cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Race and Ethnic Relations in Mexico

Recent research is beginning to reexamine the conventional wisdom in Mexico that a "mestizocracia" reflects the nation's racial and cultural heritage, and not the separation that exists between urban "European-appearing" elites and Indians or darker mestizos from a low income background. Challenging the common belief that race problems and racism were solved over a hundred years ago in the aftermath of the colonial era, this paper explores some of the key issues in the debate and shows that there are still many entrenched racist attitudes and practices that persist from that time period, affecting both Mexicans in Mexico and the United States. The creation and promotion of a mestizo ideology by government officials is offset by the recent surge of racial pride and ethnic nationalism among Indians, particularly in light of the Zapatista movement. National "identity" politics include psychological elements and intra-group racism denoting the striving for a positive self-image.
Gender Differences in Physician Service Provision Using Medicare Claims Data

Abstract Objective To determine differences in the provision of Medicare services based on physician gender in the United States. Patients and Methods Participants included all 2013 Medicare fee-for-service physicians and their patients, a population that is predominantly older than 65 years. The 2013 Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data for services rendered between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2013, were combined with the 2015 Physician Compare National Downloadable files and 2015 Berenson-Eggers Type of Service classification files. Total fee-for-service Medicare payments and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System procedure codes for all fee-for-service beneficiaries were aggregated according to physician gender, specialty, years since medical school graduation, and type of service classifications. Results Excluding drug reimbursement, the mean total Medicare payments per female physician, compared with those for male physicians, were 41% in surgical specialties, 72% in hospital-based specialties, and 55% across all specialties ( P P P Conclusion Female physicians had smaller average total Medicare payments and fewer unique beneficiary visits than male physicians in the care of fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries in 2013. The differences persisted across specialty types and years in practice. These data can identify variation but cannot determine causation or explain the reasons behind gender differences. These findings suggest, but do not prove, that female physician Medicare payments are lower due to different practice patterns, consisting of fewer patients cared for and lower intensity of care.
Is the Field of Foreign Language Education Disposed to Change

The article responds to the issue article "Making Change Happen: The New Mission and Location of Language Departments" by Rogelio Minana. Topics include the adoption of a Integrated Performance Assessment (IPA) for an intermediate-level university French course, the relation of language departments to innovation in higher education, and the need for teacher development and extended pre-service teacher education in foreign language departments.
Predicting the protein half-life in tissue from its cellular properties

Protein half-life is an important feature of protein homeostasis (proteostasis). The increasing number of in vivo and in vitro studies using high throughput proteomics provide estimates of the protein half-lives in tissues and cells. However, protein half-lives in cells and tissues are different. Due to the resource requirements for researching tissues, more data is available from cellular studies than tissues. We have designed a multivariate linear model for predicting protein half-life in tissue from its cellular properties. Inputs to the model are cellular half-life, abundance, intrinsically disordered sequences, and transcriptional and translational rates. Before the modeling, we determined substructures in the data using the relative distance from the regression line of the protein half-lives in tissues and cells, identifying three separate clusters. The model was trained on and applied to predict protein half-lives from murine liver, brain and heart tissues. In each tissue type we observed similar prediction patterns of protein half-lives. We found that the model provides the best results when there is a strong correlation between tissue and cell culture protein half-lives. Additionally, we clustered the protein half-lives to determine variations in correlation coefficients between the protein half-lives in the tissue versus in cell culture. The clusters identify strongly and weakly correlated protein half-lives, further improves the overall prediction and identifies sub groupings which exhibit specific characteristics. The model described herein, is generalizable to other data sets and has been implemented in a freely available R code.
Influence of socioeconomic status on the whole blood transcriptome in African Americans.

Background The correlation between low socioeconomic status (SES) and poor health outcome or higher risk of disease has been consistently reported by many epidemiological studies across various race/ancestry groups. However, the biological mechanisms linking low SES to disease and/or disease risk factors are not well understood and remain relatively under-studied. The analysis of the blood transcriptome is a promising window for elucidating how social and environmental factors influence the molecular networks governing health and disease. To further define the mechanistic pathways between social determinants and health, this study examined the impact of SES on the blood transcriptome in a sample of African-Americans. Methods An integrative approach leveraging three complementary methods (Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis, Random Forest and Differential Expression) was adopted to identify the most predictive and robust transcriptome pathways associated with SES. We analyzed the expression of 15079 genes (RNA-seq) from whole blood across 36 samples. Results The results revealed a cluster of 141 co-expressed genes over-expressed in the low SES group. Three pro-inflammatory pathways (IL-8 Signaling, NF-κB Signaling and Dendritic Cell Maturation) are activated in this module and over-expressed in low SES. Random Forest analysis revealed 55 of the 141 genes that, collectively, predict SES with an area under the curve of 0.85. One third of the 141 genes are significantly over-expressed in the low SES group. Conclusion Lower SES has consistently been linked to many social and environmental conditions acting as stressors and known to be correlated with vulnerability to chronic illnesses (e.g. asthma, diabetes) associated with a chronic inflammatory state. Our unbiased analysis of the blood transcriptome in African-Americans revealed evidence of a robust molecular signature of increased inflammation associated with low SES. The results provide a plausible link between the social factors and chronic inflammation.
Soda intake and tobacco use among young adult bar patrons: A cross-sectional study in seven cities.

Abstract Young adults are among the greatest consumers of sugar sweetened beverages, and they also have high smoking rates. However, few studies address the relationship between these risk behaviors; this study examined the relationship between soda consumption and smoking among young adult bar patrons, a high-risk understudied population. A cross-sectional survey of young adult bar patrons (between January 2014 and October 2015) was conducted using randomized time location sampling (N = 8712) in Albuquerque, NM, Los Angeles, CA Nashville, TN, Oklahoma City, OK, San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA, and Tucson, AZ. The survey found the prevalences of daily regular soda intake ranged from 32% in San Diego to 51% in Oklahoma City and current smoking ranged from 36% in Los Angeles, CA to 49% in Albuquerque, NM. In multinomial multivariate models with no soda consumption as the reference group and controlling for demographics and location, non-daily (OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.05, 1.47) and daily smokers (OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.08, 1.66) were both more likely to drink regular soda compared to not drinking any soda. No effects were found for diet soda consumption. These linked risks suggest that comprehensive health promotion efforts to decrease sugar sweetened beverage consumption and tobacco use, among other risky behaviors, may be effective in this population.
What Emotions Do Novices Experience during Their First Computer Programming Learning Session

We conducted a study to track the emotions, their behavioral correlates, and relationship with performance when novice programmers learned the basics of computer programming in the Python language. Twenty-nine participants without prior programming experience completed the study, which consisted of a 25 minute scaffolding phase (with explanations and hints) and a 15 minute fadeout phase (no explanations or hints) with a computerized learning environment. Emotional states were tracked via retrospective self-reports in which learners viewed videos of their faces and computer screens recorded during the learning session and made judgments about their emotions at approximately 100 points. The results indicated that flow/engaged (23%), confusion (22%), frustration (14%), and boredom (12%) were the major emotions students experienced, while curiosity, happiness, anxiety, surprise, anger, disgust, fear, and sadness were comparatively rare. The emotions varied as a function of instructional scaffolds and were systematically linked to different student behaviors (idling, constructing code, running code). Boredom, flow/engaged, and confusion were also correlated with performance outcomes. Implications of our findings for affect-sensitive learning interventions are discussed.
Guardianship and the Elderly

The increasing size and proportion of the elderly, individuals 65 and older, in the U.S. population is a well-documented trend (Fell, 1994; Friedman & Savage, 1988; Polivka, 1991; Rein, 1992; Tor, 1993). While in 1980 the elderly constituted roughly 11% of the U.S. population or 25.5 million people, in 1990 they made up 13% of the population or 31 million people, and it is projected that by the year 2030 they will represent nearly 22% of the population or 65 million people (Scogin & Perry, 1986). The 85 and older age group represents the fastest growing segment not only of the elderly population, but also of all age groups (Fell, 1994; Iris, 1988; Polivka, 1991; Smyer, 1993).
Measures to Optimize Quality of Life in Patients Treated for Genitourinary Tumors

The development of more effective cancer treatments is ideally reflected by longer patient survival. However, concomitant with progress in lengthening cancer-related survival, questions about the quality of life (QOL) associated with a longer survival have arisen. This has led to the development of a new discipline that specifically deals with the assessment of QOL. Furthermore, during the past decade the continuous growth of managed care has generated new interest in measuring various parameters of treatment outcome. While disease-free and overall survival remain central measures of outcome, the patient’s QOL during the course of the disease or after recovery is a lso a very important parameter that deserves precise recording and measuring.
[Recurrent hemoptysis. 65-year-old post-kidney transplant patient with bilateral thoracic wall tumors].

Wir berichten uber einen 65-jahrigen Patienten, der unter Immunsuppression mit Cyclosporin und Prednison 2,5 Jahre nach Nierentransplantation ein Angiosarkom des rechten Vorhofs entwickelte. Als typische Symptome traten Hamoptysen und eine absolute Arrhythmie bei Vorhofflimmern auf. Das Angiosarkom war schnell progredient und metastasierte in Knochen und Lungen. Die Reduktion der Immunsuppression konnte keine Tumorkontrolle erreichen, so dass der Patient 4 Monate nach Diagnosestellung verstarb. Allgemein ist das Risiko der Tumorentwicklung nach Nierentransplantation etwas groser als bei der Normalbevolkerung. Das Auftreten eines Angiosarkoms ist nach Angaben in der Literatur bei Nierentransplantierten ein sehr seltenes Ereignis [1, 19].
Transgender health: Hormonal management at 50 years and beyond

Abstract This review discusses established transgender individuals on hormones who have reached their desired post-pubertal phenotype. Current guidelines have not clearly integrated specific considerations for the older population. This review focuses on changes in physiology with age, recommended maintenance therapy and safety evaluation to mitigate the risks of hormone therapy with a focus on the older population.
Adding value to collections: improving the data associated with Crested Ibis Nipponia nippon specimens held in the Natural History Museum, Tring

In the bird collection of the Natural History Museum at Tring (NHMUK), and no doubt in many analogous collections elsewhere, older specimens are increasingly likely to have become divorced from some, or even all, of the data that once accompanied them. As the utility of such specimens for research depends in large part on their accompanying data, it is important, though time-consuming, to try to restore missing data to them. Stimulated by a genomic research project request to sample all Crested Ibis Nipponia nippon specimens in the NHMUK collection, this paper presents a case study of such an attempt. The results are used to highlight the importance that such investigation is factored into projects aiming to make museum specimen data available online.
VEGF induces desmoplastic response, tamoxifen resistance, and metastasis in breast cancer

5195 Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key angiogenesis factor. We report here that VEGF also plays a critical role in tamoxifen resistance and metastasis of breast cancer and in the desmoplastic host response. In vivo studies with a nude mouse xenograft model using an improved, doxycycline regulatable gene expression system have demonstrated that VEGF overexpression is sufficient to promote ER-positive, tamoxifen-responsive and non-metastatic breast tumors to become tamoxifen resistant and metastatic. MCF-7 breast cancer xenografts in nude mice became static and regressed when the mice were treated with tamoxifen, whereas, the tumors continued to grow when they expressed high levels of VEGF in the tamoxifen-treated mice. Experimental metastasis assays with tail vein injection showed that MCF-7 breast cancer cells colonized in lung and developed into macroscopic metastatic lesion when VEGF overexpression was induced. In the pulmonary metastatic sites, the MCF-7 cell colonies expressing a high level of VEGF were surrounded by an abundance of stromal cells, mostly fibroblasts, which resembled the desmoplastic response commonly observed in human breast and other types of cancers. In contrast, MCF-7 cells that expressed only the basal level of VEGF failed to survive and colonize in the lung. This suggests that tumor-released VEGF is a key factor for the tumor induced desmoplastic response and for tumor microenvironment remodeling. A desmoplastic response is rarely observed in other animal cancer models and is absent in most human tumor xenografts in athymic nude mice. Microscopic blood vessels were observed within the desmoplastic zone of microscopic metastasis, suggesting that neoangiogenesis occurs with desmoplasia. When the VEGF overexpression was reduced to the basal level, tumor growth became static and the metastasis incidence was decreased significantly, suggesting that inhibition of VEGF signaling may prolong tamoxifen sensitivity. These experimental results suggest a mechanism by which VEGF mediates, through its paracrine effect, the interaction of tumor and stromal cells in the microenvironment, enhances the survival and colonization of disseminated tumor cells in distant organs, and thereby confers tamoxifen-resistant tumor growth and metastasis. Combination of an antiestrogen and an anti-VEGF signaling agent may be an effective treatment for advanced breast cancer or for preventing metastasis development.
An exploratory value-cost approach in predicting college students’ achievement goals in multicultural education

Student resistance is inevitable in the process of multicultural education, but few researchers have explored the dynamics of student motivation. The purpose of this study was to help bridging the ...
Transmission Electron Microscopy Study of Planar Defects in Polycrystalline CdTe Thin Films

CdTe is a promising photovoltaic material due to its near optimum band gap and high absorption coefficient. Polycrystalline, thin-film CdTe/CdS solar cells have demonstrated an efficiency of 15.8%. High density of extended defects is often found in polycrystalline CdTe films grown by close-spaced sublimation (CSS). So far, most investigations of defects in CdTe have focused on epitaxially grown films, and the reported extended defects are mainly lamellar twins. However, epitaxially grown films generally have a different microstructure compared to CSS grown polycrystalline CdTe thin films. in this paper, we report our study of extended defects in CSSgrown polycrystalline CdTe thin films by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). We found that the extended defects are mostly lamellar twins and stacking faults. The stacking faults always propagate across the grains, without ending at a partial dislocation inside the grains.
In the Current Era, Do We Have Improved Outcomes in Hemodynamic Compromise Rejection after Heart Transplantation?

Purpose Hemodynamic compromise rejection (HCR) is seen Methods Between 2010-15, among 589 heart transplants, we identified 15 HTx pts (2.5%) who developed HCR. At the time of presentation of HCR, results of EMB were reviewed. Outcomes of these pts included subsequent 1-year survival, freedom from cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV, as defined by stenosis ≥30% by angiography), freedom from non-fatal major adverse cardiac event (NF-MACE: myocardial infarction, new congestive heart failure, percutaneous coronary intervention, defibrillator/pacemaker implant, stroke), and freedom from subsequent recurrence of rejection episodes, including any treated rejection (ATR), acute cellular rejection (ACR), and antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). The HCR group was compared to a case-controlled group with similar age, sex, time from transplant (n=39). Results HCR did not consistently show rejection with 64% revealing neither ACR nor AMR on biopsy slides. 27% showed ACR, 9% showed AMR and the remainder showed no rejection. In the HCR group, subsequent 1-year survival and freedom from NF-MACE was significantly compromised compared to the control group. Subsequent 1-year freedom from CAV and recurrent rejections were not significantly different. (table) Conclusion In a majority of HCR cases, EMB findings reveal no rejection which may be due to an atypical immune process. In the current era, outcomes from HCR continue to be compromised which suggest the need for a more aggressive approach to immunosuppression and management.
The Future of Talent Cultivation in Higher Education: The 4A Conceptual Model

An unstable climate exists within higher education as there is an anticipated high rate of employee attrition to occur over the next decade with the mass retirement of the Baby-Boomer generation. To be proactive, institutions have developed staffing plans, which provide an arbitrary framework that outlines human capital needs based on educational demand. While these plans can set a standard expectancy to maintain current or historical performance, many lack the capacity for projection and effectively responding to new and emerging trends. Therefore, based on the external anticipation for change blended with the rapid shift to globalization and technological advancements there is a need to create a framework to help institutions navigate the future of attracting, hiring and retaining employees.
Validity of Children's Self-Reports of Psychological Qualities

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the validity of children's self-reports of psychological qualities. All scientific disciplines have a small set of favorite constructs, most of which are replaced following critical logical analysis and/or reliable data that reveal a flaw in the idea. The concept of self is one of the few psychological ideas that observers of children and adults continue to promote. However, it is still not clear whether its persistence in the explanations of human behavior is due to the fact that it is theoretically potent or because it is consonant with one's intuition. McGuire has suggested that the psychological salience of the qualities that comprise the self-concept is a function of their distinctiveness in the mind of the person. Investigators asked subjects, using relatively undisguised procedures, to describe their psychological properties. The interest in children's categorizations of their psychological attributes has been accompanied by a proliferation of self-report instruments.
Cyanogen bromide digestion of the avian myeloblastosis virus pp19 protein: isolation of an amino-terminal peptide that binds to viral RNA.

Abstract The avian myeloblastosis virus pp19 protein was separated from the other virus proteins by a rapid and simple purification procedure which yields milligram amounts of homogeneous protein. This protein was then fragmented by digestion with cyanogen bromide. When the mixture of the cyanogen bromide peptides was passed through a 60S avian myeloblastosis virus RNA-cellulose column, only one peptide bound with high affinity to the resin. The peptide migrated on a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel with an approximate molecular weight of 2,900 and will be referred to as the p3B peptide. This peptide was also isolated directly by chromatography of the cyanogen bromide-digested pp19 protein on a reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography column. It was again the only cyanogen bromide peptide of the pp19 protein that bound to the RNA affinity resin. The p3B peptide is a basic peptide, as was seen by its rapid migration on acid-urea-polyacrylamide gels and its amino acid composition. A partial amino acid sequence analysis of the p3B peptide indicated that it was derived from the amino terminus of the intact protein. Although the p3B peptide bound to 60S RNA, it did not demonstrate the selective binding of native pp19 to regions of the RNA containing secondary structure.
Effect of lipopolysaccharide structure on reactivity of antiporin monoclonal antibodies with the bacterial cell surface.

We studied the reactivity of 66 anti-Escherichia coli B/r porin monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) with several E. coli and Salmonella typhimurium strains. Western immunoblots showed complete immunological cross-reactivity between E. coli B/r and K-12; among 34 MAbs which recognized porin in immunoblots of denatured outer membranes of E. coli B/r, all reacted with OmpF in denatured outer membranes of E. coli K-12. Extensive reactivity, although less than that for strain B/r (31 of 34 MAbs), occurred for porin from a wild-type isolate, E. coli O8:K27. Only one of the MAbs reacted with porin in denatured outer membranes of S. typhimurium. Even with immunochemical amplification of the Western immunoblot technique, only six MAbs recognized S. typhimurium porin (OmpD), demonstrating that there is significant immunological divergence between the porins of these species. Antibody binding to the bacterial surface, which was analyzed by cytofluorimetry, was strongly influenced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) structure. An intact O antigen, as in E. coli O8:K27, blocked adsorption of all 20 MAbs in the test panel. rfa+ E. coli K-12, without an O antigen but with an intact LPS core, bound seven MAbs. When assayed against a series of rfa E. coli K-12 mutants, the number of MAbs that recognized porin surface epitopes increased sequentially as the LPS core became shorter. A total of 17 MAbs bound porin in a deep rough rfaD strain. Similar results were obtained with S. typhimurium. None of the anti-E. coli B/r porin MAbs adsorbed to a smooth strain, but three antibodies recognized porin on deep rough (rfaF, rfaE) mutants. These data define six distinct porin surface epitopes that are shielded by LPS from reaction with antibodies. Images
Empowerment through Employee Involvement and Participation

Describes how Ford and its union, the United Auto Workers, have jointly created an effective training program that emphasizes changing Ford′s corporate culture. The educational and developmental activities are successful because Ford takes a systems approach that is built on voluntary choices and a voluntary agenda. Ford is able to encourage innovation through co‐determination and co‐responsibility.
How Collaborative the Collaboration? Assessing Interagency Collaboration within a Juvenile Court Diversion Program

Juvenile delinquency with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders has become an increasing problem within the United States. In part this can be attributed to the excessive number of delinquent youth entering the juvenile justice system with untreated substance abuse and/or mental health disorders. In an effort to combat this problem, interagency collaborations have been formed to provide more effective treatment services. One such interagency collaboration is the JETS Program. This study identifies the strengths and limitations of establishing an interagency collaboration within the first year of a juvenile treatment court's inception. KEYWORDS: Juvenile justice; Juvenile delinquency;
Long-Term Outcome in Children With Intractable Epilepsy Showing Bilateral Diffuse Cortical Glucose Hypometabolism Pattern on Positron Emission Tomography:

The objective of this study is to determine the long-term outcome of children with intractable epilepsy who have diffuse cortical hypometabolism on 2-deoxy-2-(18F)fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scans. Seventeen children with intractable epilepsy showing bilateral, diffuse cortical hypometabolism on FDG-PET were followed up through telephone interview from 1 year 4 months to 11 years 4 months (mean: 5 years 7 months ± 2 years 1 month) after their PET scans. One child succumbed to Sanfilippo disease at age 20 years. Only 2 children were seizure free. Fifty percent had walking difficulties, 56.25% were not toilet trained, all had speech difficulties, 43.75% had behavioral problems, 37.5% had poor eye contact, 75% had socialization difficulties, and 87.5% attended special schools. Three children were found to have genetic causes, including a 4-MB deletion of the mitochondrial genome, MECP2 duplication, and Lafora disease. In conclusion, the long-term outcome in this patient population...
Sir John Dacie, MD, FRCP, FRCPath, FRS (1912-2005)

Sir John Dacie would be accepted by most of us as the father of modern hematology in the UK, and many would argue that this could be extended to other countries because so many people of other nationalities were trained in his laboratory in London. In his specialty of hemolytic anemia, he dominated the field, and his book (5 volumes) set the standard for investigators in this area. Luckily, he lived for 92 years (1912-2005) and kept a sharp mind up to his death, continuing to contribute to the medical literature into his 80s.
A RADIOTELEMETRY STIMULATOR FOR CONDITIONING OF LARGE ANIMALS

Radio telemetry stimulator for conditioning large animals by applying high voltage short duration pulses to skin surface
Do Professional Service Organizations Financially Benefit from Conformance and Experiential Quality

The professional service industry encompasses a major part of the U.S. economy and yet, several factors that affect its financial sustainability remain largely unknown. When catering to their custo...
Association of an ultraviolet irradiation sensitive cytoplasmic localization with the future dorsal side of the amphibian egg.

Drastic alterations in neural morphogenesis can be induced by ultraviolet irradiation of the amphibian egg. The target area of U.V. was determined either by direct irradiation of various regions of the egg or by comparing the area of the U.V. hit with the location of the dorsal lip. Axolotl eggs which displayed easily recognizable gray crescents were employed for the direct irradiation experiments and albino axolotl eggs were used for a comparison of the U.V. sensitivity of the animal and vegetal halves of the egg. Marked frog eggs were employed to determine the relationship between the sensitive area and the site of formation of the dorsal lip. It was concluded that the dorsal marginal zone of the fertilized, uncleaved egg was the most sensitive area of the egg. Ovarian homogenates provide a source of material for correcting, by microinjection, the effects of U.V.
Polyarteritis nodosa presenting as spontaneous bilateral perinephric hemorrhage: management with selective arterial embolization

Polyarteritis nodosa is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis of small and medium arteries. It classically involves the renal arterioles in approximately 80% of cases. Spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage is a rare presentation of this involvement. If severe, such hemorrhage can necessitate immediate medical and/or surgical intervention. We report to our knowledge the first case of polyarteritis nodosa with bilateral perinephric hemorrhage successfully managed with nephron sparing selective arterial embolization and corticosteroid treatment. CASE REPORT
Heart in a hard cage: startling calcific constrictive pericarditis.

“My heart is turned to stone; I strike it and it hurts my hand.”—Shakespeare, from Othello.
The mechanisms of neoplastic transformation.

Historically, the contemporary understanding of tumours developed hand in hand with Virchow’s notion that the cell was the basic element of many diseases. Indeed, classical pathology began early on to describe a multitude of cancers, but, at the same time, it was also quick to recognise features that were common to them all, and this led to the concept of the cancer cell [1]. Current classifications comprise hundreds of types and sub-types of human tumours [2]; and today we can define cancer as a genetic disorder of somatic cells [3]. While this definition may sound reductionist, it offers an attractive framework of reconciling the heterogeneity of cancer with the underlying unique common misbehaviour of the cancer cell. In fact, somatic mutations are what all cancers have in common; however, the precise nature of these mutations and the cell types in which they take place must be the determinants of each individual type of cancer (see Fig. 1). Within this framework, we have to consider three sorts of questions: (1) The number of mutations required to convert (or to pervert) a normal cell into a cancer cell. (2) The specific genes in which the mutations occur. (3) The nature of the mutations themselves.
The Evolution of the Concept of Isotonicity in Pharmacy

The concept of isotonicity in pharmacy arose at the turn of the century from earlier fundamental discoveries. Various approaches to the problem of determining quantities of substances required for the preparation of isotonic solutions that were adopted by pharmacists are discussed in the light of present knowledge. These considerations, some based upon the Arrhenius theory and others representing simple conversion of physical or biological methods, led to the gradual acceptance of the practice of adjusting solutions to conform to certain accepted isotonic values. The basis for choosing certain of these values is presented.
A Computer-Aided Multisensory Instruction System for the Blind

A multisensory conversational learning facility is described which permits the visually handicapped to share the process and content of instruction of sighted persons. The blind student receives live or recorded audio and graphic instruction synchronously via his aural and tactile/kinesthetic senses. A novel kinesthetic terminal for the blind is described which permits ``visual'' perception of kinetic graphics. In the classroom the blind student perceives blackboard graphics concurrently with the instructor's live presentation; in the self-instruction mode he connects to a remote bank of audiographic instructional materials and receives lessons via telephone through a combined audio/kinesthetic terminal. The conversational learning system which serves simultaneously varying numbers of blind and sighted learners is controlled by a mini-computer. Applications of the audio/kinesthetic terminal in education of sighted persons and in research on information processes of the blind are briefly noted.
Bile duct cysts: A changing spectrum of presentation

Since the report of our early experience in 1984, the clinical management of 33 patients (23 adults, 10 children) with bile duct cysts has been reviewed. The mean age was 28 years, and female preponderance was observed. Complicated clinical presentations (namely, cholangitis) and coexistent hepato-biliary-pancreatic diseases (present in 45% of the patients) were encountered more frequently in adult patients and those who had had previous cyst enteric drainage operations. Pancreatitis occurred in 27% and cyst-associated malignancy in 9%, with 2 patients alive 29 and 125 months, respectively, postoperatively after curative resection. Cyst type included type I, 58%; type II, 3%; and type VIA, 33%. Anomalous biliary-pancreatic junction (as a long common channel in 18 patients) was observed in 19 patients in whom the anatomy was documented. Eighteen patients (group I) underwent primary extrahepatic cyst excision, and 15 patients (group II) with previous cyst-related operations (35 previous surgical procedures) underwent secondary cyst excision. Mortality was nil, but postoperative morbidity was significantly higher in group II. During a mean follow-up of 51 months, satisfactory results were observed in 94% of the patients. In conclusion, primary complete cyst excision of extrahepatic component is recommended as the treatment of choice, achieving satisfactory clinical results in the majority of patients. The clinical spectrum of the disease has changed in our experience because of the routine use of early cyst excision in patients with bile duct cysts.
Control research and optimization design of self-synchronous vibrating machine

The dynamic model of a self-synchronous vibrating machine is established. Through the dynamic analysis of the self-synchronous vibrating machine with two motors, the simulation program is run based on the dynamic model of self-synchronous vibrating machine and the mathematical model of an induction motor. Simulation results show that the machine is in a poor synchronous state. The method to control the phase difference of the two eccentric rotors is then analyzed, and the self-synchronous vibrating machine is optimization designed. The simulation demonstrates that the self-synchronous vibration machine achieves speed synchronization and phase synchronization. The results verify the effectiveness of the optimization design.
The changing nature of the transatlantic link: U.S. approaches and implications for Central and Eastern Europe

Abstract This article examines the changing security, economic and diplomatic components of the transatlantic link, with a particular focus on Washington's approach and implications for Central and Eastern Europe. The United States continues to play an essential role as security underwriter in the region, but the military dimension of the transatlantic relationship is transforming and will result in greater burdens on Europeans. Economic links between the U.S. and Central Europe are developing more strongly than generally understood, and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership is likely to drive both political and economic ties. Unconventional gas developments are enhancing U.S. engagement in European energy markets. Finally, the U.S. remains keen to engage its European partners on a broad agenda of global and regional issues and retains its own interests in working particularly with Central and Eastern European countries to lend stability to ‘wider Europe’.
Neurochemical effects of kojic amine, a GABAmimetic and its interaction with benzylamine oxidase.

Abstract Kojic amine, a structural analogue of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), is thought to be a direct-acting GABA receptor agonist. In the present study, in vivo and in vitro experiments were conducted to examine the neurochemical actions and metabolism of kojic amine to determine whether this compound activates the GABA receptor following systemic administration. The results indicate that, in vitro. kojic amine enhances [3H]diazepam binding to rat brain benzodiazepine receptors. Furthermore, like other GABA agonists, chronic administration of kojic amine (15 days) induced a significant increase in dopamine receptor binding and a decrease in GABA receptor binding in the corpus striatum, and increased striatal high affinity choline transport after acute treatment. Moreover, enzyme assays revealed that kojic amine may be a substrate for benzylamine oxidase, with an affinity of 90 μM. Pretreatment of rats with benserazide, an inhibitor of benzylamine oxidase, significantly enhanced the central nervous system depressant action of systemically administered kojic amine, suggesting that this enzyme may be important for the metabolism of this compound. The data indicate that kojic amine may be a useful tool for exploring the neurochemical and behavioral effects of GABA receptor activation.
Ecological conditions that favor the evolution of intermediate-virulence in an environmentally transmitted parasite

In this paper we develop and analyze several populaion-dynamic models of an environmentally transmitted symbiotic parasite infecting an isolated population of susceptible hosts. In our most basic model infection acts only to decrease the average lifetime of the infected host, parasites are only transmitted to uninfected hosts, there is no recovery from infection, and the rate of parasite transmission is an increasing function of the level of parasite virulence. It is shown that invasion of the parasite-free equilibrium cannot occur for virulence levels that are either too high or too low. We then incorporate a number of modifications to the model, among them the possibility that host fertility is reduced by infection, and that transmission rate depends additionally on susceptible host density. It is shown that the essential nature of the conditions for invasion are preserved. Thus, natural selection for intermediate virulence is a generic property of a broad class of population models.
Gravitational-wave research: Current status and future prospects

There is a reasonably good change that in the 1980s cosmic gravitational waves will be discovered and will become a powerful tool for astronomy. This prospect has stimulated a three-pronged research effort. First, relativity theorists are developing new mathematical tools for the analysis of gravitational radiation—including (i) methods of analyzing the generation of gravity waves by sources with strong selfgravity and large internal velocities (e.g., collisions of black holes), (ii) methods of computing radiation reaction in sources, and (iii) methods of analyzing how gravitational waves propagate through our lumpy curved-space Universe. Second, astrophysicists are attempting to identify the most promissing sources of gravitational waves, and are using the relativity theorists' mathematical tools to estimate the characteristics of the waves they emit. Third, with the estimated wave characteristics in mind, experimenters are designing and constructing a second generation of gravitational-wave detectors—detectors of three types: Doppler tracking of interplanetary spacecraft, Earth-based laser interferometers, and Earth-based Weber-type resonant bars. This article reviews, in brief, all three prongs of the research effort and gives references to more detailed articles about specialized aspects of gravitational-wave physics.
Quantum electrodynamics effects in atoms and molecules

Quantum electrodynamics (QED) is the fundamental theory describing the interaction of electrons and photons. Its characteristic feature is that both radiation and matter are treated quantum mechanically. For almost all atomic and molecular systems, which contain bound electrons moving at velocities considerably less than that of light, a non-relativistic formulation of QED is appropriate. Termed molecular QED, its Hamiltonian operator can be constructed by starting from the classical Lagrangian function for the interaction of a charged particle with a radiation field on applying the variational calculus and carrying out the canonical quantization procedure. It is shown how the minimal-coupling Lagrangian can be transformed to the chemically advantageous multipolar Hamiltonian in which matter couples to radiation directly through molecular multipole moments, with the ensuing interaction strictly causal. Applications include evaluation of transition rates for one- and two-photon absorption, spontaneous and stimulated emission, and signal intensities for second- and third-harmonic generation. Fundamental intermolecular interactions examined include resonance energy transfer, the van der Waals dispersion potential, and the change in energy shift of the pair induced by intense external radiation. The non-relativistic contribution to the Lamb shift is also extracted. It is shown how a number of the above mentioned processes may be attributed to fluctuations of the vacuum electromagnetic field, which possesses zero-point energy, a signature QED effect that has widespread implications for the structural and dynamical properties of atoms and molecules. WIREs Comput Mol Sci 2015, 5:178–201. doi: 10.1002/wcms.1211 Conflict of interest: The author has declared no conflicts of interest for this article. For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
Effects of treatment with growth hormone and somatostatin on efficacy of diammine [1,1-cyclobutane dicarboxylato (2-)-0,0']-(SP-4-2) in athymic rats with osteosarcoma.

Objective—To determine the effect of exogenous growth hormone or somatostatin on chemotherapeutic efficacy in athymic (nude) rats with osteosarcoma. Animals—66 female athymic rats. Procedure—Osteosarcoma was induced at an intratibial site. Rats were randomly allotted to 6 treatment groups. Rats were treated with saline (0.9% NaCl) solution alone, platinum, diammine [1,1-cyclobutane dicaboxylato (2-)-0,0']-(SP-4-2) (CBDCA; ie, carboplatin) plus saline solution, somatostatin alone, somatostatin plus CBDCA, growth hormone alone, or growth hormone plus CBDCA. Variables measured included estimated WBC count and percentage of neutrophils, plasma concentration of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), body weight, tumor volume, weight of primary tumor, survival time, and distant metastasis at time of death. Results—Tumors formed at the injection sites in all rats. Treatment with growth hormone increased, and treatment with somatostatin decreased, plasma IGF-I concentration. Treatment with growth hormone or somato...
A comparison of EPA screening measurements and annual 222Rn concentrations in statewide surveys.

Variations in indoor Rn make it difficult to assess an individual's long-term exposure based on sampling surveys that are quite limited in time and number. The present work compares the results of short-term and long-term statewide surveys conducted in a region that contains average-strength Rn sources, energy-efficient housing, and both extremely cold and hot seasons
Test Beam Results from the D0 Liquid Argon End Calorimeter Electromagnetic Module

Results are presented from a test beam study of the D0 liquid argon end calorimeter electromagnetic module prior to its installation at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. Using electron beams with energies ranging from 10--150 GeV we have obtained an energy resolution of 15.7%/{radical}E(GeV) with a small constant term of 0.3% and a linearity of better than {plus minus}0.5%. The position resolution of the calorimeter is found to approximately 1 mm for 100 GeV electrons. 7 refs., 8 figs., 3 tabs.
A constraint from B decay on models with no t quark

Abstract We show that if the b quark is assigned to a singlet representation of the weak interaction SU(2) symmetry and if it decays through the usual weak bosons W ± and Z 0 , then neutral current decays occur at such a rate that Λ (B→Xl + l − )/ Λ (B→Xl + ν )⩾0.12, even allowing arbitrarily many quarks with which the b can mix. We discuss the manner in which the experimental exlusion of this inequality would constrain the possibilities for t-free models.
Impact of Sclerotinia stem rot on yield of canola

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is the causal agent of Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR) of canola (Brassica napus). In North Dakota, the leading canola producer in the United States, SSR is an endemic disease. In order to estimate the impact of this disease on canola yield, field experiments were conducted from 2000 to 2004 at several locations in North Dakota and Minnesota. Experimental plots were either inoculated with laboratory-produced ascospores or infected by naturally occurring inoculum in commercial fields. Applying fungicides at different concentrations and timings during the flowering period created epiphytotics of diverse intensities. Disease incidence was measured once prior to harvesting the crop on 50 to 100 plants per plot. Results of the study indicated that 0.5% of the potential yield (equivalent to 12.75 kg/ha) was lost for every unit percentage of SSR incidence (range of 0.18 to 0.96%). Considering the current cost of fungicide applications and the market value of this commodity, a 17% SSR incidence could cause losses similar to the cost of a fungicide application. Additional efforts are required to improve current levels of tolerance of canola plants to this pathogen.
Global business in the Middle East

W. Abdallah. 2001. Managing Multinationals in the Middle East: Accounting and Tax Issues. Westport, CT: Quorum Press. 279 pages. ISBN 1-56720-267-5. M. Kavoossi. 2001. The Globalization of Business in the Middle East: Opportunities and Constraints. Westport, CT: Quorum Press. 161 pages. ISBN 1-56720-203-9.
NON‐LINEAR TIME SERIES ANALYSIS OF BLOWFLY POPULATION

. In recent years there has been a growing interest in studying non-linear time series and various non-linear models have been proposed in the literature. In this paper, I consider non-linear time series modelling via a case study. Several important issues concerning non-linear time series models and data analysis emerge from the study.
Factors influencing cesarean delivery operative times: a prospective observational cohort study

Abstract Background This study aimed to determine the distribution of operative delivery times for uncomplicated parturients undergoing elective cesarean delivery with neuraxial anesthesia. A secondary aim was to explore patient and surgical factors associated with longer cesarean delivery times. Methods A prospective observational study of 331 parturients undergoing elective cesarean delivery with neuraxial anesthesia was conducted. Factors examined included age, body mass index, ethnicity, number of previous cesarean deliveries, stretch mark and scar severity and surgical experience. Results Operative times ranged from 13 to 108min with a mean (SD) of 43.4 (±15.7) min. Only 6 (1.8%) parturients had operative times >90min and none were converted to general anesthesia. As the number of previous cesarean deliveries increased, the mean operative time increased linearly from 39.5 (±13.0) min in subjects with no previous cesarean deliveries to 52.8 (±18.1) min in subjects with 3 or 4 previous cesarean deliveries ( P P P P Conclusions These findings identify previous cesarean deliveries, increased scar intensity, tubal ligation and surgical experience as factors that increase operative times for cesarean delivery. The data also suggest that neuraxial anesthesia lasting 90 min should provide adequate analgesia for most uncomplicated parturients undergoing elective cesarean delivery.