cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Age-, Race-, and Ethnicity-Related Differences in the Treatment of Nonmetastatic Rectal Cancer: A Patterns of Care Study From the National Cancer Data Base

Recent studies suggest that older patients and minorities are less likely to receive surgical and adjuvant therapy for rectal cancer. We analyzed the independent effect of age and race/ethnicity on treatment for rectal cancer controlling for comorbidity and socioeconomic status using a nationwide sample We identified 35,695 patients with rectal adenocarcinoma diagnosed between 2003 and 2005 using the National Cancer Data Base. Comorbidity was calculated from medical records and administrative data. Educational level and income were estimated from census data. Characteristics were compared across groups by χ2 tests. Odds ratios of surgical and adjuvant therapy and 95% confidence intervals were calculated by logistic regression. A total of 51% of patients were age ≥65, 8.7% were African American, and 4.9% were Hispanic. Younger patients, African Americans, and Hispanics were more likely to present with advanced disease compared with older, white patients (P < .001). Age ≥65 was associated with underuse of surgery and adjuvant therapy (P < .001). Only 85.1% of African Americans were resected, compared with 90.7% of whites (adjusted odds ratio, .62; 95% confidence interval, .54–.71). Among resected patients, race/ethnicity had no effect on rates of sphincter preservation or adjuvant therapy. A high proportion of older patients with rectal cancer do not receive appropriate surgical or adjuvant therapy, even when controlling for comorbidity. African American patients are also less likely to undergo resection, but are equally likely to undergo sphincter preservation and adjuvant therapy compared with whites. Efforts are needed to uncover the root causes underlying these observations and optimize treatment of rectal cancer.
Effect of altering suckling intervals of early-weaned pigs on rebreeding performance of sows.

Abstract Sows on two commerical farms were assigned to have their pigs weaned after a 3-week lactation (control, n=160) or after a 3-week lactation that included a 48-hr period of interrupted nursing before weaning (altered-suckling, n=122). Sows in the altered-suckling groups were paired, and each member of a pair was separated from both litters during the alternate 12-hr periods. Thus during the final 48 hr before weaning, each sow in the altered-suckling group had two 12-hr periods when no litters were present and two 12-hr periods when two litters were present. On farm 1, interval from weaning to estrus was 12.8 ± 0.8 days for control sows compared to 8.4 ± 1.0 days for sows in the altered-suckling group (P vs 6.1 days, P>.05). Thus altered-suckling was effective in reducing the interval from weaning to estrus only when the normal rebreeding interval was prolonged (farm 1). Conception rates at first breeding and subsequent litter sizes did not differ between treatments. Altered-suckling may improve reproductive performance of sows in situations where prolonged postweaning anestrus is a problem.
Notes on constraints for the observation of Polar Kerr Effect in complex materials

Abstract While Kerr effect has been used extensively for the study of magnetic materials, it is only recently that its has shown to be a powerful tool for the study of more complex quantum matter. Since such materials tend to exhibit a wealth of new phases and broken symmetries, it is important to understand the general constraints on the possibility of observing a finite Kerr effect. In this paper we reviewed the consequences of reciprocity on the scattering of electromagnetic waves. In particular we concentrate on the possible detection of Kerr effect from chiral media with and without time-reversal symmetry breaking. We show that a finite Kerr effect is possible only if reciprocity is broken. Introducing the utilization of the Sagnac interferometer as a detector for breakdown of reciprocity via the detection of a finite Kerr effect, we argue that in the linear regime, a finite detection is possible only if reciprocity is broken. We then discuss possible Kerr effect detection for materials with natural optical activity, magnetism, and chiral superconductivity.
The age and rate of displacement along the Main Central Thrust in the western Bhutan Himalaya

Abstract In western Bhutan, the Main Central Thrust (MCT) is broadly folded, creating multiple exposures of the fault surface over a ~ 70 km across-strike distance. This unusual map pattern presents a unique opportunity to map the MCT and document both the magnitude and age of displacement. In situ Th-Pb (SIMS and LA-ICP-MS) geochronology of metamorphic monazite from the immediate hanging wall of the MCT indicates that prograde monazite growth in Greater Himalayan (GH) rocks continued until 20.8 ± 1.1 Ma, whereas crystallization of in situ melts, characterized by high Y monazite overgrowths, occurred during cooling from ca. 15–10 Ma. Prograde monazite growth at 15 Ma in Lesser Himalaya (LH) rocks in the immediate footwall requires that LH footwall strata began to be buried at this time, and the MCT had reached its southernmost, exposed extent. By combining prograde monazite ages in the immediate hanging wall and footwall, the duration of MCT displacement is bracketed between 20.8 ± 1.1 and 15.0 ± 2.4 Ma. Immediately north of our study area, a published estimate of shearing along the outer-South Tibetan detachment (STD) argues for displacement between 20 and 15 Ma, coeval with the age range for MCT displacement that we document in this study. However retrograde monazite grains as young as 10 Ma suggest that GH rocks were cooling until ~ 10 Ma, 5 Myr later than motion on the outer-STD immediately to the north. This cooling was either the result of continued displacement on the MCT, or growth of a duplex that passively folded the MCT. Using a sequential reconstruction, we estimate a total displacement of ~ 230 km, which is the sum of displacements on the MCT and the structurally-lower Paro Thrust, over a duration of 5.8 ± 2.6 Myr. This indicates a horizontal shortening rate of 4.0 + 3.2/− 1.3 cm/yr, which exceeds present rates estimated from geodetic measurements across the Himalaya, and MCT displacement rates (c. 2 cm/yr) inferred from petrologic and thermal models in central Nepal but is indistinguishable from plate convergence rates calculated for eastern Bhutan between 23 and 20 Ma (3.3 ± 0.7 cm/yr). Our study highlights that displacement on the MCT alone achieved plate velocity rates in western Bhutan, and that the age and rate of MCT displacement varied significantly across the Himalaya.
Women's health: An overview

’ President-Elect, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, and Senior Advisor, Biomedical and Reproductive Health Research, The Rockefeller Foundation. beyond the reproductive years and even if the system did not engage at all in reproduction, Apart from reproductive diseases, women share with men the risk of disease in all other body systems. Cardiovascular disease, for example, kills more women than genital cancer, including breast cancer, in both developed and developing countries [2]. Genetic and hormonal differences between males and females can be reflected in differences in the disease burden. The noble task of reproducing the species has been rewarded by Nature in a biological advantage to the female, making her a better survivor at all stages of the life cycle from intrauterine life to old age. Nature, in its wisdom, knew what researchers have documented only recently, that in poorresource settings survival of the mother is much more critical to survival of the infants and children than survival of the father (31.
Climatic/Hydrologic Oscillations since 155,000 yr B.P. at Owens Lake, California, Reflected in Abundance and Stable Isotope Composition of Sediment Carbonate

Sediment grain size, carbonate content, and stable isotopes in 70-cm-long (∼1500-yr) channel samples from Owens Lake core OL-92 record many oscillations representing climate change in the eastern Sierra Nevada region since 155,000 yr B.P. To first order, the records match well the marine δ18O record. At Owens Lake, however, the last interglaciation appears to span the entire period from 120,000 to 50,000 yr B.P., according to our chronology, and was punctuated by numerous short periods of wetter conditions during an otherwise dry climate. Sediment proxies reveal that the apparent timing of glacial–interglacial transitions, notably the penultimate one, is proxy-dependent. In the grain-size and carbonate-content records this transition is abrupt and occurs at ∼120,000 yr B.P. In contrast, in the isotopic records the transition is gradual and occurs between 145,000 and 120,000 yr B.P. Differences in timing of the transition are attributed to variable responses by proxies to climate change.
Enhancement of the Power-Conversion Efficiency for Thermoelectric Generators

Constrained by low thermodynamic efficiencies, thermoelectric generators (TEGs) require a comparatively large amount of heat to produce a given quantity of electricity. Therefore, further improvements in thermoelectric designs are needed. In this paper, a coupled-field thermoelectric model, which presents a rigorous interfacial energy balance by capturing Joule heating, Seebeck, Peltier and Thomson effects, is developed to gauge the feasibility of the two promising solutions to enhance power generated by the TEGs, utilizing the commercial FEA package COMSOL™ through the Physics Interface Builder. First, the patterned topography on wall surfaces is implemented and the improved performance has been observed by introducing stirred flows into the heat exchangers and equalizing the temperature across the channels. Referring to the analysis, approximately 10% enhancement in power generation can be addressed for the base-relief TEG. Second, the prospect of increasing the thermal transport capability of water by loading CuO nanoparticles in the TEGs with multi-scale heat exchangers is explored. It is found that the conversion performance of the water/CuO nanofluid-based TEG is superior when compared to the water-based TEG at the micro-scale, where the flow rate is relatively low. The significant insight is gained to fabricate the ideal TEGs with optimum power performance.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Differential Regulation of Neuropeptide Y in the Amygdala and Prefrontal Cortex during Recovery from Chronic Variable Stress

Accumulating evidence from clinical studies and pre-clinical animal models supports a role for neuropeptide Y (NPY) in adaptive emotional response following stress. The long-term impact of stress, particularly chronic stress, on availability and function of resilience factors such as NPY may be critical to understanding the etiology of stress-related psychopathology. In these studies, we examined expression of NPY during recovery from a chronic variable stress (CVS) model of repetitive trauma in rats. Due to the importance of amygdala and prefrontal cortex in regulating emotional responses, we predicted chronic changes in NPY expression could contribute to persistent behavioral deficits seen in this model. Consistent with the hypothesis, ELISA for NPY peptide identified a significant reduction in NPY at the delayed (7 days) recovery timepoint. Interestingly, a significant increase in prefrontal NPY was observed at the same recovery timepoint.. The mRNA expression for NPY was not changed in the amygdala or PFC, although there was a modest but not statistically significant increase in NPY mRNA at the delayed recovery timepoint in the prefrontal cortex. The observed changes in NPY expression are consistent with maladaptive coping and enhanced emotionality, due to the nature of NPY signaling within these respective regions, and the nature of reciprocal connections between amygdala and prefrontal cortex.
Amelioration of Ophthalmoplegic Migraine by Prednisone: A Case Report

SYNOPSIS A 42-year-old patient with a 40-year history of paroxysmal headache associated with recurrent rightabducens palsy was treated with prednisone for three days following headache onset. Initiation ofprednisone within four hours of headache onset resulted in decreased severity and duration of theheadache and prevention or marked amelioration of the ophthalmoparesis. Therapy delayed beyondeighteen hours had a much less dramatic effect.
panhandling repertoires and routines for overcoming the nonperson treatment.

In this article, I present panhandling as a dynamic undertaking that requires conscious actions and purposeful modifications of self, performances, and emotions to gain the attention and interest of passersby. I show that describing and theorizing panhandling in terms of dramaturgical routines is usefulin understanding the interactions and exchanges that constitute panhandling. In addition, repertoires rightly portray panhandlers as agents engaging the social world rather than as passive social types.From this perspective, sidewalks serve as stages on which panhandlers confront and overcome various forms of the nonperson treatment.The research is based on a street ethnography of homeless panhandlers living in Washington, DC.
Initial Entry of Knowledge-Based Information (KBI) Into the Electronic Health Record and Internal Medicine Residents' Perceptions of KBI Resources in the Record

A teaching hospital was using a hybrid electronic health record (EHR) system with no links to point-of-care tools other than Micromedex. The librarians saw a need to integrate knowledge-based information into the institution's EHR to aid clinical decision making. The decision was made to start simply with links to a few point-of-care resources. A ticket was opened with Computer Services and the request to add links to library resources was approved. After implementation, focus groups were held with internal medicine residents regarding their perceived value of the library resources linked in the record system. Feedback was useful and served to spur further requests for additions to the EHR, which were also subsequently approved.
Multi angle view of lung using optical coherence tomography (OCT)

Lung imaging, visualization and measurement of alveolar volume has great importance in determining lung health. However, the heterogeneity of lung tissue complicates this task. In this paper multi angle Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is used to overcome this problem. One of the limitations of utilizing OCT in lung is the speckle noise and artifacts that originate from the refraction at the tissue-air interface inside the lung. Multi angle view of lung using OCT is incoherent summation of multiple angle-diverse images. Utilizing image registration of multi angle OCT scans of the lung helps reduce the speckle noise and refraction artifacts. This technique helps extract more information from the images which improves visualization and the ability to measure the geometry of alveoli. The other diculty of utilizing OCT is interpreting the images due to the low numerical aperture (NA) on the OCT. The multi angle view of the lung increases NA, which increase the imaging resolution through synthetic aperture imaging. In this paper in ated excised lung tissue and lung phantom are presented.
Overweight, obesity, youth, and health-risk behaviors

BACKGROUND: The prevalence and severity of obesity have increased among children and adolescents. Although the medical and psychosocial consequences of youth obesity have been well documented, comparatively less information exists on the association of overweight/obesity with health-risk behaviors, which are considered to be a primary threat to adolescent health. PURPOSE: This study aims to examine the association of overweight and obesity with health-risk behaviors among U.S. youth. METHODS: Self-reported height and weight, substance use, violence, and bullying were assessed in a nationally representative sample of students aged 11-17 years (N=7825) who participated in the 2005-2006 Health Behaviors in School-Aged Children survey. Data were analyzed in 2009. RESULTS: Significant gender and age differences in the relationship of overweight/obesity with risk behaviors were observed. Overweight and obesity were significantly associated with substance use among girls only: Frequent smoking and drinking were associated with overweight and obesity among younger girls, whereas these behaviors were associated with obesity among older girls. Frequent smoking and cannabis use were associated with overweight among younger girls only. Relationships between violent behavior and overweight/obesity were mainly observed among boys: Younger obese boys were more likely to be victims of bullying, whereas older obese boys were more likely to carry weapons compared to boys of normal weight. CONCLUSIONS: Overweight and obese young people are at risk of developing health-compromising behaviors that may compound medical and social problems associated with excess weight. Language: en
Death in the CNS: Six-Microns-Under

During embryonic development, large numbers of apoptotic cells are rapidly cleared by phagocytes. In this issue, Kurant et al. (2008) describe a new phagocytic receptor, called six-microns-under (SIMU), that promotes engulfment of apoptotic neurons by glial cells in the developing nervous system of Drosophila.
Photoplethysmography: a simplified method for the office measurement of ankle brachial index in individuals with diabetes.

Objective To compare the use of photoplethysmography (PPG) and Doppler techniques to measure the ankle brachial index (ABI) for the evaluation of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in individuals with diabetes. Methods Consecutive patients with diabetes (n = 103) referred for PAD evaluation had ABI measured by PPG and Doppler techniques in our diabetes center. Medical records were reviewed, and the results of the Doppler and PPG testing were compared. Results Mean age was 60 years, 57% were female, and 79% had type 2 diabetes with an average duration of 17 years. PPG readings could not be obtained in 3 individuals. Of 200 limbs evaluated, 17 (8.5%) had noncompressible (NC) vessels by both techniques. In the remaining 183 limbs, the correlation coefficient comparing the two methods was 0.864. Mean ABI values were 1.11 ± 0.14 for Doppler and 1.12 ± 0.14 for PPG. The sensitivity of PPG compared to the Doppler technique for detection of an abnormal result was 88.2%, and the specificity was 99.4%. ABI results were classified as discordant if Doppler and PPG varied by more than 0.15, placing them in different diagnostic categories (abnormal low [≤0.9], borderline [0.91-0.99], normal [1.0-1.4], or abnormal high [>1.4 or NC vessels]). There were only 4 (2%) discordant results. Conclusions We found excellent concordance between PPG and the gold standard Doppler technique for ABI measurement in individuals with diabetes. PPG requires less training and takes less time to perform, making it highly suitable for use in an office setting.
Real-time visual control for an intelligent vehicle: the convoy problem

One of the goals of the development of vehicular systems for air, space, land and sea operations is the creation of autonomous behavior which is directed by intelligent processors. For intelligent vehicle systems the goal-directed autonomy includes convoy following. In this paper, the convoy problem is investigated as a real-time control problem, the prime input of which is a stereo vision sensing system. The general approach to maintaining a safe distance along with the calibration of the stereo system is discussed in this paper. The methodology merges intelligent real-time control with techniques developed to solve constituent problems in the system. Real-time system definitions are given as well as preliminary results of controlling an actual autonomous vehicle in real-time.© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An experimental Computer Science problem seminar

In conjunction with the development of a new Master's degree program, yet to receive final approval, the University of Kentucky Computer Science Department has devised and implemented a problem seminar. Students who enter graduate training in the department are required to present four of six specified items of academic background. It has been our experience that they present these credentials but have little working knowledge of their relation to Computer Science.The seminar is therefore designed to encourage the student to use and apply certain techniques he is expected already to know. On the other hand, we make no great point of this with the students-the problems are presented to them (usually) without comment on the expected method of solution; although the background, importance and relevance of the problem is discussed.In what follows we discuss the objectives of our seminar, how it is organized to attain these objectives, and finally our plans for the future development of the course. We conclude by speculating briefly how we might best employ a third classroom hour.
Sense oligonucleotide competition for gene promoter binding and activation

Abstract Considerable evidence has ensued on the importance of growth factors during regeneration both for cell replication and for stimulation of reparative cells to synthesize and secrete extracellular matrix components. During the healing process if the growth factor concentration is too high because of over-expression, abnormal wound healing and tissue fibrosis will occur. The growth factor concentration at the wound site may be controlled by gene therapy and the titration of gene dosage. However, if there is a narrow window between the beneficial effects and adverse effects of gene therapy, oligonucleotide approaches may be used concurrently with gene therapy to control growth factor concentration(s) at the wound site. Antisense oligos offer a method to control the concentration of growth factors at the level of translation. A novel method using sense oligos to the proα1 (I) collagen gene to inhibit gene transcription and collagen synthesis has recently been reported. The exogenous modified oligodeoxynucleotide competes with the cis -element (i.e. the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) element) in the distal 5′-flanking region of the proα1 (I) collagen gene for the trans -acting factor (i.e. the TGF-β activator protein complex), thereby down regulating promoter activity of the proα1 (I) collagen gene and inhibiting type I collagen synthesis. The oligonucleotide approaches, both antisense and sense therapies, may be used to regulate over-expression of growth factors and thereby either eliminate or lessen the potential adverse effects of gene therapy.
Sexual risk behavior, knowledge, and condom use among adolescents in juvenile detention.

This paper reports on sexual behavior, knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases (including AIDS) and condoms, and condom use among African-American and white incarcerated adolescents in Seattle, Washington. One hundred nineteen adolescents in a juvenile detention facility completed questionnaires that assessed their lifetime and recent sexual behaviors, an objective test of disease and condom knowledge, attitudes and norms regarding condom use with steady and casual partners, prior condom use, and intentions to use condoms. The results indicate that these adolescents are at high risk by a number of indicators: They have a high average number of partners, have unprotected vaginal and anal sex, and many have sex with known or suspected drug users. Their overall knowledge of condoms and sexual transmitted diseases risks is high, but high knowledge is not correlated with positive attitudes; for one attitude measure, high knowledge is significantly correlated with negative attitudes toward condom use. These findings suggest that programs designed solely to increase knowledge are unlikely to effect behavior change.
A two-pass exact algorithm for selection on Parallel Disk Systems

Numerous OLAP queries process selection operations of “top N”, median, “top 5%”, in data warehousing applications. Selection is a well-studied problem that has numerous applications in the management of data and databases since, typically, any complex data query can be reduced to a series of basic operations such as sorting and selection. The parallel selection has also become an important fundamental operation, especially after parallel databases were introduced. In this paper, we present a deterministic algorithm Recursive Sampling Selection (RSS) to solve the exact out-of-core selection problem, which we show needs no more than (2 + e) passes (e being a very small fraction). We have compared our RSS algorithm with two other algorithms in the literature, namely, the Deterministic Sampling Selection and QuickSelect on the Parallel Disks Systems. Our analysis shows that DSS is a (2+e)-pass algorithm when the total number of input elements N is a polynomial in the memory size M (i.e., N = Mc for some constant c). While, our proposed algorithm RSS runs in (2+e) passes without any assumptions. Experimental results indicate that both RSS and DSS outperform QuickSelect on the Parallel Disks Systems. Especially, the proposed algorithm RSS is more scalable and robust to handle big data when the input size is far greater than the core memory size, including the case of N ≪ Mc.
The Effects of Crossing the Midpoint on Belief Change A Replication and Extension

Previous research has shown that persuasive communications lead to less change if the positions of the source and receiver of a persuasive communication fall on different sides of the midpoint of a response dimension than if these positions fall on the same side of the midpoint. Using an interactive computer system, a task was designed to replicate and extend these findings while overcoming some of the methodological shortcomings of earlier studies. Specifically, the task allows independent manipulation of both the initial position of the receiver and the position advocated by the source. Consistent with earlier findings, crossing the midpoint resulted in less acceptance and change when the midpoint was made salient and the qualitative differences between the positions of the source and receiver were made explicit. Perhaps more important, change was not inhibited when the midpoint was not made salient and the qualitative differences were left implicit.
Methodological diversity can augment progress in psychological research

Abstract Wachtel identified four interrelated constraints on research: biases against theory and description, emphasis on productivity, grant funding that may unwittingly foster the previous two constraints as well as limit the focus of research, and limits of experimental methods. The present comments focus on two main issues. First, heavy and almost exclusive reliance on research in the quantitative tradition is an unnecessary constraint. The tradition is infrequently questioned not only because of the contributions we enjoy from it (e.g., evidence-based everything), but also because it is so pervasive that it is the water in which we swim. There is nothing fishy about that tradition, but other traditions (e.g., single-case and qualitative research) would greatly expand and complement the yield and generate as well as test theory in new ways. Second, progress in research is an important topic by itself and warrants analysis. It would be useful to characterize areas where progress has been extraordinary or slow with the hope of learning what might be done to accelerate progress.
Structural Consequences of Ferroelectric Nanolithography

Domains of remnant polarization can be written into ferroelectrics with nanoscale precision using scanning probe nanolithography techniques such as piezoresponse force micro- scopy (PFM). Understanding the structural effects accompanying this process has been challenging due to the lack of appropriate structuralcharacterizationtools.SynchrotronX-raynanodiffraction provides images of the domain structure written by PFM into an epitaxial Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 thin film and simultaneously reveals struc- tural effects arising from the writing process. A coherent scattering simulation including the superposition of the beams simultaneously diffracted by multiple mosaic blocks provides an excellent fi tt o the observeddiffractionpatterns.Domainsinwhichthepolarizationisreversedfromtheas-grownstatehaveastrainofupto0.1%representing the piezoelectric response to unscreened surface charges. An additional X-ray microdiffraction study of the photon-energy dependence of thedifferenceindiffractedintensitybetweenoppositepolarizationstatesshowsthatthiscontrasthasacrystallographicorigin.Thesignand magnitude of the intensity contrast between domains of opposite polarization are consistent with the polarization expected from PFM images and with the writing of domains through the entire thickness of the ferroelectric layer. The strain induced by writing provides a significant additional contribution to the increased free energy of the written domain state with respect to a uniformly polarized state.
STS, Ethics, and Knowledge Transfer in the Courtroom: Personal Experiences

The purpose of this commentary is to provide an account of STS expertise in a different courtroom setting than that experienced by Simon Cole, and draw lessons from both experiences. I have been called on multiple times to serve as an expert witness in litigation between high tech companies on matters related to the transfer of technological know-how, and also on the ethical obligation of employees and companies to protect intellectual property during such transfer. Here I combined expertise from three areas: STS, cognitive science, and engineering ethics. Any or all of these sources of expertise could be contested in the court, as could my own qualifications. Cole was able to quote from his depositions and trial testimony, and share transcripts of them with Lynch for analysis. I never testified; instead, I was involved in multiple depositions, which remain confidential. Two of my cases were sealed, meaning I cannot even disclose the parties involved. I was able to construct case studies based on these experiences, working with Bob Garrey, one of the attorneys who was on the opposing side in my first case and was involved in hiring me for the second.1 I will paraphrase key elements of these cases below. The third case came to trial, but I did not appear on the stand, for reasons I will describe below reasons different from those that prevented Cole from testifying in the New York v. Hyatt trial (Lynch & Cole, 2005).
Multidisciplinary Subsurface Remediation Courses: Fundamentals, Experiments, and Design Projects

Subsurface pollution is an important issue from both economic and environmental perspectives, and the education of professionals with technical backgrounds for addressing this issue is an area of national need. In situ remediation of subsurface pollution is a challenging scientific and engineering problem that is well suited to multidisciplinary problem-solving approaches. Quantitative design guidance, appropriate textbook instruction, and hands-on experimental activities are not currently available at most academic institutions. We developed and implemented a set of two courses, one stressing fundamentals in conjunction with design issues, and the other focussing on engineering design aspects of several innovative subsurface remediation technologies. Course materials were derived from our combined multidisciplinary research experiences, coupling physical, chemical, geological, and biological approaches to remediate subsurface pollution. We equipped a laboratory to conduct remediation experiments on a range of scales. These experiments demonstrate fundamental soil and groundwater transport processes, provide design parameters, and yield data for comparing remediation technologies and testing mathematical models. In addition to course evaluations, the project was reviewed and improved by an external curriculum advisory committee.
THE BOHRAS OF EAST AFRICA

lords, craftsmen, artisans and professionals. They belong to the Musta'lian Isma~ili sect of Islam and were converted from several Hindu castes, some eight hundred years ago. The name Bohra (also Bohora) denotes a "trader, merchant" (from the Gujarati vohorvu, "to trade") and records the occupation of the first converts to Islam 1). Ancestors of the present Bohras came to East Africa in the nineteenth century from Gujarat particularly from the district of Cutch and Kathiawar, though some Yemeni Bohras from Southern Arabia have also settled here. Out of an estimated half a million Bohras scattered all over the world, the majority being in India, East Africa has about 15,0002). Although a small minority, the Bohras have succeeded in preserving their identity, and religious and cultural traditions. Like other minorities in East Africa they are organized into an exclusive endogamous group, locally known as a 'community'. So far very little has been written about this interesting entrepreneurial and religious group. The present study is a survey of the origins and migration of the Bohras to East Africa and their religious beliefs and organization. It is based on the author's lengthly experience of living with the Bohras
Fine specificity of rabbit anti-p-azophenylphosphorylcholine antibodies; comparison with HOPC-8 myeloma protein.

Abstract Rabbit antibodies raised against the p-azophenylphosphorylcholine group (APPC) were compared with a phosphorylcholine-binding mouse myeloma protein, HOPC-8, with regard to their specificity for various choline-related haptenic structures. Comparisons were made on the basis of Krel values, relative to p-nitrophenylphosphorylcholine (NPPC) determined from inhibition of binding data, using a radio-iodine labeled protein-APPC conjugate as the reference antigen. The data indicate that anti-APPC antibody sites in general have a lower degree of cross reactivity for substructures of the APPC group than does the HOPC-8 site. The most important structure for binding to both kinds of sites is the positively charged quarternary ammonium group, indicating a close approach of this group a negatively charged carboxylate which we previously have shown to be present in both sites. The negatively charged phosphoryl group appears to be more important for binding to the HOPC-8 site than to the anti-APPC site, indicating that this structure probably more closely approaches the positively charged guanidinium group which we have shown to be present in the HOPC-8 site than it does to a similar group we have shown to be present in the anti-APPC site. The nitrophenyl group of NPPC contributes a great deal in the interaction with the anti-APPC site, but is not very important in the interaction with the HOPC-8 site.
Structural and electrostatic properties of atoms and functional groups using AIM theory II: Unsaturated organics with one electronegative atom

Atoms in molecules theory is used to determine the properties of functional groups within 27 unsaturated linear and branched molecules with, at most, one electronegative atom. The functional group properties computed in this study are energy, volume, exposed surface area, extent of electron density, charge, dipole moment, and polarizability of the group. Averaged values for properties considering both first- and second-bonded neighbors are presented for alkyl groups. These properties have less variation than properties for definitions considering only first-bonded groups even as the number of functional groups in the set is reduced. A change is seen in the electron population of the alkyl functional group if a highly electronegative atom is a second-bonded neighbor. The nitrile N and ketone and aldehyde O are compared to saturated N and O. Second-bonded alkyl functional groups affect the topology of O atoms within aldehydes and ketones such that the O atoms are separable into two distinct group definitions. The effects of second-bonded neighbors are quantitatively measured using a calculation of electronegativity based around topology. Electronegative atoms as second-bonded neighbors have a small but discrete effect on the electronegativity of alkyl first-bonded neighbors for the molecules within this study.
Processing of DNA structures via DNA unwinding and branch migration by the S. cerevisiae Mph1 protein.

The budding yeast Mph1 protein, the putative ortholog of human FANCM, possesses a 3′ to 5′ DNA helicase activity and is capable of disrupting the D-loop structure to suppress chromosome arm crossovers in mitotic homologous recombination. Similar to FANCM, genetic studies have implicated Mph1 in DNA replication fork repair. Consistent with this genetic finding, we show here that Mph1 is able to mediate replication fork reversal, and to process the Holliday junction via DNA branch migration. Moreover, Mph1 unwinds 3′ and 5′ DNA Flap structures that bear key features of the D-loop. These biochemical results not only provide validation for a role of Mph1 in the repair of damaged replication forks, but they also offer mechanistic insights as to its ability to efficiently disrupt the D-loop intermediate.
Bacterial Pathogens of the Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex

Pneumonia caused by the bacterial pathogens discussed in this article is the most significant cause of morbidity and mortality of the BRDC. Most of these infectious bacteria are not capable of inducing significant disease without the presence of other predisposing environmental factors, physiologic stressors, or concurrent infections. Mannheimia haemolytica is the most common and serious of these bacterial agents and is therefore also the most highly characterized. There are other important bacterial pathogens of BRD, such as Pasteurella multocida, Histophulus somni, and Mycoplasma bovis. Mixed infections with these organisms do occur. These pathogens have unique and common virulence factors but the resulting pneumonic lesions may be similar. Although the amount and quality of research associated with BRD has increased, vaccination and therapeutic practices are not fully successful. A greater understanding of the virulence mechanisms of the infecting bacteria and pathogenesis of pneumonia, as well as the characteristics of the organisms that allow tissue persistence, may lead to improved management, therapeutics, and vaccines.
Lectin-like activity from Persea americana

An extract from the seeds of Persea americana possessed an erythro-agglutinating activity. The agglutinin was devoid of specificity for carbohydrates, but interacted readily with basic proteins or basic polyamino acids. The interaction between the agglutinin and egg-white lysozyme was not inhibited by chaotropic salts, but was sensitive to relatively low concentrations of urea. An affinity chromatographic procedure was developed in an effort to purify the agglutinin. Products from the chromatographic procedure were found not to contain higher specific agglutinating activities than the crude extract. Amino acid acid analyses of the extract showed the presence of relatively high proportions of glutamic and aspartic acids. In addition, the extract contained phosphorus and a visible chromophore. The agglutinin was resistant to detergents and denaturants, and proteases, nucleases, and other enzymes. The results suggest that, as opposed to other plant agglutinins, the active component from Persea is not a protein. Similarly, in contrast to many lectins, the agglutinin from Persea was not mitogenic for mouse lymphocytes. The agglutinin partially inhibited the mitogenesis of lymphocytes when the cells were treated with concanavalin A, or with bacterial lipopolysaccharide.
Estimation of endogenous adrenocorticotropin half-life using pulsatility patterns: a physiological approach to the evaluation of secretory episodes.

Several studies indicate that the disappearance rate of ACTH in different species is very rapid. The conditions under which these estimates were obtained, however, can be regarded in most cases as nonphysiological. The present studies were designed to evaluate the half-life of endogenous ACTH in rats under physiological conditions, i.e. awaken freely moving animals that were bled continuously through an indwelling iv cannula. Blood sampling at 1-min intervals allowed the detailed characterization of the ACTH pulsatile pattern. Analysis of each secretory episode indicated that many of the pulses could be used for half-life determinations, provided that the down phase of the pulse consisted of three or more points decaying in a straight line. After logarithmic transformation of the values, the declining slopes were analyzed by linear regression to determine which slopes showed a significant negative correlation. From those values the half-life estimates, in minutes, were calculated. Two groups of animals were used for these studies. In one group, blood was removed continuously without replacement. In these animals, ACTH levels rose progressively due to the hemorrhage effect, although secretion continued to be pulsatile. In a second group, blood was replaced at the same rate of withdrawal through a femoral vein, and ACTH levels remained constant throughout the experiment. The results indicate that the average ACTH half-life was 5.94 and 7.06 min for the groups without and with blood replacement, respectively. The differences between the two groups were not significant. Analysis of the frequency distribution of the calculated half-lives indicates that two populations can be separated, a fast (decays less than 8 min) and a slow one (decays greater than 8 min). Less than half of the secretory episodes showed a decay according to the half-life. This observation indicates that some secretory episodes consist of a burst of secretory activity followed by a period during which secretion is essentially turned off. Under these conditions, decays correspond to the half-life of the hormone. Other episodes show protracted secretory activity, as indicated by the slower, nonlinear decay. These observations suggest that half-life of ACTH may vary from one episode to another, and that the different types of secretory episodes recorded may reflect the multifactorial control of ACTH secretion by the hypothalamus.
Technological Innovation in a College

The purpose of this case study was to understand the issues and factors involved in the implementation of a technological innovation in an institution of higher education. The business office of a four-year college attempted to replace a by-hand paper requisition entry process with an online process without the assistance of the information technology department. The initial implementation in 2004 was stopped and a consultant, the author, was engaged to investigate and develop recommendations to modify the implementation. Archival information consisting of reports, meeting minutes, participant-observation field notes and interview and survey results were used to review the implementation process. The college has purchased two online requisition systems for online requisitions and pilot tested a third online requisition system during the summer of 2006 through 2007 in three departments. The online requisition system is seen as the gateway for the college into e-commerce.
A Two-Phase Development and Validation Plan for North Dakota's First Spacecraft

The Open Prototype for Educational NanoSats (OPEN) aims to make space more accessible for educational and other uses by driving down the cost of CubeSat development. This paper presents a tentative plan for the use of two orbital missions as part of a two-phase technology demonstration sequence focusing on raising the technology readiness level (TRL) of OPEN to a level suitable for wide use and adoption. It presents an overview of a twomission development plan including mission objectives, requirements and constraints. The paper considers how the phase one mission’s spacecraft may serve as a lower-cost platform for some users in its own right. It also describes current progress-to-date on the development of both OpenOrbiter I and II spacecraft.
Applications of 4,4'-(Me3Si)2-BINAP in transition-metal-catalyzed asymmetric carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions.

A recently developed BINAP derivative with trimethylsilyl substituents on the 4- and 4‘-positions of the binaphthyl skeleton, 2,2‘-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4,4‘-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,1‘-binaphthyl (tms-BINAP), was used in a variety of transition-metal-catalyzed asymmetric carbon−carbon bond-forming reactions. In π-allylpalladium-mediated reactions, tms-BINAP gave better enantioselectivity than the unsubstituted BINAP, and the origin of the improved enantioselectivity was gained from an X-ray structural study of [Pd(η3-C3H5)((R)-tms-BINAP)]ClO4.
An LP estimate for Maxwell's equations with source term

Abstract In this Note we establish an interior Lp-type estimate for the solutions of Maxwell's equations with source term in a domain filled with two different materials separated by a C 2 interface. Due to the singularity of the dielectric permittivity, the usual elliptic estimates cannot be applied directly. A special curl–div decomposition is introduced for the electric field to reduce the problem to an elliptic equation in divergence form with discontinuous coefficients. The potential theory analysis and the jump condition lead to the Lp estimates which are superior to the straightforward Nash–Moser estimates. The reduction procedure is expected to be useful for numerical simulation. Such an estimate is crucial for solving nonlinear Maxwell's equations that arise for example in the modeling of nonlinear optics. To cite this article: G. Bao et al., C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 337 (2003).
An investigation into non-linear vibrations of thin plates

Abstract The variational and modified forms of the von Karman-type non-linear plate equations are considered in the context of the Rayleigh-Ritz and Galerkin methods. An approximate analysis of the non-linear vibrations of thin elastic plates including inplane inertia is presented. The quantitative study confirms that the inplane inertia effects are negligible for thin plates provided the non-linearity is not too large. It is observed that the non-linear inertia terms in the transverse equation of motion should be retained in any such study. The analysis is simplified by neglecting the inplane inertia and applied to constrained and unconstrained plates. A different type of inplane boundary condition termed ‘the partially constrained’ is studied, and the inadequacy of replacing the unconstrained condition by means of an average-zero stress condition is clearly demonstrated. It is observed that in most of the cases considered the Galerkin method yields lower bounds for the non-linear coefficient of the modal equation. In all cases the Galerkin results yield less stiff models than the Rayleigh-Ritz method. The general significance of the convergence of the two methods beyond the scope of the title problem is highlighted.
Which compactifications of D = 11 supergravity are stable?

Abstract We complete the stability analysis of all known Freund-Rubin solutions of eleven-dimensional supergravity by determining the necessary and sufficient conditions for Q pqr (U(1) bundles over S 2 × S 2 × S 2 ) to be stable.