cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reprint:Examining the ecosystem service of nutrient removal in a coastal watershed

Globally, managers are trying to prevent or halt the eutrophication of valuable estuaries and bays by reducing nutrient inputs, but justifying the cost of conservation or processing facility upgrades often proves challenging. We focus on a coastal watershed in Maine and New Hampshire struggling with the financial burdens of nitrogen pollution mandates due to the eutrophication of the Great Bay estuary. After creating two future watershed land cover scenarios comparing plausible extremes, we ran them through two models, the Natural Capital Project’s InVEST (Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs) and a detailed hydrologic and biogeochemical river network model FrAMES (Framework for Aquatic Modeling of the Earth System). Through this work, we both evaluated and valued the ecosystem service of nitrogen retention. We find that both models provide numerical arguments for conservation efforts, and decision makers would benefit from using either an ecosystem services model or a biogeochemical model when dealing with complex issues like nutrient overenrichment. According to both our modeling results, modest watershed conservation efforts as defined by our expert stakeholders, ie: protecting wetlands and forests, could reduce the amount of total nitrogen entering the Great Bay estuary in the range of 3–28 metric tons per year.
New muscle growth in denervated extraocular muscle.

Current therapies for paralytic ocular motility disorders often provide less than satisfactory results. Promising new techniques of nerve grafting and muscle transplantation used to treat muscle paralysis elsewhere in the body may have application to the ocular motor system. In studying a procedure designed to reinnervate paretic extraocular muscle (e.o.m.), we produced not only the expected nerve growth but also abundant new muscle growth. A considerable amount of this muscle growth occurred within the axon depleted nerve fascicles of the paretic muscle, suggesting that this structure was a particularly good matrix for muscle fiber growth. These observations suggest that new, entire neuromuscular units may be induced to grow in the plane of a paretic muscle if appropriate surface characteristics can be established.
Inverse and Implicit Functions

This chapter uses the results of the previous three chapters to prove the inverse function theorem, that an invertible derivative connotes a locally invertible mapping. Equivalently, the implicit function theorem states that under some conditions, a set of constraints on a set of variables locally specifies some of the variables as functions of the others. The Lagrange multiplier condition follows, giving a method to solve optimization problems with constraints, i.e., to begin doing calculus in curved spaces.
Long-term event study of timber real estate investment trust conversions

Abstract The long-term financial performance of four timber real estate investment trust (REIT) conversions in the United States is evaluated by an event study with one-, two-, and three-year event windows. Three types of benchmarks are used in gauging the abnormal returns. The first benchmark is a portfolio of firms that are closest in size and book-to-market ratio to the timber REITs, the second is a portfolio of pre-conversion timber firms, and the third is an equal-weighted timber exchange traded fund (ETF) comprised of selected forest firms. Four approaches are used to calculate abnormal returns. Buy-and-hold abnormal returns and cumulative abnormal returns measure the preliminary abnormal returns, zero-investment portfolio approach with rolling regression evaluates the market-based risk premiums, and panel data analyses capture the relative advantages of REITs over their competitors within the timber industry. On average, annualized abnormal returns of 0.5% and 8.9% are identified before and after the REIT conversions. There is no difference between variances of pre- and post-event annualized abnormal returns. Therefore, structural changes have added values to the timber firms in the long run.
Efficacy of Baculoviruses and their Impact on Pest Management Programs

A highly species-specific nuclear polyhedrosis virus isolated from velvetbean caterpillar larvae (VBC), Anticarsia gemmatalis, has been used widely as a biological control for VBC in Brazilian soybean. A single virus application of a similar Brazilian isolate significantly suppressed VBC populations for the remainder of the growing season in field trials in Florida. However, the virus had to be applied when larval populations were one half normal economic threshold densities to prevent yield loss under severe pressure. Studies were expanded to compare efficacy of the above-mentioned viruses with a less species-specific nuclear polyhedrosis virus isolated from Autographa californica larvae. All three viruses at two treatment rates provided significant suppression of the damaging middle and late instar VBC larvae. The impacts on nontarget pests and predators of each virus and a standard chemical insecticide treatment also were determined in this study. The chemical insecticide treatment did not affect populations of nontarget pests or predators, and tolerance of sub-economic VBC densities in the virus treatments did not enhance populations of predators. Consequently, there was little ecological advantage in our research for using baculoviruses for VBC control compared with the standard chemical insecticide. Baculoviruses may have greater commercial potential in the USA as biopesticides against other pests more difficult to control with chemical insecticides.
Accurate Spectral Testing With Non-Coherent Sampling for Multi-Tone Test

Multi-tone test has gained popularity among nowadays test methods, as it offers flexibility in characterizing systems whose nonlinearities vary over signal frequency, which can be impractical to test using single tone test. For multi-tone, non-coherent sampling is the major issue in performing accurate spectral testing, since precise control over each of the test tone frequency is very challenging to achieve, and such control may not be possible for on-chip testing. In this brief, a new method is proposed to resolve such issue. Based on closed form initial estimation of non-coherent fundamentals, more accurate estimation of non-coherent fundamentals can be obtained, and by replacing non-coherent fundamentals with coherent ones, accurate spectral results is achieved. The accuracy and robustness of proposed method is examined extensively by simulation and measurement results, and comparisons were made with different methods. Combined with its high accuracy, robustness, and computational efficiency, the proposed method can be implemented for high precision spectral testing, which relaxes the requirement of coherent sampling for multi-tone test. In addition, it is also suitable for accurate signal spectral analysis when coherent sampling is not achieved.
From Sinks to Webs: Critical Social Science after the Fact-Value Distinction.

The fact-value distinction is leaky. The problem is not just that values can color facts. The reverse is also true: facts are also entangled with values. Nor is that the end of the matter. The concepts of fact and value are not epistemologically or ethically neutral either. It is time to abandon the quest for axiological neutrality in favor of systematic attention to the complex relationship between the descriptive and the normative. Instead of attempting to be neutral, social scientists should strive to combine engagement with open-mindedness.
Examining the Technology Integration Planning Cycle Model of Professional Development to Support Teachers' Instructional Practices.

BackgroundPresently, models of professional development aimed at supporting teachers’ technology integration efforts are often short and decontextualized. With many schools across the country utili...
MHC-Linked Genes Controlling Growth and Reproduction Influence the Susceptibility to Diethylnitrosamine-Induced Carcinogenesis

The growth and reproduction complex (qrc) in the rat is linked to the major histocompatibility (MHC) complex and determines the body size and fertility of these animals. It also appears to control their susceptibility to chemical carcinogens. A recombinant qrc− strain, R16, and its normal counterpart, the ACP (qrc+) strain, were injected intraperitoneally with a single necrogenic dose of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) followed by either a choline deficient (CD) or a choline supplemented (CS) diet. Thes R16 (qrc−) showed 68% incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (MCC) after one year when fed the CD diet and 29% when fed a CS diet while the ACP (qrc +) strain developed HCC in 5% of the rats fed CD diet and none in the rats on CS diet. The R16 strain also developed other malignant tumors involving the kidneys (adenocarcinomas and transitional cell carcinomas), the adrenal glands (pheochromocytomas and paraganglioma), the soft tissues of the pelvis and retroperitoneum (liposarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma), the reticuloendothelial system (large cell lymphoma), squamous cell carcinoma (of the skin and mouth) and finally adenocarcinoma of the lungs. None of the ACP rats developed any extrahepatic tumors. Preliminary breeding experiments on the Fl generation of the susceptible strain R16 (qrc−) and the resistant strain ACP and on the R16/+ (qrc− /qrc +) heterozygous males showed that the genetic defect may not be a simple mendelian one but that it probably involves several genes linked to the MHC.
Equilibrium-Staged Separations Using Matlab and Mathematica

69 Unit operations are ubiquitous in any chemical process. One of their main purposes is to achieve separation in order to recycle unconverted reactants or reach product purity specifications. If two phases are brought into intimate contact, a few components migrate from one phase to the other in every stage of the unit. Then, the two phases are separated. When we consider equilibrium-staged separations, we assume that both phases leaving each stage are in equilibrium and one is richer in one or more components. The most common unit operation is distillation. It is used, for instance, to separate crude petroleum into its various fractions such as kerosene and gasoline. In the pharmaceutical industry, liquid-liquid extraction is often employed. For example, antibiotics in aqueous fermentation are recovered using organic solvents. Finally, absorption and stripping are often involved in gas treatment plants—such as units used to remove acid gases (CO2 and H2S) from natural gas. In the present paper, we solve two problems while showing how graphical methods can be used to design the unit operations. The first problem treats liquid-liquid extraction while the second problem deals with binary distillation.
Congenital Absence of the Pulmonary Valve The Clinical Syndrome of Tetralogy of Fallot with Pulmonary Regurgitation

A group of cases of tetralogy of Fallot with congenital absence of the pulmonary valve are presented, and it is indicated that this abnormality presents a characteristic clinical, physiologic, and pathologic syndrome. It is postulated that the aneurysmal dilatation of the pulmonary artery may result either from a congenital weakness at the base of the pulmonary artery or from the hemodynamic effects of a ventricular septal defect and infundibular stenosis in the presence of pulmonary regurgitation. The absence of the pulmonary valve has not been a deterrent to successful corrective surgery aimed at the basic pathology of tetralogy of Fallot in three cases.
Microstructural characterization of the as-cast and annealed Pu-10Zr alloy

Abstract Phase diagrams constructed for the Pu-Zr binary system report the existence of θ-(Pu,Zr), δ-(Pu,Zr), γ-Pu, α-Pu, β-Pu, and ζ-Pu28Zr phases in Pu-enriched region, when Pu concentrations exceed 75 at.% (equivalent to 89 wt% Pu). The compound θ-(Pu,Zr) has been said to occur at about 20 at.% Zr, but the regions for θ-(Pu,Zr) on the Pu-rich side have not been well defined. In an effort to understand the phases formed in Pu-Zr binary alloys and define the boundary between θ-(Pu,Zr), (θ+δ), and δ-(Pu,Zr) regions, Pu-10Zr (in wt.%, equivalent 23 at.%) alloys were scrutinized in this contribution. This manuscript details microstructural characterization and phase identification results obtained using electron microscopy-based techniques for a Pu-10Zr alloy before and after annealing at 550 °C. In contradiction with predicted phase diagrams, no θ-(Pu,Zr) was detected in any of the examined specimens. The phases present in as-cast fuel included a δ-(Pu,Zr) matrix with a number of smaller, randomly distributed α-Zr, ZrO2, Zr3O, PuO, and κ-PuZr2 inclusions. Heat treatment annealed out the intermetallic κ-PuZr2 phase and resulted in formation of small δ′-Pu and β-Pu inclusions. Similar to the as-cast alloys, the matrix of the annealed alloys was consistent with δ-(Pu,Zr) phase and contained small α-Zr, ZrO2, and PuO2 inclusions. Two different microscopy-based techniques were used for phase identification, but neither identified any θ-(Pu,Zr) phase. Differential scanning calorimetry was then used to determine the phase transition temperatures and enthalpies of transition for the identified phases. While our data is similar to the existing phase diagrams, a number of discrepancies are reported that call for a careful re-examination of the Pu-Zr system. This contribution discusses different scenarios that could explain the discrepancies between obtained and historical data, and provides the most logical conclusion that could be reached based on the obtained results.
SEX-STRATIFIED ANALYSIS OF OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER REVEALS MINOR DIFFERENCES IN GENETIC ARCHITECTURE

Background Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), a heritable neurobehavioral disorder, demonstrates sexual dimorphism in age of onset and clinical presentation, suggesting a possible sex difference in genetic architecture. Here, we present the first genome-wide assessment of sex-specific genetic architecture of OCD on currently the largest OCD cohort available from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (total cases and controls N=9,870 after quality control, 1:1.4 male/female ratio). Methods First, we performed a sex-stratified meta-GWAS to identify specific autosomal and sex chromosome genetic variants differentially associated to OCD risk in each of the sexes. Second, we assessed whether the most heterogeneous OCD risk alleles and top (p Results There were no genome-wide significant associations in either sex. Sex heterogenous SNPs (including and excluding SNPs in the HLA region) were strongly enriched for immune expression quantitative trait loci (p Discussion We present the first genome-wide assessment of sex-specific genetic architecture of OCD. We identified minor sex differences in genetic architecture of OCD, and although the sex-stratified sample size is likely too small to identify variants with small effect, we have developed a robust analytic pipeline for sex-stratified genetic analysis which will be applied in the near future to OCD as larger cohorts become available. The pipeline will also be applied to additional phenotypes where a sex bias in genetic effects may influence trait variation. This will enable a deeper understanding of how genetic variants may regulate biological processes influencing sex-biased phenotypes.
Confocal microscopy reveals local SR calcium release in voltage-clamped cardiac cells.

Confocal microscopy during voltage-clamp depolarization of mammalian heart cells revealed distinct local [Ca2+]i-transients that resulted from Ca2+ released through sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) release channel(s). When voltage was varied, the latency to occurrence and the relative probability of local [Ca2+]i-transients varied as predicted if SR Ca2+-release is linked tightly to Ca2+ flux through co-associated L-type Ca2+-channels.
Changes in American Adults’ Sexual Behavior and Attitudes, 1972–2012

In the nationally representative General Social Survey, U.S. Adults (N = 33,380) in 2000–2012 (vs. the 1970s and 1980s) had more sexual partners, were more likely to have had sex with a casual date or pickup or an acquaintance, and were more accepting of most non-marital sex (premarital sex, teen sex, and same-sex sexual activity, but not extramarital sex). The percentage who believed premarital sex among adults was “not wrong at all” was 29 % in the early 1970s, 42 % in the 1980s and 1990s, 49 % in the 2000s, and 58 % between 2010 and 2012. Mixed effects (hierarchical linear modeling) analyses separating time period, generation/birth cohort, and age showed that the trend toward greater sexual permissiveness was primarily due to generation. Acceptance of non-marital sex rose steadily between the G.I. generation (born 1901–1924) and Boomers (born 1946–1964), dipped slightly among early Generation X’ers (born 1965–1981), and then rose so that Millennials (also known as Gen Y or Generation Me, born 1982–1999) were the most accepting of non-marital sex. Number of sexual partners increased steadily between the G.I.s and 1960s-born GenX’ers and then dipped among Millennials to return to Boomer levels. The largest changes appeared among White men, with few changes among Black Americans. The results were discussed in the context of growing cultural individualism and rejection of traditional social rules in the U.S.
Models for Fractional Numbers--A Quiz for Teachers.

Answer, They can all be used! The allencompassing requirements for a model to represent a fractional number are simple. In a fraction, the denominator names the number of parts of equal measure that make up a unit, and the numerator names the number of parts being considered. Hence a model for y2 must communicate that a unit consists of two parts of equal measure and that only one of these parts is being considered. Consider the models given with item 1. In (a) the unit is the line segment with endpoints at 0 and 1 ; this unit is partitioned
A geospatial model for the analysis of time-dependent land subsidence induced by reservoir depletion

Abstract Land subsidence due to fluid depletion is an outcome of physical processes operating across a wide range of time and length scales. Although geomechanical models are crucial to simulate reservoir compaction and predict its long-term fate, their use across large regions often bears prohibitive computational costs. To overcome this obstacle, this paper proposes a simplified modelling framework consisting of (i) a near-field numerical solver simulating the coupling between fluid flow and rock deformation with reference to a simplified one-dimensional geometry and (ii) a far-field geospatial algorithm mapping ground settlements across a region through the superposition of poroelastic computations at multiple wells. The model computes the delay between depletion history and reservoir compaction in proximity of a producing well by assuming basal depletion of a fluid-saturated deformable disk, while the Geertsma solution of nucleus of strain is used to extrapolate the impact of such time-varying reservoir compaction around the well. This approach has been used to back-analyze the spatio-temporal progression of subsidence at the Groningen gas field. The results are compared against measurements collected over 50 year of production at 25 benchmark locations scattered over an area of 900 km2. It is shown that coupled simulations based on average values of rock compressibility and permeability lead to nonlinear trends of subsidence evolution in good agreement with field measurements, while uncoupled analyses overpredict settlements by more than 70%. Lastly, synthetic forecasts based on different rates of depletion were provided. The results suggest that slower depletion rates lead to lower subsidence at a given time, and that residual subsidence may continue to develop for several decades after interruption of production activities.
A 103 Year Old Man With a Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.

Introduction With wider use of stent grafts, treating nonagenarians with abdominal aortic aneurysm has become more common in Japan. This is the report of a 103 year old patient with a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm who successfully underwent emergency endovascular aortic repair. To the present authors’ knowledge, this report describes the oldest patient treated for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm with a successful outcome. Report A 103 year old man with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm was successfully treated by endovascular aortic repair. The post-operative course was uneventful, and he was discharged from the hospital on post-operative day 11. Two months later, in the outpatient clinic, the patient was doing well. Conclusion It is important that decisions concerning the operative indications for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm in elderly patients are based not only on age, but also on a comprehensive pre-operative assessment, including consideration of the patient's activity of daily life and personal wishes, as well as the desires of family members.
Target Detection via Cognitive Radars Using Change-Point Detection, Learning, and Adaptation

Many radar detection algorithms that assume a stationary environment (clutter) have been proposed and analyzed over the years. However, in practice, changes in the nonstationary environment can perturb the parameters of the clutter distribution, or even alter the clutter distribution family, which can greatly deteriorate the target detection capability. To avoid such potential performance degradation, cognitive radar systems are envisioned which are required to rapidly realize the nonstationarity, accurately learn the new characteristics of the environments, and adaptively update the detector. In this paper, aiming to develop a fully cognitive radar for target detection in nonstationary environments, we propose a unifying framework that integrates (i) change-point detection of clutter distributions by using a data-driven cumulative sum (CUSUM) algorithm and its extended version, (ii) learning/identification of clutter distribution by applying sparse theory and kernel density estimation methods, and (iii) adaptive target detection by automatically modifying the likelihood-ratio test and corresponding detection threshold. Further, with extensive numerical examples, we demonstrate the achieved improvements in detection performance due to the proposed framework in comparison with a nonadaptive case, an adaptive matched filter method, and the clairvoyant case. We also use Wilcoxon rank-sum tests to evaluate the statistical significance of the performance improvements.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Metastatic Disease to the Pancreas.

Introduction: Metastatic disease to the pancreas is a rare entity from all malignant pancreatic masses. Its diagnosis is very challenging, but with the introduction of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-fine needle aspiration (FNA), now there is a feasible way to make an accurate histopathological and definitive diagnosis. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective review of 11 patients with metastasis to the pancreas diagnosed with EUS-FNA in a tertiary referral center over a period of 3 years. We describe our institutional experience in diagnosing metastatic disease to the pancreas through EUS-FNA. Results: Between January 2015 and June 2018, 115 patients were diagnosed with pancreatic malignancy by EUS-FNA and only 11 (10%) with metastatic disease to the pancreas. Most common primary malignancy was renal cell carcinoma, followed by colon carcinoma, squamous/small cell carcinoma of the lung, and urothelial carcinoma. Five of 11 patients presented as a solitary pancreatic mass on initial imaging without any evidence of primary or metastatic disease elsewhere. Conclusions: In our experience, metastatic disease to the pancreas can represent up to 10% of solid pancreatic masses, which is lower compared to the reported incidence in previous literature. Our findings reveal that early identification and diagnosis help patient management and limit surgical morbidity and mortality.
The characteristics of patients who quit smoking in the year following a cancer diagnosis

Continued tobacco smoking following a cancer diagnosis is associated with adverse outcomes. Our study aims to identify the demographic and clinical characteristics of survivors who quit smoking within a year of diagnosis. We conducted a secondary analysis of the Measuring Your Health (MY-Health) study, a community-based survey cohort of 5506 cancer patients registered across four Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registries. Using surveys completed 6–13 months after diagnosis, we identified 868 participants who reported smoking around the time of cancer diagnosis and compared their current smoking status. We employed logistic regression models to predict current smoking status, adjusting for clinical and demographic variables. The overall smoking cessation rate was 35% (n = 306). Survivors with non-small cell lung cancer were three times more likely to quit smoking compared to patients with non-smoking-related cancers (aOR = 3.23, 95% CI = 2.20–4.74). Participants with advanced stage cancer reported higher odds of quitting compared to those with localized cancer (aOR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.02–1.96). Other characteristics that predicted quitting included being married, higher education level, and female sex (aOR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.46–2.77; aOR = 1.74, 95% CI = 1.27–2.39; aOR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.11–2.13, respectively). This is one of the first studies to examine smoking cessation trends in a community-based, US cancer cohort during the year after diagnosis. Survivors with lung cancer and advanced cancer were significantly more likely to quit smoking. Practitioners may use this knowledge to target interventions and address substantial disparities in cessation rates among survivors with early stage and non-lung cancers.
System Integration with Multiscale Networks (Simon): A Modular Framework for Resource Management Models

Although the scientific community has proposed numerous models of Earth and human systems, there are few tools available that support the model coupling that is necessary to capture their complex interrelationships and promote further research cooperation. To address this challenge, we propose System Integration with Multiscale Networks (SIMoN), an open source modeling framework with a novel methodology for supporting heterogeneous geospatial regions. SIMoN enables users to define consistent aggregation and disaggregation maps for transformation between disparate notions of geospatial units such as counties, watersheds, and power regions. We have applied this unique tool to couple models across domains including as climate, population, and food-energy-water (FEW) systems.
Severe Epistaxis Secondary to Dabrafenib and Trametinib Toxicity in Non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma With Small Bowel Metastasis.

BRAF mutations are estimated to be present in 2-4% of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cases. BRAF inhibitor (dabrafenib) and MEK inhibitor (trametinib) are currently approved to treat NSCLC harboring the BRAF V600E mutation. However, the use of this new combined targeted therapy can be associated with severe and life-threatening toxicities. Here, we describe the case of a 77-year-old male with a history of BRAF-positive lung adenocarcinoma with metastasis to the brain, adrenals, and small bowel (jejunum), currently on dual therapy with dabrafenib and trametinib, who presented with refractory epistaxis. The dual therapy regimen was started one month prior to his presentation. After initial stabilization with anterior nasal packing, intravenous and nebulized tranexamic acid (TXA) in the emergency department (ED), he suddenly developed respiratory decompensation. He needed emergent intubation for acute hypoxic respiratory failure and airway protection secondary to profuse bleeding. He was extubated 24 hours later as the epistaxis was manageable, and the nasal packing was removed. Shortly after extubating, he started coughing copious amounts of blood and developed respiratory distress with stridor requiring re-intubation. A large blood clot was noted to be partially occluding the vocal cords on laryngoscopy and was removed during intubation. An emergent flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy was performed with the retrieval of a large blood clot extending from the oropharynx down into the distal trachea. There was no evidence of acute bleeding within the lung after the clot was removed. Workup to explore the cause of his bleeding included a coagulation profile, which was unrevealing. His bleeding was most likely consistent with a side effect of his treatment with dabrafenib and trametinib. Life-threatening bleeding has been reported as a side effect of the combination therapy with dabrafenib and trametinib in metastatic melanoma. Also, in the phase 2 clinical trial (BRF113928) of dabrafenib plus trametinib in patients with previously untreated BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic NSCLC, 3.2% of subjects developed a grade III or IV hemorrhage. Our case aims to raise physicians' awareness of one of the significant side effects of this combination therapy especially since this combination is being used more frequently and now also in lung cancer.
Engendering Resistance: Agency and Power in Women's Prisons

Contents: Introduction Agency and power in womena (TM)s prisons: an overview Reading the prison: a review of the literature Re-evaluating difference: the gender of justice, care and power Towards legitimate research methods, or working a /by, on, fora and with women Gender, identity and the prison: punishing their bodies, punishing their selves Voices of agency, voices of resistance: negotiating power relations in prison Conclusion: womena (TM)s imprisonment: conclusions and new directions Appendix References Index.
VERTEBRAL PHYSITIS: A RADIOGRAPHIC DIAGNOSIS TO BE SEPARATED FROM DISCOSPONDYLITIS. A Preliminary Report.

A retrospective study was initiated to investigate the incidence, radiographic appearance and progression of vertebral physitis, a condition the authors propose as a separate radiographic diagnosis from discospondylitis. From 30 dogs with an initial radiographic diagnosis of discospondylitis, six dogs (five less than two years old) had radiographic signs believed to represent vertebral physitis. Bone lysis initially confined to the caudal physeal zone of affected vertebrae and sparing the vertebral endplates characterized the vertebral physitis lesions. Subsequent collapse of the caudoventral vertebral body and reactive spondylosis arising only from the caudal vertebral margins followed as the lesions progressed. By contrast, discospondylitis lesions originated as symmetric lysis of the vertebral endplates with reactive sclerosis in both vertebral bodies, and subsequent symmetric spondylosis. As a result of the differing radiographic patterns demonstrated by the physitis and discospondylitis lesions the author's also propose an alternative pathogenesis from that which is generally accepted for discospondylitis.
Distributed urban traffic control based on locally observable cell occupancies

A distributed reinforcement strategy for controlling the traffic lights in an urban area is proposed to minimize the average waiting time of the vehicles in the network. The network is assumed to follow the dynamics of the cell transmission model (CTM). Unlike many other CTM-based approaches, the proposed strategy only uses those cell occupancies that are observable from the flow measurements. A sufficient condition for the observability of a cell occupancy from its inflows and outflows is presented, given the congestion status of the flows. Those cells not satisfying this observability condition are heavily penalized in order to push the traffic agents to take actions that make them observable in future. Using distributed value functions, it is shown that each traffic agent takes into account the waiting time of all the intersections in choosing its action given that the graph of the network is connected. The efficacy of the proposed strategy is validated by simulation.
Aggressive locoregional management of recurrent peritoneal sarcomatosis.

Background: and Objectives Peritoneal sarcomatosis responds poorly to systemic chemotherapy and demonstrates high rates of recurrence after resection. We sought to determine perioperative and oncologic outcomes after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion (HIPEC) for recurrent sarcomatosis. Methods: We reviewed 15 patients undergoing 17 CRS/HIPEC for recurrent sarcomatosis from a prospective database. Results: There were four synovial cell sarcomas, five liposarcomas, three leiomyosarcomas, two gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), and three other sarcomas. Adequate cytoreduction (CC-0/1) was achieved in all patients, with a median intra-operative Simplified Peritoneal Carcinomatosis Index of 6 (range: 3–9). Median blood loss and operative time were 1 L (range: 450–5,200) and 402 min (range: 324–680), respectively. Chemoperfusion drug was mitomycin C, cisplatin, or doxorubicin. Significant post-operative complications (Clavien–Dindo III/ IV) occurred in four (24%) patients, with no 60-day mortalities and three (18%) 60-day re-admissions. Median intra-abdominal disease-free and overall survival after CRS/HIPEC was 17.2 (95% CI: 2.4–19.7 months) and 22.6 months (95% CI: 6.1–62.6 months), respectively. There was a trend towards delayed recurrence after combined CRS/HIPEC than after prior CRS alone (17.2 months vs. 10.7 months, respectively; P ¼ 0.52). Conclusion: Cytoreduction combined with HIPEC may improve loco-regional disease control in patients with recurrent sarcomatosis. J. Surg. Oncol. 2013;107:329–334. 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Examiner Reliability of Fluorosis Scoring: A Comparison of Photographic and Clinical Examination Findings

Objective: To assess and compare examiner reliability of clinical and photographic fluorosis examinations using the Fluorosis Risk Index (FRI) among children in the Iowa Fluoride Study (IFS). Methods: The IFS examined 538 children for fluorosis and dental caries at age 13 and obtained intraoral photographs from nearly all of them. To assess examiner reliability, duplicate clinical examinations were conducted for 40 of the subjects. In addition, 200 of the photographs were scored independently for fluorosis by two examiners in a standardized manner. Fluorosis data were compared between examiners for the clinical exams and separately for the photographic exams, and a comparison was made between clinical and photographic exams. For all three comparisons, examiner reliability was assessed using kappa statistics at the tooth level. Results: Interexaminer reliability for the duplicate clinical exams on the sample of 40 subjects as measured by kappa was 0.59, while the repeat exams of the 200 photographs yielded a kappa of 0.64. For the comparison of photographic and clinical exams, interexaminer reliability, as measured by weighted kappa, was 0.46. FRI scores obtained using the photographs were higher on average than those obtained from the clinical exams. Fluorosis prevalence was higher for photographs (33 percent) than found for clinical exam (18 percent). Conclusion: Results suggest that interexaminer reliability is greater and fluorosis scores are higher when using photographic compared with clinical examinations.
Hubble Space Telescope nickel-hydrogen battery and cell testing - An update

NASA's HST uses Ni-H2 batteries. NASA-Marshall has been conducting developmental tests of such batteries in both six-battery and 22-cell single battery arrays. Tests have recently been conducted on such batteries with a view to the possible need to free additional memory in the HST onboard computer; the electrical power system could contribute to this end by eliminating its software control charge mode capability, which requires significant computer memory capacity.
Modeling the Clinical Phenotype of BTK Inhibition in the Mature Murine Immune System

Inhibitors of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) possess much promise for the treatment of oncologic and autoimmune indications. However, our current knowledge of the role of BTK in immune competence has been gathered in the context of genetic inactivation of btk in both mice and man. Using the novel BTK inhibitor PF-303, we model the clinical phenotype of BTK inhibition by systematically examining the impact of PF-303 on the mature immune system in mice. We implicate BTK in tonic BCR signaling, demonstrate dependence of the T3 B cell subset and IgM surface expression on BTK activity, and find that B1 cells survive and function independently of BTK. Although BTK inhibition does not impact humoral memory survival, Ag-driven clonal expansion of memory B cells and Ab-secreting cell generation are inhibited. These data define the role of BTK in the mature immune system and mechanistically predict the clinical phenotype of chronic BTK inhibition.
Sources of Instructional Feedback, Job Satisfaction, and Basic Psychological Needs

This study examined college instructors’ utilization and perceived value of sources of instructional feedback (institutional student ratings, consultation with an instructional specialist, soliciting feedback from students, self-assessment, self-observation, peer/administrator observation, and peer coaching). We examined relationships between the utilization of each source of feedback with job satisfaction and psychological needs satisfaction. We solicited instructors (N = 126) via email. Results revealed self-assessment was the most utilized source of instructional feedback, and instructor-solicited feedback from students was perceived as the most useful. Job satisfaction was significantly correlated with basic psychological needs. We discuss qualitative findings, implications, and suggestions for future research.
X-ray Structure and Mutational Analysis of the Atrazine Chlorohydrolase TrzN

Atrazine chlorohydrolase, TrzN (triazine hydrolase or atrazine chlorohydrolase 2), initiates bacterial metabolism of the herbicide atrazine by hydrolytic displacement of a chlorine substituent from the s-triazine ring. The present study describes crystal structures and reactivity of wild-type and active site mutant TrzN enzymes. The homodimer native enzyme structure, solved to 1.40 A resolution, is a (βα)(8) barrel, characteristic of members of the amidohydrolase superfamily. TrzN uniquely positions threonine 325 in place of a conserved aspartate that ligates the metal in most mononuclear amidohydrolases superfamily members. The threonine side chain oxygen atom is 3.3 A from the zinc atom and 2.6 A from the oxygen atom of zinc-coordinated water. Mutation of the threonine to a serine resulted in a 12-fold decrease in k(cat)/K(m), largely due to k(cat), whereas the T325D and T325E mutants had immeasurable activity. The structure and kinetics of TrzN are reminiscent of carbonic anhydrase, which uses a threonine to assist in positioning water for reaction with carbon dioxide. An isosteric substitution in the active site glutamate, E241Q, showed a large diminution in activity with ametryn, no detectable activity with atratone, and a 10-fold decrease with atrazine, when compared with wild-type TrzN. Activity with the E241Q mutant was nearly constant from pH 6.0 to 10.0, consistent with the loss of a proton-donating group. Structures for TrzN-E241Q were solved with bound ametryn and atratone to 1.93 and 1.64 A resolution, respectively. Both structure and kinetic determinations suggest that the Glu(241) side chain provides a proton to N-1 of the s-triazine substrate to facilitate nucleophilic displacement at the adjacent C-2.
Hall coefficient of cubic metals.

A systematic study of the low-field Hall coefficient ${\mathit{R}}_{\mathit{H}}$ of 23 cubic metals is done using tabulated Slater-Koster parameters for the band structure and a tetrahedron method to calculate the Fermi-surface integrals. In the approximation of an isotropic relaxation time, the Hall coefficient depends only on the Fermi-surface topology. The effect of the band structure is reflected in deviations of ${\mathit{R}}_{\mathit{H}}$ from the free-electron values -1/ne. In favorable cases, our calculations agree to \ensuremath{\approxeq}\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}10% with experimental data. Some of the deviations can be traced back to inaccurate band structures, e.g., in Cs or to rapidly changing ${\mathit{R}}_{\mathit{H}}$ with ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}}_{\mathit{F}}$ leading to problems with convergence, e.g., in Pt. Discrepancies with experiment show the need for an anisotropic relaxation time, especially in Pd where small regions of high curvature dominate the Hall coefficient and in Al where two bands cross the Fermi surface. The similarity in the band structures of Rh, Pd, and Ag encourages the use of a rigid-band model, which agrees qualitatively with the experimental Hall coefficients for the alloys Rh-Pd and Pd-Ag.
Markovian random fields

In this paper we examine the Markovian properties of three important random fields: Levy's Brownian motion, free Euclidean field, and Wiener process. In so doing, we advance the proposition that appropriate candidates for Markov fields are stochastic differential forms and their Markovian property is characterized by being "one derivative" removed from white noise.
The choice among acquisitions, alliances, and divestitures

This paper investigates how firms choose among acquisitions, alliances, and divestitures when they decide to expand or contract their boundaries. The dataset covers 9276 deals announced and completed by 86 members of the Fortune 100 between 1990 and 2000. Our findings support explanations based on resources, transaction costs, internalization, organizational learning, social embeddedness, asymmetric information, and real options, and suggest that these theories are highly related and complementary. We find less consistent support for theories based on agency costs and asset indivisibilities. The strong role of firm attributes explains in part why firms may pre-specify whether they will pursue acquisitions, alliances, or divestitures as part of their corporate strategies. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inertial fusion commercial power plants

This presentation discusses the motivation for inertial fusion energy, a brief synopsis of five recently-completed inertial fusion power plant designs, some general conclusions drawn from these studies, and an exmaple of an IEE hydrogen synfuel plant to suggest that future fusion studies consider broadening fusion use to low-emission fuels production as well as electricity.
Comparison of monolith-supported metals for the direct oxidation of methane to syngas

Abstract The partial oxidation of CH4 in O2 near atmospheric pressure to produce syngas was investigated on monolith-supported Rh, Ni, Pt, Ir, Pd, PdLa2O3, Fe, Co, Re, and Ru catalysts in an autothermal flow reactor at residence times of ∼10 msec (GHSV ∼ 100,000 hr−1). Optimal CH4 conversion and CO and H2 selectivities of 0.89, 0.95, and 0.90, respectively, were achieved on Rh at 1000°C with no loss in activity over many hours. Ni showed similar conversion and selectivities but deactivated. Experiments with up to 25 vol% H2O added to the feed showed little evidence of the occurrence of steam reforming and water-gas shift reactions. Pt and Ir sustained stable reactions but at lower selectivities and conversion than Rh or Ni. Pd, PdLa2O3, and Co deactivated rapidly, while Re, Ru, and Fe would not sustain autothermal reaction. Ni and Re deactivated by volatilization and metal loss, while PdLa2O3 deactivated by carbon formation, and Pd deactivated by a combination of metal loss and carbon formation. Pd produced up to 14% selectivity to C2H4 and C2H6, PdLa2O3 up to 5%, Pt ∼1%, and other metals less than 0.2%.
Impact of patch testing on dermatology-specific quality of life in patients with allergic contact dermatitis.

Background: A dermatology-specific quality-of-life instrument has been created and validated for its sensitivity, reproducibility, content, and construct validity. This instrument was used in an observational prospective study that evaluated the cost-effectiveness of patch testing in patients with contact dermatitis and suspicion of allergic component. Objective: This multicenter, prospective, observational study was designed to study the various direct and indirect costs associated with diagnosis and treatment of suspected allergic contact dermatitis and the benefits of diagnosis with and without patch testing. The costs and benefits of various methods of diagnosis are evaluated to determine if patch testing is more cost-effective as a diagnostic method. One of the outcomes evaluated was the quality of life of the participants in the study and the impact of patch testing on this cohort. Methods: A total of 567 subjects were enrolled to obtain evaluable data from at least 500 subjects from ten study centers; the investigators were chosen so as to obtain a mix of stratified degrees of usage of patch testing. Data were collected on demographics, physical characteristics, history of disease, visits to physicians, and, to evaluate costs, the use of resources such as drugs, nondrug substances, and services; other outcome data collected were on physician evaluation of improvement, confirmation of diagnosis, physician opinion of the disease management, and patient evaluation of dermatology-specific quality of life (DSQL), and pertinent economic factors. Only 6-month and 12-month follow-up visits were mandatorily scheduled according to the protocol; however, participants and providers were free to arrange additional visits as deemed necessary for health care. Results: This report focuses on the evaluations at the 6-month follow-up. There are completely evaluable data on pharmacoeconomics and DSQL for 431 patients. About 43% were patch tested, and the rest were diagnosed using the information from history and physical examinations. There was significantly better improvement in each of the DSQL domains in patch tested subjects compared with non-patch-tested subjects. In addition, patients treated in “low” use clinics had lower quality of life at 6-month follow-up than those treated in “high” use clinics. Conclusion: Patch testing helps to diagnose the etiology of contact dermatitis early and treat the disease before it becomes chronic, thus reducing resources used and improving patient quality of life considerably.
Two-dimensional nMR study of bleomycin and its zinc(II) complex: reassignment of 13C resonances.

Abstract Two-dimensional NMR experiments-one bond 1H- 13C correlation spectroscopy and hetero- nuclear multiple bond correlation spectroscopy, both performed in the reverse detection mode-have been employed to unambiguously assign all of the 13C resonances of the antibiotic bleomycin and its zinc(II) complex. Previous 1H resonance assignments of bleomycin (Chen et al. (1977) Biochemistry 16, 2731–2738) were confirmed on the basis of homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn and homonuclear COSY experiments. The 13C assignments differ substantially from those previously obtained by other investigators (Naganawa et al., (1977) J. Antibiot. 30, 388–396; Dabrowiak et al., (1978) Biochemistry 17, 4090–4096) but are in agreement with those reported by Akkerman et al.(1988) (Magn. Reson. Chem. 26, 793–802). The more recent study employed similar two-dimensional correlation experiments (performed in the direct detection mode) in conjunction with attached proton tests. Their study often required model compound data to identify ca...
A Multimodal Approach to Functional Dysphagia

Functional dysphagia in children has historically been treated using a cognitive behavioral approach. The case of a 7-year-old boy treated using a successful multimodal approach, including behavioral, family, and play therapy with alprazolam augmentation, is reported. The patient showed minimal response to early interventions but rapidly improved with the prescription of alprazolam before meals.