cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impaired slow axonal transport in diabetic peripheral nerve is independent of RAGE.

Diabetic peripheral nerve dysfunction is a common complication occurring in 30-50% of long-term diabetic patients. The pathogenesis of this dysfunction remains unclear but growing evidence suggests that it might be attributed, in part, to alteration in axonal transport. Our previous studies demonstrated that RAGE (Receptor for Advanced Glycation Endproducts) contributes to the pathogenesis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and impairs nerve regeneration consequent to sciatic nerve crush, particularly in diabetes. We hypothesize that RAGE plays a role in axonal transport impairment via the interaction of its cytoplasmic domain with mammalian Diaphanous 1 (mDia1) - actin interacting molecule. Studies showed that mDia1-RAGE interaction is necessary for RAGE-ligand-dependent cellular migration, AKT phosphorylation, macrophage inflammatory response and smooth muscle migration. Here, we studied RAGE, mDia1 and markers of axonal transport rates in the peripheral nerves of wild-type C57BL/6 and RAGE null control and streptozotocin-injected diabetic mice at 1, 3 and 6 h after sciatic nerve crush. The results show that in both control and diabetic nerves, the amount of RAGE accumulated at the proximal and distal side of the crush area is similar, indicating that the recycling rate for RAGE is very high and that it is evenly transported from and towards the neuronal cell body. Furthermore, we show that slow axonal transport of proteins such as Neurofilament is affected by diabetes in a RAGE-independent manner. Finally, our study demonstrates that mDia1 axonal transport is impaired in diabetes, suggesting that diabetes-related changes affecting actin binding proteins occur early in the course of the disease.
Action of an Aerobic Spore-Forming Organism on Evaporated Milk

During the abnormally hot summer of 1930, a condensery shippin~ evaporated milk to various cities in the middle west, received reports of coagulation in the product. The condition varied from a very few small masses of soft curd in a can, which probably would not have been criticized if a more serious defect had not been present in other cans, to complete coagulation; with complete coagulation the curd was sometimes soft and ia other cases quite firm. Many cans of the spoiled milk were studied bacteriologically and, while most of them failed to yield an organism, an aerobic, spore-forming type was secured from three of the cans. This organism was apparently not the primary cause of coagulation in the outbreak, but its general action on evaporated milk was of interest from the standpoint of showing the changes that microorganisms may bring about in the product.
Object recognition using appearance-based parts and relations

The recognition of general three-dimensional objects in cluttered scenes is a challenging problem. In particular, the design of a good representation suitable to model large numbers of generic objects that is also robust to occlusion has been a stumbling block in achieving success. In this paper, we propose a representation using appearance-based parts and relations to overcome these problems. Appearance-based parts and relations are defined in terms of closed regions and the union of these regions, respectively. The regions are segmented using the MDL principle, and their appearance is obtained from collection of images and compactly represented by parametric manifolds in the two eigenspaces spanned by the parts and the relations.
CFTR delivery to 25% of surface epithelial cells restores normal rates of mucus transport to human cystic fibrosis airway epithelium.

Dysfunction of CFTR in cystic fibrosis (CF) airway epithelium perturbs the normal regulation of ion transport, leading to a reduced volume of airway surface liquid (ASL), mucus dehydration, decreased mucus transport, and mucus plugging of the airways. CFTR is normally expressed in ciliated epithelial cells of the surface and submucosal gland ductal epithelium and submucosal gland acinar cells. Critical questions for the development of gene transfer strategies for CF airway disease are what airway regions require CFTR function and how many epithelial cells require CFTR expression to restore normal ASL volume regulation and mucus transport to CF airway epithelium? An in vitro model of human CF ciliated surface airway epithelium (CF HAE) was used to test whether a human parainfluenza virus (PIV) vector engineered to express CFTR (PIVCFTR) could deliver sufficient CFTR to CF HAE to restore mucus transport, thus correcting the CF phenotype. PIVCFTR delivered CFTR to >60% of airway surface epithelial cells and expressed CFTR protein in CF HAE approximately 100-fold over endogenous levels in non-CF HAE. This efficiency of CFTR delivery fully corrected the basic bioelectric defects of Cl− and Na+ epithelial ion transport and restored ASL volume regulation and mucus transport to levels approaching those of non-CF HAE. To determine the numbers of CF HAE surface epithelial cells required to express CFTR for restoration of mucus transport to normal levels, different amounts of PIVCFTR were used to express CFTR in 3%–65% of the surface epithelial cells of CF HAE and correlated to increasing ASL volumes and mucus transport rates. These data demonstrate for the first time, to our knowledge, that restoration of normal mucus transport rates in CF HAE was achieved after CFTR delivery to 25% of surface epithelial cells. In vivo experimentation in appropriate models will be required to determine what level of mucus transport will afford clinical benefit to CF patients, but we predict that a future goal for corrective gene transfer to the CF human airways in vivo would attempt to target at least 25% of surface epithelial cells to achieve mucus transport rates comparable to those in non-CF airways.
The relationship between sexual abuse and mild traumatic brain injury

It remains unclear why some individuals with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) complain of cognitive deficits many months after the injury. Given neuropathological changes associated with prolonged stress, such as occurs with repeated sexual abuse (SA), it seems possible that individuals who experienced SA might be predisposed to greater deficits after MTBI. Four groups of subjects were administered measures of cognitive and emotional functioning. These groups were those with MTBI (n = 10), those with a history of SA (n = 10), those with both MTBI and SA (n = 10), and normal control (NC) subjects (n = 10). Compared to the NC subjects, those with MTBI demonstrated deficits in working memory, those with SA demonstrated deficits in executive functioning, and those with both MTBI and SA demonstrated the greatest number of deficits which were in working memory, executive functioning and memory. Tests of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, while demonstrating significant symptoms in all clinical groups, did not correlate with the neuropsychological tests that differentiated the groups.
Negotiated Exchanges in Social Networks

Network exchange theory predicts relative profits from negotiations among actors in social exchange networks (Markovsky et al. 1993; Markovsky, Willer & Patton 1988). Here we extend the theory to allow exact predictions, rather than merely ordinal, for actors' exchange profits. This is accomplished by integrating two important factors. First, a resistance model predicts bilateral negotiation outcomes within a given set of network constraints. It does so by weighing actors' interests in gaining the best possible exchanges against their desires to avoid the worst. Second, the resistance model predictions are modified by actors' profit expectations. In particular, we incorporate two factors that affect such expectations, both common features of ongoing exchange relations: the number of other actors to whom one is directly connected in the network, and the likelihood of one's completing exchanges with them. We derive hypotheses from the theory and test them in two very different experimental settings. We find that the theory's predictions are more accurate than those of previous versions of the theory and those offive alternative theories. Social exchange theory grew from the application of the economic theory of exchange to social relationships. Sociology focuses on a problematic area for economic theory: the exchange of valued objects in relatively small groups, where actors seek to settle on one optimal outcome out of a range of possibilities. How can we predict that outcome? And how are such outcomes affected by social structure? Homans (1958, 1974) suggested that principles of behaviorist psychology would help to answer these questions. Blau's (1964) approach used rational choice and utility theory. Theoretical work on the problem since then has largely developed from one or the other perspective, sometimes combining the two.
Kueker's Conjecture for Superstable Theories

We prove that if every uncountable model of a first-order theory T is co-saturated and T is superstable then T is categorical in some infinite power. Some years ago David Kueker circulated the conjecture that a theory with only (o-saturated uncountable models must be categorical in some infinite power. Throughout this paper a first-order theory T will be called a K-theory if every uncountable model of T is w-saturated. Lachlan proved this with the additional assumption that the theory is w-stable (unpublished). Recently, more progress was made by C. Steinhorn, who proved the conjecture for superstable theories with Skolem functions [St]; and by J. Knight, who proved it for linear orders with unary predicates. We wish to thank David Kueker for his patience in our discussion of this material. We are indebted to Charles Steinhorn and John Baldwin for their many comments, and to the referee for suggesting a simplification in our proof. ?1. Notation and preliminaries. Most of what we utilize from first-order logic is standard and can be found in [CK]. We will always deal with a countable language. The script letters X and X will be reserved for models, M and N their universes. The letters A, B, C,... will designate arbitrary sets; a, b, c,... denote elements. Finite sequences of elements are written as aand finite sequences of variables as xi. Since the distinction between sequences, elements and sets is notationally cumbersome we adopt the following conventions. If d = we write d E A rather than ai e A for all i < n. Also, we write B u d instead of B u {ai: i < n}. We will use L to denote not only a language but also the set of first-order formulas with symbols from L. We will frequently want to separate the free variables in a formula into two sequences, (p(x, yj) for example. We will do this when we want to replace the sequence V by parameters from some set. A type is a consistent set of formulas with finitely many free variables and possibly parameters. Types will be denoted p, q, r,...; dom(p) is the set from which the parameters in p are taken. By p P A we mean {qp(v, a): cp(v, a-) E p and a E A}. A k-type is a type with k free variables. By Sk(A) we mean the set of all complete k-types whose formulas have parameters in A. Let S(A) = Uk< 0,Sk(A). The complete type of an Received September 9, 1982; revised March 23, 1983. C) 1984, Association for Symbolic Logic 0022-4812/84/4903-0020/$01 .50
Genetic effects of roentgen rays

To paraphrase Shakespeare “The evil that radiations do lives long after the strontium90 is interred with man’s bones.” This evil is perpetuated beyond the life span of the exposed individual by the utilization in conception of eggs or sperms that have suffered genetic damage. The tangible defects of living beings indicate the widespread distribution of genetic damage. Although the roentgen rays used in diagnostic procedures in the dental office contribute a very small share to the over-all genetic damage experienced by the human species, efforts should be made to reduce unnecessary exposure of the gonads without sacrificing the essential uses of radiation in diagnosis. Members of professional groups familiar with the use of radiations have a responsibility to inform the public of the hazards as well as the advantages of new sources of radioactivity.
EVIDENCE FOR LOCAL FISH CATCH IN ZOOARCHAEOLOGY

Fish bones at archaeological sites may be used to address anthropological questions about past fishing practices and trade, as well as biological questions about past species distributions. In both cases, it is important to distinguish fish caught locally from those transported longer distances to the disposal site. The necessary standard of proof may vary by the geographic scale of the study and proximity to fish habitat, but multiple lines of evidence should be brought to bear, such as regional ethnography or oral history, fishing artifacts, available local habitat, skeletal parts frequencies, and bone chemistry. An example from the American Pacific Northwest demonstrates the complexity of determining catch location. The question at the Grissom site was whether the bones could demonstrate past salmonid and other fish occurrence in the adjacent Caribou Creek. Of seven fish species identified, three species were interpreted as local catch, one as local but indicating a change in range, and three as equivocal.
Latent Growth Modeling in IS Research: Basic Tenets, Illustration, and Practical Guidelines

This paper introduces Latent Growth Modeling (LGM) as a feasible method for analyzing longitudinal data to understand the process of change over time. Given the need to go beyond cross-sectional models, explore longitudinal Information Systems (IS) phenomena, and test IS theories over time, LGM is proposed as a complementary method to help IS researchers propose and evaluate time-centric hypotheses and make longitudinal inferences. The paper first describes the basic tenets of LGM and offers guidelines for using LGM in IS research, including framing hypotheses with time as a central component and implementing LGM models to test these hypotheses. The application of LGM in IS research is illustrated by modeling the longitudinal relationship between two IT variables (IT infrastructure and IT labor) and firm performance with 2001-2004 data from Fortune 1000 firms. Comparisons with other methods for analyzing longitudinal data reveal the advantages of LGM for studying time-dependent relationships and growth patterns.
Prototype of a value-range query technique on earth sciences data

A basic value-range query on remotely-sensed earth science data is constructed in order to find areas over which the geophysical parameter values fall into a given range. An advanced version can have an area size constraint on the results, which will select only those large enough congregated regions as final results. A ternary technique with a two-level data pyramid model has been proposed by our team at GMU in order to speed up answering such queries with an approximate accuracy limit and an area size constraint. A prototype system has been built to illustrate the idea of this technique using NASA's CIDC NDVI data set. On the server side, Java programs and the Splus software are combined together to support index building, searching and convex hull generation. On the client side, SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is merged to Java to produce a clear and user-friendly interface. After a user submits a value-range query from the client side, the server searches the data pyramid first and then the actual data. Important stepwise results, such as the derived lower resolution area, the actual data points, and the generated convex hulls, are sent to and displayed at the client side.
High Temperature Superconducting Films On Silicon

Work on high temperature superconductor films on silicon is reviewed. High temperature superconductor thin films of YBa2Cu3O7-x, (YBCO) have been made on single crystal SrTiO3 with zero resistance transition temperatures(Tc) of 90 K and critical current densities (Jc) up to 5 x 106 A cm-2 at 77 K. Both thick and thin films of YBCO have been made on silicon or on silicon with a buffer layer with Tc up to 85-90 K. Polycrystalline superconducting films with unoriented grains exhibit weak link behavior and have low values of Jc (a few hun-dred A cm-2 at 77 K), whereas the considerably higher value of 6 x 104 A cm-2 at 77 K has been achieved for YBCO deposited on a double epitaxial buffer layer on silicon.
Investigation of Optically Initiated Avalanche Silicon Carbide High Power Switches

The non-linear, optically initiated closure of semi- insulating Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) high voltage switches results in filamentary conduction. The conduction current magnitude and the conduction current pulse length are limited by the damage of the switch electrodes and bulk GaAs material. Heavily doped regions under the Ohmic contact have been investigated for the purpose of spreading the current filament density over a larger spatial region to reduce contact metallization damage. However, the product of peak current capability and conduction time is limited by the number of filaments initiated. Therefore, an alternate semi-insulating material, specifically Silicon Carbide (SiC), was considered. This paper investigates and compares the parameters of GaAs and SiC that are predominant in optically initiated avalanche switches. SiC has a much large dielectric strength than GaAs, but the electron mobility is much lower. In addition, the SiC does not exhibit the negative differential mobility of GaAs. This paper reports on the results of a modeling exercise that investigates the optically initiated closure of semi-insulating GaAs button switches and semi-insulating, compensated SiC button switches. A commercially available semiconductor physics modeling code from Silvacotrade was used to model the optically initiated closure phenomena and filamentary conduction in GaAs. The GaAs code was calibrated to the peak currents observed in experiments. Similar switch models were developed for semi-insulating SiC switches. The behavior of SiC predicted by the codes in optically initiated avalanche mode is presented. The possibility of "lock on" in SiC is also addressed.
A Comparison of 2‐Hydroxyestradiol and U‐0521 (3′4′‐Dihydroxy‐2‐methylpropiophenone, Upjohn) as In Situ and In Vitro Inhibitors of Tyro sine Hydroxylase

Feedback inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase by catechols was evaluated using in situ and in vitro enzyme assays. The three catechol compounds used were norepinephrine, 2-hydroxyestradiol, and 3'4'-dihydroxy-2-methylpropiophenone (U-0521, Upjohn); representing endogenous catecholamines, catechol estrogens, and a synthetic catechol, respectively. The in situ experiments were performed with dissociated retinal cells from rats and with stationary phase adrenergic-like neuroblastoma cells (N1E-115). The catechol estrogen, 2-hydroxyestradiol, resembled the endogenous catecholamine in its potency to inhibit in vitro and in situ tyrosine hydroxylations with IC50 values of 10 microM in vitro and 100 microM in situ. The drug U-0521, which has been used as an inhibitor of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), was also found to be an inhibitor of tyrosine hydroxylase. Further, it was shown to be more potent than the natural catechols, both in vitro and in situ, with IC50 values of 30--600 nM.
Gamma knife surgery for glioblastoma multiforme

Despite the implementation of increasingly aggressive surgery, chemotherapy, and fractionated radiotherapy for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), most therapeutic regimens have resulted in only modest improvements in patient survival. Gamma knife surgery (GKS) has become an indispensable tool in the primary and adjuvant management of many intracranial pathologies, including meningiomas, pituitary tumors, and arteriovenous malformations. Although it would seem that radiosurgical techniques, which produce steep radiation dose fall-off around the target, would not be well suited to treat these infiltrative lesions, a limited number of institutional series suggest that GKS might provide a survival benefit when used as part of the comprehensive management of GBM. This may largely be attributed to the observation that tumors typically recur within a 2-cm margin of the tumor resection cavity. Despite these encouraging results, enthusiasm for radiosurgery as a primary treatment for GBM is significantly tempered by the failure of the only randomized trial that has been conducted to yield any benefit for patients with GBM who were treated with radiosurgery. In this paper, the authors review the pathophysiological mechanisms of GKS and its applications for GBM management.
Simple supervised document geolocation with geodesic grids

We investigate automatic geolocation (i.e. identification of the location, expressed as latitude/longitude coordinates) of documents. Geolocation can be an effective means of summarizing large document collections and it is an important component of geographic information retrieval. We describe several simple supervised methods for document geolocation using only the document's raw text as evidence. All of our methods predict locations in the context of geodesic grids of varying degrees of resolution. We evaluate the methods on geotagged Wikipedia articles and Twitter feeds. For Wikipedia, our best method obtains a median prediction error of just 11.8 kilometers. Twitter geolocation is more challenging: we obtain a median error of 479 km, an improvement on previous results for the dataset.
Post-traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the common hepatic artery with duodenal fistula.

Background Post-traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the hepatic artery is rare, especially after blunt abdominal trauma; an even more rare occurrence is enteric fistulisation. Case outline A 29-year-old man was admitted with an acute episode of upper gastrointestinal bleeding three months after blunt abdominal trauma and was found to have an hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm with duodenal fistula. Surgical treatment was by ligature of the artery and duodenal closure with omental patch. Discussion There is one previous case report of hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm as a delayed complication of blunt abdominal trauma. The presence of a haematoma in the hepatoduodenal ligament after blunt trauma should raise the suspicion of hepatic artery injury, and surgical exploration may prevent the subsequent development of pseudoaneurysm. CT scan has become an important instrument both in diagnosis and in surgical planning.
The New Age of Molecular Taxonomy Approaches

Extensive efforts through the Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network document an abundance of data that are now mined by scientists and physicians. Genomic, epigenetic, and expression data have begun to result in a reclassification of the way we approach cancers. In a new analysis of these data across several cancer types, cancer consists of multiple subtypes that are shared across cancers arising from different tissues [1]. Bladder cancers, for example, split into three integrated subtypes, with one being similar to squamous cell cancers of the head and neck and another analogous to lung adenocarcinomas. Molecular signatures provide a distinct taxonomy relative to the currently used tissue of origin–based classifications. These new classifications change the way we think about cancer and provide new information for predicting clinical outcomes and novel treatment approaches for patients. A similar molecular taxonomy for primary prostate cancer (PCa) is forthcoming. Despitemodifications in 2005 and 2014, the Gleason PCa grading system is still considered deficient [2]. The prognostic grade groupings (PGGs), a new schema developed to improve PCa grade stratification, was first proposed by Epstein and colleagues in 2013 [3]. The PGG uses a fivetiered PCa grading system ranging from 1 to 5, formerly defined as Gleason grades 8, respectively. This system strives to have higher prognostic discrimination and is based on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) failure rates in large modern cohorts of treated patients [1]. The International Society of Urological Pathology has recommended use of these guidelines for the 2016 World Health Organization reporting guidelines. Advocates of the PGG suggest that this approach may help
Trends in Use of Radiation Therapy for Hodgkin Lymphoma From 2000 to 2012 on the Basis of the National Cancer Data Base

Abstract Background Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) has come a long way from being a disease with high mortality to being highly curable, which thereby exposes survivors to the potential for long-term toxicities. Our aim was to analyze the National Cancer Data Base for trends in radiation therapy use among all stages of HL from 2000 to 2012 and to see if increased recognition of these risks has decreased the use of radiation therapy. Patients and Methods This was a retrospective study of patients diagnosed with HL (stage I-IV) between the years 2000 and 2012 using the National Cancer Data Base (n = 24,118). The National Cancer Data Base is a nationwide oncology outcomes database for more than 1500 American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer accredited cancer programs. The study focused on the proportion of patients who received radiation therapy. Results Between the years 2000 and 2012, use of radiation therapy declined among all stages of HL (stage I: 53% to 40%, P = .0002; stage II: 52% to 36%, P P P = .0002). Conclusion There has been a significant decline in the use of radiation therapy from 2000 to 2012 among all stages of HL, perhaps because of the studies that showed an increase in late complications with use of radiation therapy.
Secondary Rhinoplasty:Surgical Techniques

Can secondary rhinoplasty be taught? Three inescapable facts say no: (1) the highly variable normal nasal anatomy is often destroyed by the earlier surgery and distorted by scar contracture, (2) operative plans must be changed radically when intraoperative findings dif-fer markedly from preoperative expectations, and (3) the diversity of cases makes learning surgical cause and effect difficult. Ultimately, secondary rhinoplasty must be based on the fundamental principles of primary rhinoplasty. One simply cannot provide a formula for dealing with the complexities of secondary rhinoplasty. Just as there is a progression from medical school through residency to fellowship, most surgeons should progress from primary rhinoplasty through their own revisions to secondary rhinoplasty over a 3–5-year period. Note: a secondary rhinoplasty is defined as a case where the primary rhinoplasty was per-formed by another surgeon; a revision is when you reoperate on your own primary case.
Quaternary Tropical Plant Extinction: A Paleoecological Perspective from the Neotropics

We have found no examples of global plant extinctions from the tropics within the Quaternary. Examples of extinctions over longer periods of time are readily documented within the fossil record, with the loss of whole families evident between Eocene and modern times (Morley, 2000, 2007). Herein lies a clue to the problem of detecting extinction of tropical plants—the taxonomic resolution of the fossil record.
Abstract 475: The Transcription Factor ETS-1: A Critical Mediator of Renal Injury in Salt Sensitive Hypertension

The transcription factor ETS-1 regulates the expression of several growth factors, chemokines and cytokines. We have recently shown that ETS-1 is a mediator of the pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic effects of Angiotensin II in the kidney (HTN ’12). Herein, we tested the hypothesis that the renal expression of ETS-1 is increased in the Dahl salt-sensitive (DS) rat, a paradigm of salt-sensitive hypertension in humans, and that ETS-1 mediates renal injury in this model of hypertension. DS rats (n=6 per group) were fed a normal salt diet (0.5% NaCl, NS) or a high salt diet (4% NaCl, HS) for 4 weeks. Four additional groups (n=6 per group) on HS diet received: ETS-1 dominant negative peptide (HS/DN, 10mg/kg/day) to block ETS-1, a control ETS-1 mutant peptide (HS/MU, 10mg /kg/day), the AT1 receptor blocker Candesartan (HS/ARB 10 mg/kg/day) or a combination of DN and ARB (HS/DN/ARB). HS rats had a ~ 3 fold increase in the cortical expression of ETS-1 as assessed by western blot (WB). Treatment with DN, MU, ARB or DN/ARB resulted in small and non-significant reductions in BP as compared to HS. (Table). Compared with LS, HS rats had increased proteinuria (Bio-Rad), higher glomerular injury score (GIS), increased fibronectin expression (WB) and urinary TGF-β (ELISA) that were improved by DN but not by MU (table). ARB reduced proteinuria and GIS (table). Treatment with DN/ARB resulted in further improvements in renal injury as compared to DN and ARB (table). In conclusion we have demonstrated that hypertensive DS rats have increased cortical expression of ETS-1 and that blockade of ETS-1 improves renal injury in this model of hypertension.
CAMEROON AND ITS FOREIGN RELATIONS

THE FOREIGN policy making processes in Cameroon is a highly personalized thing and has been dominated by the style and personality of President Ahmadou Ahidjo. To appreciate the extent to which all other traditional foreign policy making structures (such as the cabinet, legislature, and so on) have been subordinated to the will of one man, one must examine the nature of presidential power in Cameroon. An unusually perceptive student of Cameroon politics, Professor Le Vine, has observed that Cameroon's presidency is a hybrid which 'combines the attributes of a British-style Governor-General, a Fifth Republic President and an American Chief executive. This new type of presidency,' Le Vine goes on, 'does not appear to have parallels in present or past constitutional practice.'3 This assessment is shared by the Cameroonian legal scholar, Owona, who states without equivocation that in Cameroon 'Le Chef de l'Etat demeure le chef incontestable du gouvernement'4 as well as the leader of the ruling and only party, the Cameroon National Union. The Cameroon constitution establishes the paramountcy of the president in the executive field,5 conferring upon him wide and commanding powers among which is the right to negotiate and ratify agreements and treaties (Art. 9.4). Although the constitution provides that certain kinds of treaties shall be submitted before ratification for approval by the National Assembly (Art. 9.4) or through a national referendum (Art. 30.2b), this provision is effectively neutralized by Art. 21 which empowers the President to legislate by way of ordinance. The constitution imposes no obligation on the President to accept or act on the advice of his cabinet or parliament. He in fact enjoys with the latter
Transscleral Photocoagulation to Treat ROP in Eyes with Media Opacity.

It has been well established that laser treatment for type 1 prethreshold retinopathy of prematurity is effective in approximately 90 percent of treated eyes, avoiding retinal detachment.1 Transpupillary laser therapy is certainly the standard; however, there are circumstances in which transpupillary treatment may be difficult or impossible to perform thus allowing progression of retinopathy of prematurity. Many years ago in the circumstance of media opacity, cryotherapy was used. Cryotherapy was shown to be effective in the CRYO-ROP study many years ago.2 However it led to effusive retinal detachment, which was rather a common problem following cryotherapy. The introduction of transscleral diode laser retinal photocoagulation allows treatment of the peripheral retina in the face of media opacity. Since transscleral diode laser treatment ablates the ciliary body, it must be applied very cautiously, especially in the face of media opacity, to avoid excessive ciliary destruction and hypotony. The use of transpupillary illumination to identify the position of the ciliary body can allow safer delivery of treatment to the peripheral retina. Transscleral retinal photocoagulation can allow time for resolution of vitreous hemorrhage followed by additional transpupillary laser application if needed. Certainly, transpupillary retinal photocoagulation with the indirect laser is the standard of care worldwide, but there are rare circumstances in which transscleral diode laser can be very helpful. As pointed out by Dr. Parvaresh et al, posterior disease is more effectively treated with transpupillary diode laser retinal photocoagulation.3 I do not think that transscleral diode laser retinal photocoagulation will in any way replace transpupillary treatment. However, it is important to realize that such a modality does exist and does not seem to cause effusive retinal detachments often seen following cryotherapy. I think the authors are to be congratulated for pursuing this type of therapeutic intervention which in some circumstances will lead to a good outcome, avoiding vitreous surgery for media opacity.
A rare case of diffuse pulmonary ossification

A case demonstrating the indolent and benign course of pulmonary ossification http://ow.ly/Old3o
Injuries and deaths among elderly persons

Injury related to a death may be recorded on the death certificate as the underlying cause of death or as a condition associated with death but not causing it. The present study uses the National Center for Health Statistics Multiple Cause of Death data for 1978 to determine the percentage of injury-related deaths for which injury was identified as the underlying cause of death and the variation of this percentage with age at death. Injury was identified as the underlying cause of death in 86% of all cases with injury recorded on the death certificate. The percentage with injury identified as the underlying cause varied with age: 93% for those in the first year of life, 97% for those aged 1-44 years, 87% for those aged 55-64, and 50% for those aged 75 or older. The percentage with injury identified as the underlying cause also varied by cause of injury. In all age groups, assault, suicide, and motor vehicle accidents were identified as the underlying cause of death in more than 90% of the cases in which they were mentioned. Causes other than motor vehicle accidents, assaults, and suicides, especially when occurring in the elderly, were less likely to be identified as the underlying cause of death. Cause of death tabulations based only on the underlying cause of death selectively underestimate the role of injury in the deaths of the elderly. Language: en
Disclosure of Sexual Orientation and Uptake of HIV Testing and Hepatitis Vaccination for Rural Men Who Have Sex With Men

PURPOSE The decision and ability of primary care clinician to make recommendations for routine human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing and hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccines are shaped by knowledge of their patient’s risk behaviors. For men who have sex with men, such knowledge requires disclosure of same-sex sexual behavior or sexual identity. METHODS Data were analyzed from a national survey of rural men who have sex with men (N = 319) to understand whether the disclosure of sexual identity to clinicians was associated with increased uptake of HIV testing and hepatitis vaccinations. RESULTS We found that disclosure of sexual identity to clinicians was significantly associated (OR = 1.26; 95% CI, 1.08–1.47) with uptake of routine HIV testing and HAV/HBV vaccination. CONCLUSION Our finding reinforces the need for safe, nonjudgmental settings for patients to discuss their sexual identities freely with their clinicians.
Platelet-rich plasma: the next big thing?: commentary on an article by Ujash Sheth, BHSc, et al.: "Efficacy of autologous platelet-rich plasma use for orthopaedic indications: a meta-analysis".

Autologous blood concentrates, one of which is platelet-rich plasma, have been becoming more popular as a result of the increasing attention that these products have received in the mainstream media following their use by high-profile athletes. Platelet-rich plasma has been utilized for a number of musculoskeletal conditions despite a relative lack of rigorous supportive data. Thus, there is a growing debate regarding the clinical efficacy of this treatment regimen. Several uncontrolled studies have shown beneficial effects for a variety of indications. However, the results of controlled trials comparing platelet-rich plasma with standard therapies have not been as definitive. Despite this relative lack of robust evidence, the market for platelet-rich plasma is expected to be worth $126 million by 20161. It is against this backdrop that Sheth et al. provided a timely meta-analysis and systematic review of twenty-three randomized controlled trials and ten prospective cohort studies to assess the clinical results of autologous blood concentrates compared with those of control therapy, such as a placebo, corticosteroid injection, or …
The Female Reproductive Cycle of the Florida Softshell Turtle (Apalone ferox)

This study of the female reproductive cycle of Apalone ferox in south Florida was based on 220 reproductive tracts salvaged from females butchered for meat. Some females mature at sizes as small as 24 cm plastron length (PL; ca. 31 cm carapace length), but some may not mature until 30 cm PL. When compared to data from other parts of the species range, body size and size at maturity show no evidence of geographic variation. Follicles first reach ovulatory size in late February, and females first bear oviducal eggs in early March. Nesting season apparently lasts from late March to early August, during which each female may produce as many as five or six clutches of 9-38 eggs (mean = 20.6). This annual fecundity is higher than any other North American freshwater turtle species. However, 9% of mature females (i.e, >30 cm PL) had inactive ovaries (i.e, maximum follicle diameters <6 mm and no corpora lutea) during the reproductive season, suggesting that some females may not reproduce every year. Clutch size increases with female body size, but egg size does not (mean, 28.2 mm x 27.5 mm, 12.3 g). The lack of egg size variability across body size, clutch size, season, and geography suggests selection for optimal egg size. Clutch mass averages 4.1% (3.0-5.2%) of spent body mass and does not vary seasonally. Apalone ferox reaches a larger size, has larger eggs, and produces as many as twice the number of clutches per year as its North American congeners; however, it is quite similar reproductively to several Old World trionychid species, including its closest outgroups.
Persistence of Endosulfan, Endrin, Lindane, and Malathion on Cacao Seedlings When Formulated with Plyac and Estab

Two liquid plastic adjuvants were tested at 2 concentrations as residual extenders with 4 insecticides on the stems of young cacao, Theobroma cacao L., seedlings. Both 10% and 100% concentrations of Plyac® generally increased the residual effectiveness of the toxicants through 56 days. An initial masking effect was apparent with Estab® but 100% concentrations combined with 1% toxicants permitted measurable insect kill at 224 days with washed stem samples.
Detection of Cadmium using Conjugated Polymer Modified Electrodes

The detection of heavy metals in subsurface strata currently requires tedious sampling procedures followed by laboratory analysis using techniques such as atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) or inductively couple plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). These techniques are extremely accurate and capable of detecting very low concentrations of metal ions. The main drawback of these techniques is that they are time consuming, expensive to perform and not portable. A portable sensor capable of detecting metals ion in solution is highly desirable. Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV) can be utilized as a reliable method for the trace detection of metal ions in water. In order to improve the sensitivity of the electrochemical sensor, conjugated polymer films can be coated on the surface of the glassy carbon working electrodes. Stable films of poly (3,4 ethylenedioxythiophene) [PEDOT] and polythiophene copolymer [PTCPTA] were electrochemically synthesized on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode. These polymer modified electrodes were utilized for the detection of cadmium in water. The sensors are capable of detecting trace concentrations of cadmium approaching the maximum contamination limits imposed by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA).
Passive Icemology: Fracture And Model Characterization Using Microseismicity

Microseismicity has seen a tremendous increase in popularity in exploration geophysics in the past few years, building on classical passive seismology techniques to infer reservoir parameters. Here we present a microseismic analysis on an alpine glacier. This outdoor laboratory provides the opportunity to asses the possibilities and limitations of microseismicity as a tool to provide time-lapse information on local stress states and (scattering) attenuation, as well as fracture location, orientation, and growth.
How I treat sebaceous cysts.

Sebaceous cysts, slow-growing subcutaneous tumors filled with cheesy amorphous material, are more accurately described as “pilar” or “epidermal” cysts. Large cysts can be treated by surgical excision. Small cysts are simply incised and the contents gently expressed.
Robust Data-Driven State Estimation for Smart Grid

A grand challenge for state estimation in newly built smart grid lies in how to deal with the increasing uncertainties. To solve the problem, we propose a data-driven state estimation approach based on recent targeted investment on sensors, data storage, and computing devices. An architecture is proposed to use power system physics and pattern to systematically clean historical data and conduct supervised learning, where historical similar measurements and their states are used to learn the relationship between the current measurement and the state. In order to deal with nonlinearity, kernel trick is used to produce linear mapping in a carefully selected higher dimensional space. To speed up the data-driven approach for online services, we analyze power system data set and discover its clustering property due to the periodic pattern of power systems. This leads to significant dimension reduction and the idea of preorganizing data points in a tree structure for inquiry, leading to 1000 times speedup. Numerical results show that the proposed data-driven approach works well in a smart grid setting with increasing uncertainties and it produces an online state estimate excelling current industrial approach.
Religious Exceptionalism and Human Rights

When we think of human rights and religion, we generally think of complimentary — or even subsumed — ideas. Human rights include all of those human capacities and freedoms that are essential to human existence. This includes freedom of religion. And although there are disputes in the twenty-first century world legal order about some human-rights claims, freedom of religion is not one of them. It is universally recognized, at least as an abstract idea, as a fundamental human right.However, this happy identity of religion and human rights is a superficial one. This is because freedom of religion, asserted as a human right by one person, might involve — as its consequence or even its object — the denial of the human rights of others. When this occurs, the simple identity of religion and human rights breaks down; instead the two become severe antagonists.In this essay, I will explore the issues involved in the antagonism between religion and human rights. In particular, I will examine these issues in the context of a current and heated controversy: whether freedom of religion, as a human right, entitles an individual or group to discriminate against gay, lesbian, or transgender individuals or couples for religious reasons. For example, a municipal clerk might refuse to issue a same-sex marriage license or to register a same-sex civil partnership; an employee of a government contractor (hired to provide counseling services to government employees) might refuse to provide same sex relationship counseling; or a physician might refuse to provide infertility treatment to a lesbian woman, all on asserted religious grounds.
Variation of Detectable Rate of Pesticide Residue in Exported Vegetables from Eastern China

Detectable rates of pesticide residue parameters in 1 362 vegetable samples from Eastern China were studied.The results showed that the detectable rates of pesticide residue in vegetable varied with type of vegetable,pesticide and culturing time.As far as pesticide variety was concerned,the detected rate in samples most belonged to insecticides,especially in organophosphorus insecticides with high toxicity.The detected rate in samples was high in Legumes,Brassica and leaf vegetables.The highest detected rate was found in June and November in the year.The advice for reducing the pesticide residue in the exported vegetables was also presented.
Memories and Temporalities of Revolution: Shalini Puri's The Grenada Revolution in the Caribbean Present and David Scott's Omens of Adversity

Review of Shalini Puri, The Grenada Revolution in the Caribbean Present: Operation Urgent Memory and David Scott, Omens of Adversity: Tragedy, Time, Memory, Justice.
Turner, A., and M. Anton. 2004. Evolving Eden: an Illustrated Guide to the Evolution of the African Large-mammal Fauna. Columbia University Press, New York, 269 Pp. ISBN 0-231-11944-5, Price (hardbound) $39.50.

A. Turner, M. Anton. 2004. Evolving Eden: an Illustrated Guide to the Evolution of the African Largemammal Fauna. Columbia University Press, New York, 269 Pp. ISBN 0-231-11944-5, Price (hardbound) $39.50. Africa is rightly celebrated as harboring the world's last surviving megafauna, and today supports more orders of mammals than any other continent. However, until now, the forerunners of this fauna have lurked outside the ken of nonspecialists. Works comparable to Flannery (2001) for North America or Simpson (1980) for South America have been lacking for Africa's Tertiary mammal fauna; instead, interested biologists needed to tackle the technical literature (e.g., Vrba and Schaller 2000). Happily, that void has now been expertly filled. Evolving Eden is a collaboration between a paleontologist (Turner) and an artist (Anton). Turner worked for years at the Transvaal Museum in Pretoria, South Africa, contributing much to understanding of carnivore (especially felid) and hominid evolution. Anton is affiliated with the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales in Madrid, and has presented reconstructions of extinct mammals to numerous films, documentaries and books. The present volume is their 2nd together, succeeding The Big Cats and Their Fossil Relatives: An Illustrated Guide to Their Evolution and Natural History (1997). As in the earlier volume, they sought to develop an accurate visual account of extinct species and the landscapes and communities in which they lived. As noted by Elizabeth Vrba in the Foreword, this is an ambitious book written for both professional and lay audiences. It seeks to relate Africa's past …
Effects of Peanut Stand Uniformity and Herbicide Regime on Weed Management and Yield

ABSTRACT Crop stand directly affects ability of any crop to compete with weeds. To capture this form of cultural weed control, final crop stands need to be uniform. Peanut stands are frequently non-uniform, despite the use of precision vacuum planters. Trials were conducted from 2009 through 2011 in Tifton, GA to determine the effect of non-uniform peanut stands on weed control, grade, and marketable peanut yield. Non-uniform peanut stands were established by modifying vacuum planter discs that created skips 18 cm wide and 36 cm wide at regular intervals and compared with peanut at a uniform stand. The weed control regimes chosen reflected differing degrees of residual weed control provided by flumioxazin or imazapic and addressed the need for residual weed control when peanut stands are non-uniform. Postemergence (POST) herbicides bentazon, paraquat, and 2,4-DB were chosen to test the theory that properly timed applications of non-residual herbicides will control weeds in skips without the need for preem...