cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bi-transgenic Mice Reveal that K-rasVal12 Augments a p53-independent Apoptosis When Small Intestinal Villus Enterocytes Reenter the Cell Cycle

Studies in cell culture systems have indicated that oncogenic forms of Ras can affect apoptosis. Activating mutations of Ras occur in ∼30% of all human tumors and 50% of colorectal carcinomas. Since these mutations appear at early or intermediate stages in multistep journeys to neoplasia, an effect on apoptosis may help determine whether initiated cells progress towards a more neoplastic state. We have tested the effects of K-ras Val12 on apoptosis in transgenic mice. A lineage-specific promoter was used to direct expression of human K-ras Val12 , with or without wild-type (wt) or mutant SV-40 T antigens (TAg), in postmitotic villus enterocytes, the principal cell type of the small intestinal epithelium. Enterocytes can be induced to reenter the cell cycle by TAg Wt . Reentry is dependent upon the ability of TAg to bind pRB and is associated with a p53-independent apoptosis. Analyses of K-ras Val12 × TAg Wt bi-transgenic animals indicated that K-ras Val12 can enhance this apoptosis threefold but only in cycling cells; increased apoptosis does not occur when K-ras Val12 is expressed alone or with a TAg containing Glu 107,108 → Lys 107,108 substitutions that block its ability to bind pRB. Analysis of bi-transgenic K-ras Val12 × TAg Wt mice homozygous for wild-type or null p53 alleles established that the enhancement of apoptosis occurs through a p53-independent mechanism, is not attributable to augmented proliferation or to an increase in abortive cell cycle reentry (compared to TAg Wt mice), and is not associated with detectable changes in the crypt–villus patterns of expression of apoptotic regulators (Bcl-2, Bcl-x L , Bak, and Bax) or mediators of epithelial cell–matrix interactions and survival (e.g., α 5 β 1 integrin and its ligand, fibronectin). Coexpression of K-ras Val12 and TAg Wt produces dysplasia. The K-ras Val12 -augmented apoptosis is unrelated to this dysplasia; enhanced apoptosis is also observed in cycling nondysplastic enterocytes that produce K-ras Val12 and a TAg with a COOH-terminal truncation. The dysplastic epithelium of K-ras Val12 × TAg Wt mice does not develop neoplasms. Our results are consistent with this finding: ( a ) When expressed in initiated enterocytes with a proliferative abnormality, K-ras Val12 facilitates progression to a dysplastic phenotype; ( b ) by diminishing cell survival on the villus, the oncoprotein may impede further progression; and ( c ) additional mutations may be needed to suppress this proapoptotic response to K-ras Val12 .
Zig-zag representations and inverse semigroups

Abstract In this paper, we introduce a type of representation, by partial one-to-one transformations, for semigroups which can be embedded in groups; we call these representations zig-zag representations. The inverse hulls of zig-zag representations are characterized, and the representations and their inverse hulls are used to describe proper bisimple inverse semigroups, free inverse semigroups, and inverse semigroups freely separated over naturally quasisemilatticed semigroups. In a sequel to this paper, they will be used to characterize the free inverse semigroup on two commuting generators.
The Hispanic Americans Baseline Alcohol Survey (HABLAS): Rates and predictors of DUI across Hispanic national groups

This paper examines rates of self-reported driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol and 12-month and lifetime DUI arrest rates among Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans and South/Central Americans in the U.S. population. Using a multistage cluster sample design, a total of 5224 individuals 18 years of age and older were selected from the household population in five metropolitan areas of the U.S.: Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Houston and Los Angeles. The survey weighted response rate was 76%. Among men, 21% of Mexican Americans, 19.9% of South/Central Americans, 11.6% of Puerto Ricans and 6.9% of Cuban Americans reported DUI. Rates were lower among women, ranging from 9.7% for Mexican Americans to 1.3% for Cuban Americans. Mexican American men had the highest 12-month arrest rate (1.6%) and the highest lifetime arrest rate (11.2%). Drinkers who reported DUI were heavier drinkers than those not reporting DUI according to a variety of indicators. However, most DUI incidents involved non-alcohol-dependent drivers. Mexican Americans and South Central/Americans, men, younger drivers, those with less than high school education, those with higher income and higher alcohol consumption were more likely to report DUI and DUI arrests. These findings show that Hispanic national groups in the U.S. are diverse regarding drinking and DUI-related experiences.
Anatomic and Clinical Factors Associated with Complications of Transfemoral Arteriography

Complications of transfemoral arteriography requiring surgery are rare but carry significant morbidity. To evaluate clinical factors that might relate to such complications, we retrospectively reviewed our experience from January 1, 1985, to December 31, 1988 (four years). Forty-seven complications requiring surgery occurred among 10,589 cases. The risk was higher after cardiac catheterization than after peripheral arteriography (0.55% versus 0.17%, p<0.025). In nearly 40% of these cases, arterial puncture was not in the common femoral artery. Acute bleeding complications were more likely among patients with puncture outside the common femoral artery (p<0.001). Older patients and women were at slightly higher risk for complications requiring surgery, but this difference was not statistically significant. The frequency of bleeding complications was not significantly higher among patients who were anticoagulated following the procedure. The distribution of puncture sites was identical in obese and nonobese patients. Three patients died (two from myocardial infarction, one from multisystem organ failure). Two limbs did not improve; one required major amputation. Four limbs had persistent paresthesia and two had persistent weakness. We conclude that complications of transfemoral arteriography requiring surgery occur more frequently among patients who are undergoing cardiac catheterization and who suffer aberrant punctures. Age, sex, body habitus, and anticoagulation have less impact on patient risk.
Artificial formula induces precocious maturation of the small intestine of artificially reared suckling rats.

Background The artificially reared rat model was used successfully to study the effect of nutrition during the early postnatal period on growth and development of the neonate. Overgrowth and morphologic changes of the gastrointestinal tract are known consequences of artificial rearing. The major goal of our study was to elucidate whether artificial rearing–enhanced gut development is caused by artificial diet or by gastrostomy and the artificial rearing technique itself. Methods Suckling rats at day 8 of age underwent intragastric cannulation and were machine fed either a cow's milk–based artificial rat's milk substitute or pooled rat's milk for 4 days. Dam-fed littermates served as a control. Results Body growth did not differ in the three experimental groups. In rats receiving rat's milk substitute, small intestinal wet weight was approximately 60% greater than in rats fed rat's milk or control rats. Additionally, the entire small intestine was approximately 20% longer in the rat's milk substitute group. Morphologically, rat's milk substitute–fed pups demonstrated significantly greater intestinal villus length and crypt depth compared with rat's milk–fed or control rats. Jejunum and midjejunum of the rat's milk and control groups did not differ in these parameters. Intestinal sucrase activity of rat's milk substitute–fed rats was significantly elevated compared with rat's milk–fed rats or control animals. Conclusions These results indicate that cow's milk–based formula, not gastrostomy or artificial feeding technique, is a principal cause of the small intestine overgrowth and precocious maturation of some intestinal functions observed in artificially reared sucklings.
Fulminant epstein‐barr viral hepatitis: Orthotopic liver transplantation and review of the literature

Acute hepatic failure caused by primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection has been reported in the literature in 16 cases, with an overall mortality of 87%. We report a case of fulminant hepatic failure in an immunocompetent young girl caused by primary EBV infection that was treated by orthotopic liver transplantation. After transplantation she has been treated with low-dose immunosuppression, a pooled gammaglobulin preparation containing anti-EBV antibodies, and anti-viral therapy. The patient is presently doing well 2 years after transplantation without evidence of clinical EBV infection, primary immunodeficiency, or lymphoproliferative disease.
Rethinking Rhetoric from an Indian Perspective: Implications in the Nyaya Sutra

As Aristotle began to codify rhetorical practices in Greece, a theoretical and pragmatic text on argument, the Nyaya Sutra, emerged in Ancient India, founding one of six key philosophies of India. Though it describes in detail a procedure of reasoning based on a five-part method of dialogic presentation, the rhetorical emphases of the Nyaya approach have been mostly overlooked. This essay proposes Nyaya's inclusion in the field of rhetorical studies, exploring its methods within their historical context, comparing its approach to the traditional logical syllogism, and relating it to the contemporary perspectives of Stephen Toulmin, Kenneth Burke, and Chaim Perelman.
Sensitivity of time-lapse seismic to reservoir stress path

The change in reservoir pore pressure due to the production of hydrocarbons leads to anisotropic changes in the stress field acting on the reservoir. Reservoir stress path is defined as the ratio of the change in effective horizontal stress to the change in effective vertical stress from the initial reservoir conditions, and strongly influences the depletion-induced compaction behaviour of the reservoir. Seismic velocities in sandstones vary with stress due to the presence of stress-sensitive regions within the rock, such as grain boundaries, microcracks, fractures, etc. Since the response of any microcracks and grain boundaries to a change in stress depends on their orientation relative to the principal stress axes, elastic-wave velocities are sensitive to reservoir stress path. The vertical P- and S-wave velocities, the small-offset P- and SV-wave normal-moveout (NMO) velocities, and the P-wave amplitude-versus-offset (AVO) are sensitive to different combinations of vertical and horizontal stress. The relationships between these quantities and the change in stress can be calibrated using a repeat seismic, sonic log, checkshot or vertical seismic profile (VSP) at the location of a well at which the change in reservoir pressure has been measured. Alternatively, the variation of velocity with azimuth and distance from the borehole, obtained by dipole radial profiling, can be used. Having calibrated these relationships, the theory allows the reservoir stress path to be monitored using time-lapse seismic by combining changes in the vertical P-wave impedance, changes in the P-wave NMO and AVO behaviour, and changes in the S-wave impedance.
The effect of temperature variation on queen oviposition and colony foundation in Myrmica

Abstract Experiments show that high midsummer temperatures are not the cause of the two seasonal peaks of egg accumulation in Myrmica . Temperature alterations in queen-worker colony fragments cause immediate increases or decreases in the number of eggs accumulating, but numerical adjustment occurs after 14 days; egg numbers accumulating then becoming comparable to those before the temperature change. There is a compensatory adjustment of egg size in M. laevinodis . Egg production by solitary queens declines rapidly and is followed by the death of the queen. These results are discussed in relation to caste determination and colony foundation in ants.
Part one: What is the purpose of human resource development? The purpose of human resource development is to improve organizational performance

Human resource development, when practiced in productive organizations, should strive to contribute directly to the organizations' performance goals.
A novel synthesis of dibenzo[b,f] [1,4]thiazepin-11(10H)one 5,5-dioxides

Treatment of thioxanthen-9-one 10,10-dioxides with sodium amide in liquid ammonia provided a novel one-step conversion to dibenzo[b,f][1,4]thiazepin-11(10H)one 5,5-dioxides. Some limitations and a possible mechanism for the reaction are discussed.
An inverse scattering formalism for higher-order differential operators

Abstract An inverse scattering formalism is presented for certain linear ordinary differential operators of arbitrary even order n which generalizes the Gel'fand-Levitan theory for Sturm-Liouville operators. Under suitable hypotheses, it is proved that, for given n ⩾ 2, the coefficients in these operators are uniquely determined by a single spectral matrix. Our proof makes use of a transformation due to M. K. Fage which generalizes the Povzner-Levitan transformation for Sturm-Liouville operators.
Looking at Darwin: portraits and the making of an icon.

ABSTRACT With increased attention on the visual in the history of science, there is renewed interest in the role of portraiture and other forms of personal imagery in constructing scientific reputation and the circulation of scientific ideas. This essay indicates some directions in which researchers could push forward by studying the dissemination of pictures and portraits of Charles Darwin. Selected portraits are discussed, with particular attention paid to their circulation. The mode of production and original intent of these portraits is briefly addressed, but the thrust of the argument is to highlight subsequent shifts in usage. While self‐fashioning is an important part of the story, it is useful also to dwell on the rise and diversification of printed media in conjunction with escalating interest in Darwin as a celebrity figure. Historicizing the variety of opportunities that people have had of “looking” at Darwin adds considerably to our understanding of scientific fame.
Single Versus Multiple Sampler Comparisons

Abstract Experiments comparing spore concentrations obtained by a single versus multiple Rotorod samplers in a 2 m×2 m×2 m grid were conducted within similar ecological areas and environmental conditions. Mean spore concentrations obtained by samplers at the same height above ground level were not significantly different at the p=0.05 level in all tests. However, significant differences in spore concentrations were measured among samplers operating at different heights above ground level when wind velocities were greater than 5 m/sec and no free moisture was on the spore bearing tissue. Samplers operating near a spore source measured significant differences in spore concentrations at various heights above ground but not among samplers at the same height. A single volumetric sampler will adequately measure spore concentrations for powering simulation models, but care must be taken to determine the location of the sampling unit in relationship to spore source and ecological or environmental conditions.
What is the rate of spontaneous testicular descent in infants with cryptorchidism

ABSTRACTPurpose: It has been speculated that late spontaneous testicular descent occurs in more than 70% of newborns with cryptorchidism. Based on this belief, the decision for orchiopexy is often deferred during infancy. We reviewed our 10-year experience of treating infants with cryptorchidism to document the rate of spontaneous testicular descent.Materials and Methods: A total of 1,235 patients with cryptorchidism were referred to our pediatric urology clinic between 1990 and 2000. Of these patients 278 presented before age 12 months. The medical records were reviewed explicitly to document the rate of spontaneous testicular descent.Results: Spontaneous descent occurred in only 6.9% of patients with cryptorchidism reexamined at age 1 year or beyond. All patients with eventual spontaneous descent initially presented by age 6 months. Of those initially presenting beyond age 6 months no patient had spontaneous testicular descent.Conclusions: Contrary to previous belief, spontaneous testicular descent is u...
Enzymatic Oxidation and Reduction of C19-Δ5-3β-Hydroxysteroids by Hepatic Microsomes. V. Testosterone as a Neonatal Determinant in Rats of the 7- and 16α-Hydroxylation and Reduction of 3β-Hydroxyandrost-5-en-17-one (DHA).*

The oxido-reductive metabolism of [uC]dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) by hepatic microsomes from 40- or 70-day-old rats of either sex castrated neonatally has been compared after several treatment regimens with testosterone propionate (TP). The low transformation rate of DHA to 16-oxygenated metabolites produced by neonatal orchiectomy (0.09 ± 0.04 nmoles min-1 mg-1), was not restored in 70-day-old males by either neonatal or pubertal treatment with TP. The rates were only partially restored (0.74 ± 0.44) toward normal adult levels (1.30 ± 0.16) by the combination of neonatal and pubertal treatments, in increments that maintained normal body weight but produced no visible growth of the male accessory glands. The combination of neonatal and pubertal treatments with larger doses of TP enough to produce normal accessory gland growth, stimulated the enzymatic rates of 16α-, 7α-, or 7β-hydroxylases to levels that exceeded those of intact adult males. In 40-day-old males, the 16-oxygenation rate was restored by th...
Turning "smoking man" images around: portrayals of smoking in men's magazines as a blueprint for smoking cessation campaigns.

Published scholarship documents the prevalence and health risks of smoking among men. There is also a rich tradition of studying the normative influences of the media in constructing and propagating images of healthy/unhealthy behaviors such as smoking. To understand the construction of these media-propagated smoking images toward male audiences, this article studies all advertising and editorial content of 3 major men's magazines for 2001 using rhetorical and content analyses. The emergent themes construct the smoking man as sensual, in another place, independent, and mysterious. The authors recommend turning around these themes of the masculine “smoking man” for the purpose of strategic media planning and developing message-targeting guidelines for smoking cessation and prevention messages directed at men.
F4: large-scale automated forecasting using fractals

Forecasting has attracted a lot of research interest, with very successful methods for periodic time series. Here, we propose a fast, automated method to do non-linear forecasting, for both periodic as well as chaotic time series. We use the technique of delay coordinate embedding, which needs several parameters; our contribution is the automated way of setting these parameters, using the concept of `intrinsic dimensionality'. Our operational system has fast and scalable algorithms for preprocessing and, using R-trees, also has fast methods for forecasting. The result of this work is a black-box which, given a time series as input, finds the best parameter settings, and generates a prediction system. Tests on real and synthetic data show that our system achieves low error, while it can handle arbitrarily large datasets.
Immune Modulation in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Treated with the Pregnancy Hormone Estriol

The protective effect of pregnancy on putative Th1-mediated autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, is associated with a Th1 to Th2 immune shift during pregnancy. The hormone estriol increases during pregnancy and has been shown to ameliorate experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and collagen-induced arthritis. In addition, estrogens induce cytokine changes consistent with a Th1 to Th2 shift when administered in vitro to human immune cells and in vivo to mice. In a pilot trial, oral estriol treatment of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients caused significant decreases in enhancing lesions on brain magnetic resonance imaging. Here, the immunomodulatory effects of oral estriol therapy were assessed. PBMCs collected longitudinally during the trial were stimulated with mitogens, recall Ags, and glatiramer acetate. Cytokine profiles of stimulated PBMCs were determined by intracellular cytokine staining (IL-5, IL-10, IL-12 p40, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma) and cytometric bead array (IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma). Significantly increased levels of IL-5 and IL-10 and decreased TNF-alpha were observed in stimulated PBMC isolated during estriol treatment. These changes in cytokines correlated with reductions of enhancing lesions on magnetic resonance imaging in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. The increase in IL-5 was primarily due to an increase in CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, the increase in IL-10 was primarily due to an increase in CD64(+) monocytes/macrophages with some effect in T cells, while the decrease in TNF-alpha was primarily due to a decrease in CD8(+) T cells. Further study of oral estriol therapy is warranted in Th1-mediated autoimmune diseases with known improvement during pregnancy.
Feasibility and tolerance of pulsed dose rate interstitial brachytherapy.

Abstract Purpose: Pulsed dose rate (PDR) treatment is a new approach that associates the physical advantages of high-dose-rate (HDR) technology with the potential radiobiological advantages of low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy. This retrospective study analyzes the feasibility, toxicity, and preliminary oncologic results in a series of 43 patients treated with PDR interstitial brachytherapy. Methods and Materials: Twenty-four patients with pelvic, 17 patients with head and neck, and 2 patients with breast cancers were treated. Twenty-eight patients had primary and 15 recurrent tumors; 14 had received prior external irradiation to the same site. The doses per pulse at the prescription isodose were 0.4–1 Gy (median 0.5 Gy), delivered using a single cable-driven 0.3–1.0 Ci 192-iridium source (PDR Nucletron Micro-Selectron). Results: The median treated volumes (at the prescribed isodose) were 28 cc for pelvic, 8.33 cc for head and neck, and 40 cc for breast malignancies. Of 14,499 source and 14,499 dummy source transfer procedures, 3 technical machine failure events were observed (0.02%). Grade 3 acute toxicities were seen in 5/43 patients (4 oral stomatitis, 1 vaginal mucositis) and grade 4 acute toxicity in one patient (rectovaginal fistula). Grade 3–4 late complications were observed in 4/41 (9.8%) patients: 1 pubic fracture, 1 rectovaginal fistula, 1 vesicovaginal fistula and 1 local necrosis. With a median follow-up of 18 months, 10/41 patients progressed locoregionally (6 pelvic, 4 head and neck), 3 developed local recurrence and distant metastasis (3 pelvic), 3 only distant metastasis (2 pelvic, 1 head and neck). Two patients are lost to follow-up. Conclusion: PDR interstitial brachytherapy for pelvic, head and neck, and breast malignancies is feasible and the acute and late toxicities seem acceptable. Although the physical advantages of PDR are clear, further follow-up is required to determine how results compare with those obtained with standard LDR brachytherapy.
Discriminative illumination: Per-pixel classification of raw materials based on optimal projections of spectral BRDF

Classifying raw, unpainted materials — metal, plastic, ceramic, fabric, etc. — is an important yet challenging task for computer vision. Previous works measure subsets of surface spectral reflectance as features for classification. However, acquiring the full spectral reflectance is time-consuming and error-prone. In this paper, we propose to use coded illumination to directly measure discriminative features for material classification. Optimal illumination patterns — which we call “discriminative illumination” — are learned from training samples, after projecting to which, the spectral reflectance of different materials are maximally separated. This projection is automatically realized by the integration of incident light for surface reflection. While a single discriminative illumination is capable of linear, two-class classification, we show that multiple discriminative illuminations can be used for nonlinear and multi-class classification. We also show theoretically the proposed method has higher signal-to-noise ratio than previous methods due to light multiplexing. Finally, we construct a LED-based multi-spectral dome and use the discriminative illumination method for classifying a variety of raw materials, including metal (aluminum, alloy, steel, stainless steel, brass and copper), plastic, ceramic, fabric and wood. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Clinical Comparison of 99th Percentile and 10% Coefficient of Variation Cutoff Values for Four Commercially Available Troponin I Assays

Background: Measurement of troponin concentration is important for evaluating patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction or cardiac damage, with results interpreted relative to method-specific cutoff values. This study evaluates changes in sample categorization and patient management based on different test methods. Methods: Plasma specimens were tested for troponin I on 4 different instrument platforms, with chart review. Results were compared with cutoff values corresponding to the 99th percentile reference interval and the concentration having 10% coefficient of variation. Results: Significant correlations were observed among instrument platforms (R 2 ≥0.94). However, 44% of patients were categorized differently by instrument-specific cutoff values. The use of higher sensitivity assays was associated with 47% to 106% increase in number of results exceeding both the 99th percentile and 10% CV cutoffs. Conclusions: Changing instrument platforms can cause reclassifications of patient results. Laboratories adopting new troponin measurement methods should perform clinician education regarding its interpretation and the importance of serial testing.
HiQ: a hierarchical Q-learning algorithm to solve the reader collision problem

HiQ is a hierarchical, online learning algorithm that finds dynamic solutions to the reader collision problem in RFID systems. When the transmissions from one reader interfere with the operation of another reader, a reader collision occurs. The objective of the reader collision problem is to minimize the reader collisions experienced by RFID readers while using the minimum number of frequencies and using the minimum total time for all readers to communicate successfully. HiQ attempts to minimize reader collisions by learning the collision patterns of the readers and by effectively assigning frequencies over time to ensure neighboring readers do not experience collisions from one another. HiQ is arranged hierarchically with distributed, local control. The algorithm is based on a type of reinforcement learning called Q-learning, which is used to determine frequency and time assignments. Through repeated interaction with the system, Q-learning attempts to discover an optimum frequency assignment over time. We show that HiQ finds optimal or near optimal solutions to the reader collision problem.
A formula for a symmetry detective

Detectives are used to determine the symmetry of attractors in finite-dimensional systems. We derive an explicit formula for a symmetry detective for each representation of a finite group.
Characterization of Mouse Pmel 17 Gene and Silver Locus

Pmel 17 cDNA clones, isolated from wild-type and si/si murine melanocytes, were sequenced and compared. A single nucleotide (A) insertion was found in the putative cytoplasmic tail of the si/si Pmel 17 cDNA clone. This insertion is predicted to alter the last 24 amino acids at the C-terminus and to extend the Pmel 17 protein by 12 residues. The mutation was confirmed by the sequence of the PCR-amplified genomic region including the mutation site. Silver Pmel 17 was not recognized by antibodies directed toward the C-terminal amino acids of wild-type Pmel 17, indicating a defect in this region. These results indicate that silver Pmel 17 protein has a major defect at the carboxyl terminus.
Fast mapping on Myrinet networks

This work presents an alternate method for discovering new switches and comparing switches when mapping a Myrinet network. Existing methods for mapping Myrinet networks rely on timeouts and are prone to false negatives due to network deadlock. Our algorithm increases the mapper's speed by providing a fast negative answer without relying on a timeout. In addition, the mapper's reliability is increased because it allows the mapper to detect if network deadlock has occurred. Mapping time on our 1024 port network has been reduced from approximately 7 minutes to 15 seconds.
Precision spectroscopy on stored, highly charged ions using free-electron-laser radiation

The feasibility of a precision measurement of the ground-state hyperfine structure of hydrogenlike sodium is considered, based on the use of a proposed rf-linac extreme-UV free-electron laser. The laser would be used for intensity-pumping population redistribution within the ground-state sublevels of the stored ions, through excitation of the 1s–2p transition near 1 nm. The magnetic dipole transition between the hyperfine-structure sublevels would be detected by changes in the mean number of scattered 1.2-keV photons following the low-frequency transition.
Optical Studies of Hydrogen Above 200 Gigapascals: Evidence for Metallization by Band Overlap

Direct optical observations of solid hydrogen to pressures in the 250-gigapascal range at 77 K are reported. Hydrogen samples appear nearly opaque at the maximum pressures. Measurements of absorption and Raman spectra provide evidence that electronic excitations in the visible region begin at about 200 gigapascals. The optical data are consistent with a band-overlap mechanism of metallization.
LEARNING THROUGH DOING: THE IMPORTANCE OF FIELDWORK IN THE EDUCATION OF THE UNDERGRADUATE

There is little need to defend the centrality of fieldwork in the discipline of anthropology. Anthropological research conducted without “going into the field” (often for at least a year) is highly questionable. However, despite such an emphasis on fieldwork in anthropology, undergraduate students are still trained in the fashion of early “armchair anthropologists.” A true understanding of anthropology does not come from books, films, or lectures, the tools of the trade for most undergraduate anthropologists. It comes from being “in the field” (wherever that may be) and experiencing the joy, loneliness, culture shock, and language barriers that come along with it. Undergraduates should be allowed to experience as much as possible and make as many mistakes as possible. They are ready to accept the challenge of approaching another culture or community face to face and are ready to accept the vast amounts of knowledge that will come from this encounter.
Consortia and Journal Package Renewal: Evolving Trends in the “Big Package Deal”?

Keeping pace with rising electronic journal costs has posed a serious budgetary challenge for most libraries during the current global economic crisis. This study's objective was to compare the specific changes in libraries' consortial deals before and during the economic crisis. A survey was issued to International Coalition of Library Consortia (ICOLC) members asking for comparative analyses of several key contract terms, such as base spend, price cap, cancellation allowance, and length of contract term, with an eye to judging whether consortia of different sizes and budgets were receiving comparable offers from publishers. The results of this study will be helpful to librarians uncertain about committing to a consortial deal during tumultuous financial times.
Diagnosability of hypercubes and enhanced hypercubes under the comparison diagnosis model

A. Sengupta and A. Dahbura (1992) discussed how to characterize a diagnosable system under the comparison diagnosis model proposed by J. Maeng and M. Malek (1981) and a polynomial algorithm was given to identify the faulty processors provided that the system's diagnosability is known. However, for a general system, the determination of its diagnosability is not algorithmically easy. This paper proves that, for the important hypercube structured multiprocessor systems (n-cubes), the diagnosability under the comparison model is n when n/spl ges/5. The paper also studies the diagnosability of enhanced hypercube, which is obtained by adding 2/sup n-1/ more links to a regular hypercube of 2/sup n/ processors. It is shown that the augmented communication ability among processors also increases the system's diagnosability under the comparison model. We prove that the diagnosability is n+1 for an enhanced hypercube when n/spl ges/6.
Neurological picture. Anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis: unusual presentation of an uncommon condition.

A 19-year-old woman with no significant past medical history presented to the hospital after a 1-week illness. Her symptoms began with 2 days of vomiting, diarrhoea and decreased sensation in the fingertips. She subsequently developed emotional labiality and auditory hallucinations characterised by a persistent background humming. On the fifth day of her illness, she developed dysarthria and expressive aphasia. Initial examination approximately 1 week from symptom onset was significant for expressive and receptive aphasia, inattention and disorganisation, and fluctuating mental status consistent with delirium, with no obvious motor deficits. Brain MRI revealed a left medial temporal T2 hyperintensity without enhancement on FLAIR (figure 1A). Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) revealed 129 nucleated cells with a lymphocytic predominance and no red blood cells. Extensive …
Can we improve prediction models for mortality in severe traumatic brain injury

Can we improve prediction models for mortality in severe traumatic brain injury? Aaron Dawes, MD, Greg D Sacks, MD, MPH, H Gill Cryer, MD, PhD, Christy Preston, RN, Deidre Gorospe, RN, J Peter Gruen, MD, Matt Garrett, MD, Melinda A Maggard Gibbons, MD, FACS, Marcia M Russell, MD, FACS, Clifford Y Ko, MD, FACS Los Angeles County Division of Emergency Medical Services and Los Angeles County and University of Southern California Medical Center and University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Frequency-modulation spectroscopy with a multimode laser

We report the demonstration of FM spectroscopy with a multimode cw laser that in most cases preserves the high sensitivity of FM spectroscopy with a single-mode laser without the stringent alignment requirements. Sensitivity to absorptions as small as 10−4 can be inferred from our measurements, and the restrictions on modulation frequencies for small sample times are explored.
Global update on defining and treating high-risk localized prostate cancer with leuprorelin: a USA perspective – identifying men at diagnosis who are at high risk of prostate cancer death after surgery or radiation therapy

Prostate-specific antigen doubling time (PSA-DT) after surgery or radiotherapy (RT) is known to be a predictive factor for death from prostate cancer (prostate cancer-specific mortality, PCSM). An analysis of two multi-institutional databases, including 8669 men with prostate cancer treated with surgery or RT, found that a PSA-DT of or = 3 months, appeared to be surrogate endpoints for PCSM after surgery or RT. While many PSA failures occur after local therapy for localized prostate cancer, few of these patients go on to die from their disease, so it is important to identify other factors associated with PCSM, so that the subgroup of high-risk patients can be identified. An analysis was undertaken to determine whether patients at risk of PCSM could be identified using information available at diagnosis. The results showed that risk factors for PCSM were a PSA velocity of >2.0 ng/mL/year, a Gleason score of 8-10 and an increasing PSA level. However, the most important risk factor that had an impact on both PCSM and all-cause mortality was a PSA velocity of >2.0 ng/mL/year. PSA kinetics are being increasingly used in the setting of rising PSA levels after radical prostatectomy or RT, and several studies showed that the rate of increase in PSA level at the time of recurrence is closely associated with time to cancer death. A PSA-DT of <3 months is associated with a poor prognosis, and represents 15-20% of PSA failures in the general population and 6-7% of PSA failures in a screened population, such as those included in clinical trials. Better risk-assessment models are needed to help to identify at an early stage men who are at high risk of prostate cancer death and those who are at low risk, so that each subgroup can receive the most appropriate therapy for their disease.
Novel multi-channel transmission line coil for high field magnetic resonance imaging

Radiofrequency (RF) coils are the antenna-like devices used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to inductively excite and receive the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal in anatomy. This nuclear magnetic induction is most efficient at the field strength dependent Larmor frequency for a nuclear species. Coils must resonate at Larmor frequencies of 300 MHz or more to take advantage of the signal-to-noise benefits of 7T+ MRI. In high water content tissue dielectrics however, the wavelengths at these frequencies are 12cm and less, significantly shorter than human anatomic dimensions. One consequence of these short wavelengths is a highly non-uniform RF excite field. In this investigation, we aim to mitigate this problem through a novel coil element design. The traditional microstrip line element is modified into a multi-section alternating impedance configuration to homogenize the magnetic field over the coil length. Feasibility of this approach is numerically simulated, and then empirically validated by phantom and human imaging.
Lack of drug dosing guidelines for critically ill patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapy.

Abstract Acute kidney injury requiring continuous renal replacement therapy is common, costly, and associated with mortality rates of up to 60%. Accurate pharmacokinetic data are essential to developing rational individualized dosing strategies and providing optimal care to these patients, yet few such data exist, probably due in part to an absence of regulatory guidance on the issue. The Kidney Health Initiative is working with stakeholders to propose strategies to address this in a standardized manner.
Sex reversal in a freshwater sponge

Spongilla lacustris exhibits a type of alternative hermaphroditism, new to the phylum, in which a sponge may be exclusively male or female during the period of sexual reproduction one year and the opposite sex the next year. This form of sexuality may facilitate larva production and thus dispersal following colonization of a new habitat. Gametogenesis occurs shortly after gemmule hatching in both males and females but slightly later in males.
"Get drunk. Smoke weed. Have fun.": A Content Analysis of Tweets About Marijuana and Alcohol.

Abstract Purpose. To explore the sentiment and themes of Twitter chatter that mentions both alcohol and marijuana. Design. Cross-sectional analysis of tweets mentioning both alcohol and marijuana during 1 month was performed. Setting. The study setting was Twitter. Participants. Tweets sent from February 4 to March 5, 2014, were studied. Method. A random sample (n = 5000) of tweets that mentioned alcohol and marijuana were qualitatively coded as normalizing both substances, preferring one substance over the other, or discouraging both substances. Other common themes were identified. Results. More than half (54%) of the tweets normalized marijuana and alcohol (without preferring one substance over the other), and 24% preferred marijuana over alcohol. Only 2% expressed a preference for alcohol over marijuana, 7% discouraged the use of both substances, and the sentiment was unknown for 13% of the tweets. Common themes among tweets that normalized both substances included using the substances with friends (17...
Understanding decoupling in response to corporate governance reform pressures

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to explain under what circumstances firm-level adoption of codes of good corporate governance will more likely be superficial rather than substantive in nature. The article contains lessons for any agency or country that attempts to implement deep and lasting changes in corporate governance via codes of good corporate governance. Design/methodology/approach – The article reviews the literature on compliance with codes of good corporate governance and develops a conceptual model to explain why some firms that have formally adopted a code of good governance decouple this policy from its actual use. Findings – Decoupling in response to the issuance of codes of good corporate governance will be more attractive to firms and also more sustainable under the following conditions: firms’ compliance costs are relatively high firms’ costs of outright and visible non-compliance are relatively high and outsiders’ compliance monitoring costs are relatively high. Originality/valu...
The Prevalence of Gay Men and Lesbians

This chapter presents new estimates of the prevalence of self-identified gay men and lesbians (and bisexuals) from recent, population-representative datasets in the United States. The data presented in this chapter provide context for a series of chapters in this Handbook covering sociodemographic outcomes of sexual minorities, including residential location, labor market, and family/partnership outcomes. Many prevalence estimates have been reported elsewhere in the literature, but are based on sexual behavior as opposed to sexual orientation identity (e.g., Kinsey et al. 1948, Binson et al. 1995), use older data (e.g., Laumann et al. 1994; Black et al. 2000), and/or focus on just one or two individual datasets (e.g., Dilley et al. 2005; Keyes et al. 2007, and others). My goal in this chapter is to present a series of prevalence estimates in a standardized way across several recent, independently drawn datasets to document consistent patterns. I also examine whether estimates of the prevalence of gay men and lesbians differ systematically by demographic characteristics such as sex, age, race, and education.
Internalized Impressions The Link Between Apparent Facial Trustworthiness and Deceptive Behavior Is Mediated by Targets’ Expectations of How They Will Be Judged

Researchers have debated whether a person's behavior can be predicted from his or her face. In particular, it is unclear whether people's trustworthiness can be predicted from their facial appearance. In the present study, we implemented conceptual and methodological advances in this area of inquiry, taking a new approach to capturing trustworthy behavior and measuring targets' own self-expectations as a mediator between consensual appearance-based judgments and the trustworthiness of targets' behavior. Using this novel paradigm to capture 900 observations of targets' behavior (as trustworthy or untrustworthy), we found that face-based judgments predicted trustworthiness. We also found that this effect was mediated by targets' expectations of how other people would perceive them and by their intentions to act in accordance with those expectations. These results are consistent with an internalized-impressions account: Targets internalize other people's appearance-based expectations and act in accordance with them, which leads facial-appearance-based judgments to be accurate.
Patriarchy in Transition: Women and the Changing Family in the Middle East

The family is perhaps the only societal institution that is conceptualized as “essential” and “natural”, and its importance is emphasized by social conservatives across cultures. In this article I ...
The influence of caffeine on calorics and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs)

Background Prior to undergoing vestibular function testing, it is not uncommon for clinicians to request that patients abstain from caffeine 24 hr prior to the administration of the tests. However, there is little evidence that caffeine affects vestibular function. Purpose To evaluate whether the results from two tests commonly used in a clinical setting to assess vestibular function (i.e., calorics and the cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential [cVEMP]) are affected by caffeine. Research design Subjects were tested with and without consuming a moderate amount of caffeine prior to undergoing calorics and cVEMPs. Study sample Thirty young healthy controls (mean = 23.28 yr; females = 21). Subjects were excluded if they reported any history of vestibular/balance impairment. Data collection and analysis The Variotherm Plus Caloric Irrigator was used to administer the water, while the I-Portal VNG software was used to collect and analyze subjects' eye movements. The TECA Evoked Potential System was used for the cVEMP stimulus presentation as well as for the data collection. During cVEMP collection, subjects were asked to monitor their sternocleidomastoid muscle contraction with a Delsys EMG monitor. IBM SPSS Statistics 20 was used to statistically analyze the results via paired t-tests. Results Analysis of the data revealed that ingestion of caffeine did not significantly influence the results of either test of vestibular function. Conclusions The results revealed that a moderate amount of caffeine does not have a clinically significant effect on the results from caloric and cVEMP tests in young healthy adults. Future research is necessary to determine whether similar results would be obtained from individuals with a vestibular impairment, as well as older adults.
Abstract LB-320: Inhibition of TGFß1 improves the therapeutic efficacy of non-immunologic tumor cell based vaccine

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Background and objectives of the study: Many cancers, including ovarian cancer, over-express transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-s), which helps them evade immune control through a variety of mechanisms. We investigated whether the efficacy of tumor cells to induce an immune response, when used intact or as part of a dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccine can be enhanced by inhibiting their production of TGFs1 via anti-sense. Methodology : The TGFs1 expression by two ovarian cancer cell lines was silenced by transfection with a non-replicating lentivirus shRNA. Autologous PBMC were co-cultivated, in the presense of IL-2, with Mitomycin-C (MMC) treated cancer cells or mature dendritic DC that had been pulsed with tumor lysates. The in vitro sensitized lymphoid cells were evaluated by ELISPOT for production of IFN-γ and by flow cytometry. Preliminary data : Quanitative ELISA showed that TGFs1 production in the two ovarian cancer lines was signficantly inhibited by transfection with shRNA. In vitro sensitization of autologous PBMC with either tumor cells where the TGFs1 gene had been silenced or with DC that had been pulsed with homogenates of tumor cells with a silencd TGFs1 gene induced a stronger IFNγ release and increased the frequency of NK cells and DC while it decreased the population of Treg cells. We are presently investigating the anti-tumor response in a mouse melanoma model after vaccination with murine bone-marrow derived DC which have benn pulsed with TGFs silenced tumor lysates. Conclusions: The production, by many tumors, of TGFs1 interferes with their ability to induce an anti-tumor response. This is true both when intact tumor cells and DC pulsed with tumor homogenate are used as immunogen. Note: This abstract was not presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010 because the presenter was unable to attend. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-320.