular fibrosis and hypertrophy, endothelial dysfunction, mesangial cell inflammation and fibrosis, podocyte loss, albuminuria, progressive renal dysfunction, insulin resistance, pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, sympathetic nervous system activation, ventricular and atrial arrhythmias, as well as sodium retention, potassium loss, and hypertension. Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) have been shown to decrease inflammation and myocardial fibrosis in patients with obesity9 and the metabolic syndrome, as well as to provide target organ protection in patients with hypertension independent of a drop in blood pressure and to reduce total mortality and total hospitalizations in patients with chronic heart failure and a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. One can therefore postulate that aldosterone and activation of the MR play a critical role in …
Alcohol expectancy challenges for college students: A narrative review

Heavy alcohol use among college students has become a substantial health concern. With national survey data indicating that 40% of college students report consuming five or more alcoholic drinks at least monthly (Johnston, O'Malley, Bachman, & Schulenberg, 2009), prevention and intervention programs are needed to address this problem. The Task Force on College Drinking, commissioned by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), designated alcohol expectancy challenges (ECs) as a recommended treatment strategy to reduce alcohol use among college students (NIAAA, 2002). This paper is a systematic critical review of the studies that have been conducted to assess for the efficacy of ECs among college students with a focus on changes in expectancies and alcohol consumption, and possible differences in efficacy for men and women. The review revealed that ECs were most efficacious when administered to male-only groups of participants; while ECs for female-only and mixed-gender groups demonstrated less consistent results. The implications of the findings of this critical review for the direction of future research are discussed.
Is the second wave of HLS the one industry will surf on

HLS tools are becoming fashionable again. Is this second wave of HLS the one industry will surf on? There are a lot of technical, strategic and human related questions behind this HLS comeback. In this session the panellists from System, S/C, EDA companies and Universities will look into the following questions: have designs become so complex that they cannot avoid higher level of abstraction? Have HLS tools become so much better? Can HLS yield entitlement gate count? Is HLS a new market? What are the practical issues with HLS production flows? Does HLS improve design predictability and efficiency? What are the next challenges?
Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism, Recurrent Stroke, and Other Vascular Events After Acute Ischemic Stroke : The Role of Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin and Antiplatelet Therapy

Patients with stroke or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) are at increased risk of vascular events, such as recurrent stroke or venous thromboembolism (VTE), and thus the secondary prevention of such events is an important element of managing these patients. Current guidelines recommend that patients with acute stroke, restricted mobility, and no contraindications to anticoagulants receive thromboprophylactic therapy with low-dose unfractionated heparin (UFH), low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), or heparinoids to prevent VTE. This recommendation is based on clinical trial evidence that UFH is effective in reducing the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after stroke. LMWHs have been shown to be at least as effective as UFH in preventing VTE, and offer advantages in terms of a more predictable anticoagulant effect, lower risk of bleeding, and ease of administration. However, adequately powered trials are needed to confirm their relative benefits and risks; the Prevention of VTE after Acute Ischemic Stroke with LMWH (PREVAIL) study with enoxaparin, currently in progress, should provide valuable information in this context. Antiplatelet therapy has been shown to be effective in preventing recurrent vascular events, as evidenced by the results of studies such as the Clopidogrel versus Aspirin in Patients at Risk of Ischaemic Events (CAPRIE) trial. In contrast, evidence for the efficacy of LMWH in this situation is contradictory. Given the potential benefits of LMWH in preventing VTE in stroke patients, a potential rationale exists for combination therapy with antiplatelet agents and LMWHs. Clinical trials with such combinations are warranted.
The Effects of X-irradiation on the Biosynthesis of Haemoglobin

Summary1. The degree of incorporation of PBG-3,5-14C into haemin was determined in bone-marrow homogenates of rabbits after 600 r, 800 r or 1000 r of whole-body x-irradiation.2. The time-periods studied after exposure to x-rays ranged from 30 min to 48 days.3. In parallel with the capacity of bone-marrow to synthesize haemin, DNA-concentration and haemin-concentration were determined.4. The capacity of bone-marrow homogenate to synthesize haemin increased significantly on the first, seventh and fourteenth day after exposure to 600 r and on the seventh and fourteenth day after exposure to 800 or 1000 r.5. After exposure to 800 r, similar patterns of radiation-induced changes were found when PBG or DAL were used as precursors. These patterns differed markedly from those observed when glycine was used as a precursor.
Molecular resolution atomic force microscopy of soluble proteins in solution

We introduce a simple specimen preparatory method for atomic force microscopy of soluble proteins in aqueous solutions. It is demonstrated that the mica surface is suitable for direct adsorption of macromolecules that are sufficiently stable to withstand the disturbance of the probe for reproducible imaging at high resolution. It is also shown that the main problem impeding successful imaging is the excessive adsorption of macromolecules, as loosely bound macromolecules readily stick to the tip and produce various imaging artifacts.
The oxidative degradation of some tetracyanoethylene-polyeneiron tricarbonyl adducts

Abstract The tetracyanoethylene adducts with cyclooctatetraeneiron tricarbonyl and with cycloheptatrieneiron tricarbonyl were oxidatively degraded. The organic products, 8,8,9,9-tetracyanotricyclo[5.2.1.0 4.10 ]deca-2,5-diene and 8,8,9,9-tetracyanobicyclo[3.2.2]nona-2,6-diene, are different from those obtained by direct reaction of the polyenes with TCNE; their structures suggest stepwise cycloaddition reactions of the complexes.
Multiscale Contact Resistance Modeling of Ohmic MEMS Relays

The electrical contact resistance of electrostatically actuated ohmic contact type MEMS relays has been investigated. Multi-contact MEMS relays using electrostatic comb-drive actuators have been used to obtain experimental data in this study. The electrical contact resistances versus various applied voltages and thus loads have been studied. For an applied DC bias voltage of 172 V, the movable fingers make contact with the fixed fingers. The resistance versus applied voltage characteristics has been measured for an applied DC bias voltage in the range of 172 V to 220 V. This results in a predicted load on the surfaces between 1.32 μN and 2.95 μN. A new multi-scale rough surface contact model was used to estimate the real area of contact and electrical contact resistance as functions of the applied force for these devices. Neglecting mechanisms such as adhesion, the multiscale model appears to over predict the electrical contact resistance. Thus the roles of dry adhesion, liquid meniscus adhesion, and scale dependant material properties are considered. The results suggest that liquid meniscus adhesion and scale-dependant properties play a more significant role than dry adhesion in governing the electrical contact resistance. When these effects are considered, the predicted electrical resistance from the theoretical model appeared to match the measured resistance values fairly well, and without the use of any fitting parameters.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Magnetic field dependence of the superconducting energy gap in Ginzburg-Landau theory with application to AI

A theoretical calculation is given of the magnetic field dependence of the superconducting energy gap, using the Ginzburg-Landau theory. In addition to depending upon the size of the specimen, the field dependence of thee nergy gap depends quite strongly on the nature of the boundary conditions. For the usual case with the magnetic field equal on opposite sides of a film, the calculations show that for a ratio of thickness, d, to penetration depth, λ, less than √5, the energy gap goes smoothly to zero as the critical field is approached--a second-order phase transition. When d/λ > √5, the energy gap approaches a finite value as the critical field is approached--a first-order phase transition. Energy-gap measurements for aluminum agree very well with these calculations. When one changes the boundary conditions so that the magnetic field is constrained to be zero on one side of the film, the theory predicts a very different behavior. For this case, at all thicknesses, the energy gap approaches a finite value as the critical field is approached--a first-order phase transition. An experiment involving cylindrical films is proposed to test this latter case. It is shown that in this proposed experiment these boundary conditions are appropriate for predicting the current dependence of the energy gap.
A Fortran Program for Analyzing the Results of Flanders' Interaction Matrix: an Updated Version:

This paper presents a revised and updated version of a FORTRAN program which computes all indices used in the Flanders' Interaction Matrix. The new program has added another form of data input which simplifies data entry. The new version also has the capability of interactive terminal use.
The set of strings mapped into a submonoid by iterates of a morphism

Abstract Let S be a finitely generated submonoid of a free monoid A p∗ . Let h be an endomorphism of A p∗ which maps S into itself. Let E S be the submonoid of all strings x in A p∗ which are eventually mapped into S by h , i.e. the strings x for which there exists a non-negative integer i such that h p i ( x ) is in S . Then E S is a constructable regular language. Applications of this result are given to the study of periodic behaviors of morphisms.
Factors Influencing Conversion of Chronic Atrial Fibrillation with Special Reference to Serum Quinidine Concentration

Opinion differs greatly about the value and risk of quinidine. The present communication attempts to demonstrate that more rational use of quinidine is possible by emphasis on serum quinidine concentration rather than on dose alone. Conversion of chronic atrial fibrillation and the appearance of myocardial toxicity are related more closely to the concentration of quinidine in the blood than to the dose. The serum concentration achieved with equal doses of the drug varied strikingly in different individuals; myocardial toxicity was infrequent at levels less than 6.0 /g=m/g./ml. and increased proportionately as this level was exceeded. These levels could not always be predicted from the dose given.
Recognizing Risk: Bowel Resection in the Chronic Renal Failure Population

There is a paucity of quality data on the effects of chronic kidney disease in abdominal surgery. The aim of this study was to define the risk and outcome predictors of bowel resection in stage 5 chronic kidney disease using a large national clinical database. The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried from years 2005–2010 for major bowel resection in dialysis-dependent patients. Patient demographics, preoperative risk factors, and intraoperative variables were evaluated. Primary endpoints were mortality and morbidity after 30 days. Predictors of outcome were assessed by multivariate regression. The study included 1,685 patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing bowel resection. Overall mortality and morbidity were 27.5 and 58.3 %, respectively. Acute presentation was the strongest predictor of mortality (OR 2.39, CI 1.54–3.72, p < 0.001). Other predictors of mortality included hypoalbuminemia (OR 2.12, CI 1.39–3.24, p < 0.001), pulmonary comorbidity (OR 2.25, CI 1.67–3.03, p < 0.001), and cardiac comorbidity (OR 1.54, CI 1.16–2.05, p = 0.003). This study demonstrates that bowel resection in patients with chronic kidney disease confers a high mortality risk. Preoperative optimization of comorbid conditions may reduce mortality after bowel resection in dialysis-dependent patients. In addition, laparoscopy was associated with a reduction in postoperative morbidity suggesting that it should be used preferentially.