cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhancing a behavioral interface specification language with temporal logic features

Specification languages help programmers write correct programs and also aid efforts for dynamically checking a software implementation with respect to its desired specifications. Most mainstream specification languages primarily deal with a program’s functional behavior. However, for certain applications it is more natural and intuitive to be able to express a system’s temporal properties. This thesis enhances the capabilities of the Java Modeling Language (JML), a behavioral interface specification language, by incorporating temporal logic constructs. The temporal specification grammar used is a modification of the JML temporal extension proposed by K. Trentelman and M. Huisman in their paper “Extending JML Specifications with Temporal Logic”. I have modified jmlc, the runtime assertion checker for the Java Modeling Language, so that it also generates runtime assertion checking code to dynamically check a program’s temporal specifications.
The Global Transmission of Volatility in the Foreign Exchange Market

Volatility spillovers of the DM/$ and ¥/$ exchange rate across regional markets are examined using the integrated volatility of high-frequency data. An analysis of quoting patterns reveals five distinct regions: Asia, Asia-Europe overlap, Europe, Europe-America overlap, and America. After reviewing theoretical foundations for persistence of volatility in dealership markets, regional volatility models are constructed where volatility in one region is a function of yesterday's volatility in that region (“heat-wave effect”) and volatility in other regions (“meteor-shower effect”). Evidence of statistically significant effects is found for both own-region and interregional spillovers, but the economic significance of own-region spillovers indicates that heat waves are more important than meteor showers.
A New Interpolation Scheme in Grid-Based Approximation for POMDPs

Finding a solution to the scalable partially observable Markov decision process (POMDP) has received considerable attention, since the POMDP framework represents an important tool to model a rich variety of real world sequential decision processes. Due to the intractability of computing exact solutions for POMDPs the researchers in the literature are seeking approximation solutions. The approximation by value iterating over a finite set of belief points is know as grid-based method. This paper proposes a special interpolation scheme collecting reachable belief points to form the finite belief set. The approach is based on the observation that reachable beliefs are what we are really interested in other than those arbitrary ones. The experiments on three benchmark problems show that our approach generates very good results.
Possible Mechanism for Anthraquinone Species Diffusion in Alkaline Pulping

An analysis of the effectiveness of anthraquinone (AQ) in kraft-AQ pulping in terms of its mechanism of transport has been conducted. Our previous work showed that caustic solutions of wood lignin can decrease the membrane exclusion for anthraquinones, i.e., the presence of wood lignin enhances the ability of AQ to pass through a membrane when a reducing agent is present in the acceptor stream. This work seeks to demonstrate that a similar behavior may occur during pulping. The adsorption behavior of AQ species was analyzed, and it was shown that anthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid (AQ-S), a water soluble derivative of AQ, selectively adsorbed on wood. The adsorption of AQ dispersed in a caustic lignin solution also showed selective adsorption on wood, to an even greater extent than the AQ-S. This adsorption behavior, along with the membrane penetration behavior described in our previous work, leads to a mechanism for the transport of AQ into wood chips during kraft pulping.
Limestone landform studies and their curriculum applications

This paper reviews the educational merits and application of limestone landform studies in British secondary schools and considers these in the context of recent developments within geomorphology and the geography curriculum. The relevance of both traditional and newer approaches to the field study of karstforms is highlighted together with developments in classroom activities. School-based work is shown to have benefitted considerably from advances in educational technology.
A 70dB SNDR 10-MHz BW hybrid delta-sigma/pipeline ADC in 0.18-µm CMOS

The Leslie-Singh structure is often used in low oversampling, high bandwidth applications. A new hybrid delta-sigma/pipeline ADC extends this architecture via multi-rate signal processing to allow the pipelined ADC to run at a lower sampling frequency. With an NTF that is designed to match part of the corresponding decimation filters' coefficients, additional power and silicon area saving is achieved. Quantization noise coupling is used to save one integrator. Implemented in a 0.18-µm CMOS process, the 12X OSR ADC provides 70-dB SNDR with a 10-MHz signal bandwidth with DAC calibration.
In-situ laser ablation plasma diagnostics in the film growth regime: Effects of ambient background gases

The propagation of the laser-induced plasma formed by KrF irradiation of Y{sub 1}Ba{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7} has been characterized in background pressures of oxygen and argon typically used for thin film growth. The ion current transmitted through the background gases was recorded along the normal to the irradiated pellet as a function of distance in order to measure the decreasing velocity and magnitude of the expanding plasma current due to collisional slowing and attenuation of the laser plume. The integrated ion charge delivered to a substrate at low pressures can be described by elastic scattering giving a general integral cross sections of {sigma}{sub e}(O{sub 2}) = 3.2 {times} 10{sup {minus}16} cm{sup 2} and {sigma}{sub e}(Ar) = 2.7 {times} 10{sup {minus}16} cm{sup 2}. At higher pressures, inelastic scattering leads to increased recombination and reactive conversion of ions indicated by increased fluorescence of all the species, which becomes dominated by fluorescence of YO and BaO. Spatially resolved fluorescence measurements indicate that the luminous boundary to the plasma follows a weak shock front which coincides with the ion flux propagation. The ion transmission is found to drop exponentially with distance and background pressure, in agreement with a simple scattering model which yields generalmore » scattering cross sections for ion-argon {sigma}{sub i-Ar} = 2.1 {times} 10{sup {minus}16} cm{sup 2} and ion-oxygen {sigma}{sub i-O{sub 2}} = 2.3 {times} 10{sup {minus}16} cm{sup 2} interactions in background pressures up to 300 mTorr. The general features of the plume deceleration are described in terms of a drag force model. 9 refs., 5 figs.« less
Multimodal spectroscopy detects features of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque.

Early detection and treatment of rupture-prone vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques is critical to reducing patient mortality associated with cardiovascular disease. The combination of reflectance, fluorescence, and Raman spectroscopy-termed multimodal spectroscopy (MMS)-provides detailed biochemical information about tissue and can detect vulnerable plaque features: thin fibrous cap (TFC), necrotic core (NC), superficial foam cells (SFC), and thrombus. Ex vivo MMS spectra are collected from 12 patients that underwent carotid endarterectomy or femoral bypass surgery. Data are collected by means of a unitary MMS optical fiber probe and a portable clinical instrument. Blinded histopathological analysis is used to assess the vulnerability of each spectrally evaluated artery lesion. Modeling of the ex vivo MMS spectra produce objective parameters that correlate with the presence of vulnerable plaque features: TFC with fluorescence parameters indicative of collagen presence; NC/SFC with a combination of diffuse reflectance β-carotene/ceroid absorption and the Raman spectral signature of lipids; and thrombus with its Raman signature. Using these parameters, suspected vulnerable plaques can be detected with a sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 72%. These encouraging results warrant the continued development of MMS as a catheter-based clinical diagnostic technique for early detection of vulnerable plaques.
Gust Load Alleviation Control for Very Flexible Aircraft

This paper focuses on the development of a wind gust load alleviation control system for implementation in very flexible aircraft. The gust load alleviation system is designed using Linear Quadratic Gaussian (LQG) control techniques, and it is based on a nonlinear model of the coupled rigid-body and elastic modes of a very flexible aircraft. The nonlinear model contains the dynamics of the aircraft body reference frame, elastic strains, strain rates and unsteady aerodynamic flow states. The nonlinear model is linearized at a typical operating point corresponding to steady straight level flight conditions. Using model order reduction techniques, a lower order control-oriented model for the longitudinal dynamics of the very flexible aircraft is obtained. Assuming that the gust field is stochastic, the aircraft model is augmented with the disturbance model that matches the experimentally observed von Karman and Dryden power spectral density characteristics. A LQG controller is then designed to reduce the structural deflections, as the aircraft responds to the gust. Additionally, a command tracking control system is presented for longitudinal flight, which tracks a pitch angle command in the presence of a gust disturbance. It is demonstrated that the hard limits on the structural deflections while responding to the pitch angle command can be enforced using reference governor techniques.
Clinical evaluation of computer-assisted self-monitoring of blood glucose system.

The Glucometer M Diabetes Management System includes a glucose-reflectance meter with memory that can interface with a microcomputer for data manipulation and analysis. We evaluated the system in a short-term randomized control trial to determine its impact on metabolic control, self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) testing behaviors, regimen self-adjustment, understanding of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) treatment, attitudes about SMBG, and perceived quality of patient-physician interaction. Twenty-nine adolescent subjects (experimental) with IDDM were randomly assigned the Glucometer M system for 4 mo. Twenty-eight control subjects used meters without memory. All subjects returned twice to the clinic at 2-mo intervals during the study. At clinic visits, both groups reviewed their SMBG data with their physician. Reviews on experimental subjects were conducted with computer-generated data formats. Control subject reviews used traditional logbooks. Both groups showed a significant drop in glycosylated hemoglobin during the study period (P less than .001); however, there were no between-group differences. There were also no differences in SMBG testing behavior or self-reported regimen self-adjustment between groups or within groups compared with baseline. Compared with control subjects, experimental subjects indicated a significant increase in self-reported understanding of IDDM treatment (P = .002), perceived importance of testing (P = .006), and the quality of interaction with their physician (P less than .001). These data suggest that use of computer-assisted SMBG systems in the outpatient setting does not improve metabolic control over 4 mo. It may, however, contribute to improving communication between the patient and health-care providers.
The lemniscate constants

The lemniscate constants, and indeed some of the methods used for actually computing them, have played an enormous part in the development of mathematics. An account is given here of some of the methods used—most of the derivations can be made by elementary methods. This material can be used for teaching purposes, and there is much relevant and interesting historical material. The acceleration methods developed for the purpose of evaluating these constants are useful in other problems.
Urbanization alters the functional composition, but not taxonomic diversity, of the soil nematode community

We evaluated the response of riparian forest soil nematode community structure to the physico-chemical environment associated with urban land use. Soils were sampled seasonally between December 2000 and October 2002 along an urban—rural transect in Asheville, North Carolina. We characterized the taxonomic (to genus) and functional composition (trophic groups) of the nematode community of forest soils, as well as several nematode ecological indicators (maturity index, channel index, weighted faunal index). The diversity of nematode genera was not affected by urban land use. However, there tended to be functional differences in the nematode communities along the land use gradient. The urban soils tended to have lower abundances of predatory and omnivorous nematodes. Differences in channel index scores indicated that there was less fungal dominance in the soil food webs of the urban soils. Our results indicate that the functional composition of the soil food web is an important component of soil biodiversity that can be affected by land use practices. This study was conducted in a relatively small city; hence the influence of pollutants on the soil environment was not as great as in larger cities. Correspondingly, the impact on the soil nematode community was not very severe. The utilization of the nematode community assemblage as an indicator of soil conditions should be further explored in urban places of differing magnitudes of environmental effects. # 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V.
Use of a Schottky barrier to measure impact ionization coefficients in semiconductors

Abstract The use of a Schottky barrier to determine the impact ionization coefficients of electrons and holes in semiconductors has been studied analytically and also evaluated experimentally by comparing the results for silicon with those already available in the literature. The Schottky barrier offers several advantages over a diffused p-n junction in such measurements. Pure electron initiation and pure hole initiation can be separately achieved. The abrupt barrier provides an accurately known electric field, and the linearity of the field distribution simplifies the problem of extracting the ionization coefficients from the multiplication data. We present a general solution of the charge multiplication equation and derive expressions for the ionization coefficients for the particularly simple conditions that can be achieved in a Schottky-barrier junction. Our results for silicon in the range 2 × 105 α = α ∞ exp ( −b n E ) for electrons and β = β ∞ exp ( −b p E ) for holes, with α∞ = 9·2 × 105 cm−1, β∞ = 2·4 × 105 cm−1, bn = 1·45 × 106 V/cm and bb = 1·64 × 106 V/cm.
Population Structuring and Transmission Dynamics of a Laboratory Colony of Gromphadorholaelaps schaeferi: A Symbiotic Mite of the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach Gromphadorhina portentosa

Gromphadorholaelaps schaeferi is a symbiotic mite associated with the Madagascar hissing cockroach Gromphdorhina portentosa. The population structuring of G. schaeferi is described based on examination of 19,421 mites collected from 1,915 individuals of G. portentosa taken from a large laboratory colony. The mites exhibited an overall prevalence of 50.7% and mean intensity (+SE) of 20.0 (+0.6) with an infestation intensity range of 1-116, and relative abundance (+SE) of 10.1 (+0.4). Both prevalence and mean intensity of infestation exhibited a dramatic increase with increasing cockroach size/age. By the time cockroaches reach 40 mm the prevalence is nearly 100%. Mean intensity increases with cockroach length up to about 60 mm and then levels off at about 43 mites/cockroach. Overall, the mite distribution among cockroaches exhibited pronounced overdispersion with a variance to mean ratio of 30.1 and k value of 0.182101. Nevertheless, the distribution of mites on G. portentosa did not conform to expected values of the “classic” negative binomial distribution due to a greater number of moderate infestations than expected and a lower number of heavy infestations than expected.
Provenance for Explaining Taxonomy Alignments

Derivations and proofs are a form of provenance in automated deduction that can assist users in understanding how reasoners derive logical consequences from premises. However, system-generated proofs are often overly complex or detailed, and making sense of them is non-trivial. Conversely, without any form of provenance, it is just as hard to know why a certain fact was derived.
Immune anemias in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated with chemoimmunotherapy regimen of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab as initial therapy

6604 Background: Auto-immune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) has been reported with the use of fludarabine in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Since rituximab has been used to treat AIH...
Development and Feasibility of a Specialty-Specific National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP): The Head and Neck-Reconstructive Surgery NSQIP

Importance The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) serves the need for continual quality assessment in general surgery. Previously, no parallel mechanism specific to head and neck oncologic surgery existed. Objective To address the need for continual quality assessment in subspecialty surgery by adapting the ACS NSQIP platform for complex head and neck oncologic surgical procedures. Design, Setting, and Participants With an institutional ACS NSQIP team’s guidance, surgeons from the departments of head and neck surgery and plastic and reconstructive surgery developed disease- and procedure-specific preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables specific to head and neck surgery requiring reconstruction. Collection occurred with 100% sampling and standard ACS NSQIP 30-day follow-up. After a pilot period, long-term functional outcomes were added to this platform. A total of 312 patients underwent head and neck surgery requiring reconstruction at an academic medical center between August 1, 2012, and June 30, 2013. Exposures Development of a specialty-specific head and neck surgery ACS NSQIP platform. Main Outcomes and Measures The feasibility of adapting the ACS NSQIP platform to capture complex head and neck surgery metrics in all patients. Results Head and neck surgery–specific preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables were added to the ACS NSQIP platform and evaluated in 312 patients (201 [64.4%] male). Only 42 patients (13.5%) had no preoperative risk factors, and 136 (43.6%) had 3 or more risk factors. The mean (SD) duration of operation was 9.4 (3.0) hours (range, 1.7-19.3 hours). The mean (SD) postoperative length of stay was 7.9 (4.7) days (range, 1-40 days), 58 patients (18.6%) had an unplanned return to the operating room, 23 patients (7.4%) were readmitted within 30 days, and 3 patients (1.0%) died within 30 days. More than half of the patients (160 [51.3%]) did not experience a postoperative occurrence. Conclusions and Relevance To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive complex oncologic surgery outcomes platform derived from ACS NSQIP methods. The initial pilot demonstrates the ability to systematically capture head and neck surgery–specific variables with complete sampling. With multi-institutional expansion, increased accrual, and long-term patient-reported outcomes, we hope to set risk-adjusted benchmarks that may underpin quality improvement efforts in complex head and neck surgery.
Regulatory features of protein synthesis in isolated mitochondria from Artemia embryos

Optimal conditions were developed for measuring rates of protein synthesis in isolated mitochondria from encysted embryos of Artemia franciscana to 1) identify the required chemical constituents, 2) assess the influence of extramitochondrial pH on protein synthesis, and 3) investigate potential mechanisms coordinating nuclear and mitochondrial gene expression. Isolation procedures resulted in intact, highly coupled mitochondria [respiratory control ratio = 6.48 +/- 0.43 (SE), n = 21]. Requirements for maximal rates of protein synthesis, measured as incorporation of [3H]leucine (60 microM), included an oxidizable carbon source (10 mM succinate), adenine nucleotides (1.5 mM ADP), phosphate (10 mM), K+ (125 mM), Mg2+ (10 mM), amino acids (0.3 mM of each), sucrose or trehalose (500 mM), EGTA (1 mM), and bovine serum albumin (1 mg/ml). Rates were linear for 60 min at 25 degrees C (r = 0.99). Fluorography of translated products revealed 13 peptides. Previous research has shown that anoxia-induced acidification of intracellular pH (pHi) results in suppression of protein biosynthesis, as judged by cytochrome-c oxidase synthesis. In the present study, mitochondrial protein synthesis was acutely sensitive to external pH, with 80% inhibition observed by lowering pH from 7.5 to 6.8. Thus acidification of pHi may serve as one intracellular signal contributing to a coordinated suppression of both cytoplasmic and mitochondrial protein synthesis during transitions from active to anoxia-induced quiescent states.
Effects of psyllium hydrocolloid on bile acid metabolism in normal and hypophysectomized rats.

SummaryA study was made of the effects of diets supplemented with psyllium hydro-colloid (Metamucil) on bile acid half-lives and pool sizes in normal and hypophysectomized rats. Metamucil decreased bile acid half-lives by about 40% in both normal and hypophysectomized rats. The mucilloid also effected small but significant increases in the size of the bile acid pools. It was demonstrated that Metamucil increases bile acid excretion in rats by increasing the turnover rate and size of the bile acid pool. Pituitary and target gland hormones have little or no effect on the drug's ability to effect these changes.
The effect of training on ECS-induced hyperreactivity to footshock

Two experiments were performed to determine if training eliminates or exerts control over an ECS-induced hyperreaction to footshock (FS) that has been observed in nonlearning, inescapable FS situations. Experiment 1 showed that ECS resulted in a proactive facilitatory effect on avoidance learning, suggesting that training exerts control over an ECS-induced hyperreaction to FS. Experiment 2 demonstrated that an ECS-induced hyperreaction to FS is brought under stimulus control through the act of training. In this experiment, ECS was given following training, and an overreaction to FS in a test situation was expressed in terms of overmanipulation of a bar previously associated with FS termination; no such overreaction was expressed in terms of manipulating a bar not previously associated with the cessation of FS.
AIDS as a Paradigm of Human Behavior in Disease

A new required psychiatry course for first-year medical students linked the urgent need for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) education with the traditional goal of teaching the biopsychosocial model of illness. The course, “Human Behavior in Disease: AIDS as Paradigm,” used HIV/AIDS to demonstrate principles of all life-threatening diseases. Formal evaluations of the course’s impact indicated that it significantly reduced students’ prejudices and increased positive attitudes regarding AIDS patients. The students’ ratings of the course indicated that the AIDS paradigm was understood and valued. Our experience suggests that preclinical psychiatry courses can play an important role in the medical educational response to AIDS, while, at the same time, achieving their traditional curricular goals.
Influences of Surface Coating, UV Irradiation and Magnetic Field on the Algae Removal Using Magnetite Nanoparticles

Magnetophoretic separation is a promising and sustainable technology for rapid algal separation or removal from water. This work demonstrated the application of magnetic magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) coated with a cationic polymer, polyethylenimine (PEI), toward the separation of Scenedesmus dimorphus from the medium broth. The influences of surface coating, UV irradiation, and magnetic field on the magnetophoretic separation were systematically examined. After PEI coating, zeta potential of MNPs shifted from −7.9 ± 2.0 to +39.0 ± 3.1 mV at a pH of 7.0, which improved MNPs-algae interaction and helped reduce the dose demand of MNPs (e.g., from 0.2 to 0.1 g·g–1 while the harvesting efficiency (HE) of over 80% remained unchanged). The extended Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek theory predicted a strong attractive force between PEI-coated MNPs and algae, which supported the improved algal harvesting. Moreover, the HE was greater under the UV365 irradiation than that under the UV254, and increased with the ir...
New Life-Style Determinants of Women's Food Shopping Behavior:

Women's current high levels of participation in the labor force have focused attention on changing life-styles and consumption patterns. This study uses life-style variables as predictors of food s...
Inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on cattle hides by caprylic acid and β-resorcylic acid.

Two naturally occurring, generally recognized as safe compounds, namely, caprylic acid (CA) (1%) and β-resorcylic acid (BR) (1%), and their combination, applied at 23 and 60°C were evaluated for their antimicrobial effects against Escherichia coli O157:H7 on cattle hides in the presence and absence of bovine feces. Fresh cleaned cattle hides were cut into pieces (5 cm2), air dried, and inoculated with a five-strain mixture of nalidixic acid–resistant (50 μg/ml) E. coli O157:H7 (~8.0 log CFU). The hide samples were air dried under a biosafety hood for 2 h and sprayed with 95% ethanol, 1% CA, 1% BR, or a mixture of 1% CA and 1% BR at 23 or 60°C. The hide samples were kept at 23°C, and E. coli O157:H7 populations were determined at 2 and 5 min after treatment. Both CA and BR were effective in decreasing E. coli O157:H7 populations on hides by 3 to 4 log CFU/cm2 (P 0.05). Results of this study indicat...
Predicting Energies of Small Clusters from the Inhomogeneous Unitary Fermi Gas

We investigate the inhomogeneous unitary Fermi gas and use the long-wavelength properties to predict the energies of small clusters of unitary fermions trapped in harmonic potentials. The large pairing gap and scale invariance place severe restrictions on the form of the density functional. We determine the relevant universal constants needed to constrain the functional from calculations of the bulk in oscillating external potentials. Comparing with exact quantum Monte Carlo calculations, we find that the same functional correctly predicts the lack of shell closures for small clusters of fermions trapped in harmonic wells as well as their absolute energies. A rapid convergence to the bulk limit in three dimensions, where the surface-to-volume ratio is quite large, is demonstrated. The resulting functional can be tested experimentally, and is a key ingredient in predicting possible polarized superfluid phases and the properties of the unitary Fermi gas in optical lattices.
Electron and ion dynamics in graphene and graphane fragments subjected to high-intensity laser pulses

In the framework of real-time real-space time-dependent density functional theory complemented with Ehrenfest molecular dynamics we have studied the response of small graphene and graphane fragments to intense femtosecond laser pulses. In particular, we have investigated how the response changes with laser pulses of different frequency (near IR, visible, and UV). The results of our simulations show that graphene has a very high immediate (i.e., within laser-pulse duration) damage threshold. They also suggest that, similar to the case of other hydrogenated surfaces, it should be possible to selectively desorb hydrogens from graphane without destroying the underlying carbon structure provided that the laser pulse parameters are properly chosen.
Morphologic criteria for the diagnosis of prostatic adenocarcinoma in needle biopsy specimens: A study of 250 consecutive cases in a routine surgical pathology practice

c Context.—The diagnosis of prostate adenocarcinoma in needle core biopsy specimens is based on multiple diagnostic criteria and supportive features, most of which have been defined mainly from observations in transurethral resection and prostatectomy specimens. There is little information on the frequency with which diagnostic and supportive features of prostate cancer occur within benign glands. The few reports dealing with diagnostic criteria of cancer in needle biopsies have been largely confined to analysis of selected cases that posed particular diagnostic difficulty. Objective.—To analyze the frequency with which numerous diagnostic or supportive features of prostate cancer occur in an unselected, consecutively performed series of 18-gauge prostate needle biopsy specimens. Design.—Two hundred fifty consecutive 18-gauge prostate needle biopsy specimens (150 malignant and 100 benign) were evaluated, using hematoxylin-eosin‐stained histologic sections. Results.—The frequency of the histologic features in malignant and benign glands was as follows: prominent nucleoli (94% and 25% of malignant and benign specimens, respectively), marginated nucleoli (88% and 7%), multiple nucleoli (64% and 0%), blue-tinged mucinous secretions (52% and 0%), intraluminal crystalloids (40.6% and 1%), intraluminal amorphous eosinophilic material (86.7% and 2%), collagenous micronodules (2% and 0%), glomerulations (15.3% and 0%), perineural invasion (22% and 0%), retraction clefting (38.6% and 7%), and invasion of fat (0.7% and 0%). Conclusions.—Since not all diagnostic or supportive features of cancer are evident in any single case of cancer, particularly in needle biopsy specimens in which sampling is limited, awareness of these data would be helpful in the assessment of small foci of atypical glands being considered for cancer. (Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2002;126:554‐561)
Mass Spectrometry-Based Biomarker Discovery

The discovery of candidate biomarkers within the entire proteome is one of the most important and challenging goals in proteomic research. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics is a modern and promising technology for semiquantitative and qualitative assessment of proteins, enabling protein sequencing and identification with exquisite accuracy and sensitivity. For mass spectrometry analysis, protein extractions from tissues or body fluids and subsequent protein fractionation represent an important and unavoidable step in the workflow for biomarker discovery. Following extraction of proteins, the protein mixture must be digested, reduced, alkylated, and cleaned up prior to mass spectrometry. The aim of our chapter is to provide comprehensible and practical lab procedures for sample digestion, protein fractionation, and subsequent mass spectrometry analysis.
Chaos and Irreversibility

In contrast to the manifest irreversibility of nearly all systems we observe in nature, the basic dynamical laws of physics, be they classical or quantum, are time reversible. It has been a long-standing problem in physics to reconcile these two facts. The recent realization that unstable or chaotic dynamical systems are the most typical in nature has given fresh insight into this problem. We begin in this chapter with an informal discussion of the relation of unstable dynamics to the problem of irreversibility. We then discuss some general aspects of the evolution of probability densities in chaotic systems.
Magmatism as a response to exhumation of the Priest River complex, northern Idaho: Constraints from zircon U–Pb geochronology and Hf isotopes

Abstract Zircon and monazite U–Pb geochronology and zircon Hf isotopes place constraints on the temporal and source relationships between crustal anatexis, magmatism, and exhumation of the Priest River metamorphic core complex, northern Idaho. Granitoids that intruded the migmatitic, pelitic Hauser Lake gneiss include the
BMP-2 with anterior lumbar interbody fusion: Clinical usage and recent controversies

Abstract BMP-2 in the spine was first introduced as an adjunct to anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF). The best available evidence suggests increased fusion rates with BMP-2, which has led many to view it as a replacement for iliac crest autograft. It may also be beneficial in patients who are at higher risk for pseudarthrosis. In either case, only a few studies have shown a favorable cost–benefit ratio. The complication profile of BMP-2 has come under recent scrutiny, dependent not only on its biologic properties but also the dosage, carrier properties, surgical approach, and graft containment technique. Recently highlighted issues such as retrograde ejaculation, heterotopic ossification, and radiculitis have been associated with its use in the lumbar spine. An understanding of the benefits, risks, and costs of BMP-2 use in ALIF can help identify patients who are most likely to benefit from it and promote informed decision-making.
Disrupted mitochondrial genes and inflammation following stroke.

Abstract Aims Determine the subacute time course of mitochondria disruption, cell death, and inflammation in a rat model of unilateral motor cortical ischemic stroke. Main methods Rats received unilateral ischemia of the motor cortex and were tested on behavioral tasks to determine impairments. Animals were euthanized at 24 h, 72 h and 144 h and mRNA expression of key mitochondria proteins and indicators of inflammation, apoptosis and potential regenerative processes in ipsilesion cortex and striatum, using RT-qPCR. Mitochondrial proteins were examined at 144 h using immunoblot analysis. Key findings Rats with stroke induced-behavioral deficits had sustained, 144 h post-lesion, decreases in mitochondrial-encoded electron transport chain proteins NADH dehydrogenase subunit-1 and cytochrome c oxidase subunit-1 (mRNA and protein) and mitochondrial DNA content in perilesion motor and sensory cortex. Uncoupling-protein-2 gene expression, but not superoxide dismutase-2, remained elevated in ipsilateral cortex and striatum at this time. Cortical inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-6, was increased early and was followed by increased macrophage marker F4/80 after stroke. Cleaved caspase-3 activation was elevated in cortex and growth associated protein-43 was elevated in the cortex and striatum six days post-lesion. Significance We identified a relationship between three disrupted pathways, (1) sustained loss of mitochondrial proteins and mitochondrial DNA copy number in the cortex linked to decreased mitochondrial gene transcription; (2) early inflammatory response mediated by interleukin- 6 followed by macrophages; (3) apoptosis in conjunction with the activation of regenerative pathways. The stroke-induced spatial and temporal profiles lay the foundation to target pharmacological therapeutics to these three pathways.
Organ Donor Management

The processes of organ donation and transplantation have developed considerably over the past decades. As early as the beginning of the twentieth century, there were successful reports of transplantation of human skin and cornea [1, 2]. However, it was not until 1954 that the first successful solid organ transplant between identical twins was reported at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, Boston [3]. The advancement of immunosuppressive therapy over the years and the improvement in life-sustaining therapy have increased the potentials for cadaveric organ donation.
Strategic Deployments: The Universal/Local Nexus in the Work of José Carlos Mariátegui

Peruvian Marxist Jose Carlos Mariategui (1894–1930) is most well-known for his historical materialist defense of Incan communal structures in Peru. He made use of European political thought (primarily Marxism) to challenge both national and foreign orthodoxies and to uncover the ways that local and indigenous sources of knowledge could be called upon in historically and geographically specific struggles. His work addresses repeatedly what it means to indigenize and use ideas from elsewhere. His approach, this chapter argues, suggests a different way of thinking about the relationship between, on the one hand, European political thought, as a source of both content and method, and, on the other hand, the ideas, experiences and knowledge of regions colonized by Europe. Rather than understanding Latin American political thought in terms of whether or not, or to what degree, it engages with European political thought, one should understand it in terms of its strategic deployments of European political thought. The focus on strategic deployment highlights the importance given to the political effects of engaging with European political thought, rather than on its use or even on the intentions motivating its use. It also highlights the contingent and political nature of comparison in Latin America, as an exercise meant to respond to the political problems of a particular time and place, rather than one meant to produce answers about the universal and timeless applicability of certain answers and models. Finally, it reminds us that decentering European political thought does not necessarily help privilege other traditions, especially in the case of Latin America, where indigenous political thought is often constituted via a strategic deployment of European and other “foreign” political thought.
Binge alcohol consumption 18 h after induction of sepsis in a mouse model causes rapid overgrowth of bacteria, a cytokine storm, and decreased survival.

Alcohol abuse increases vulnerability to infections and infection-related mortality. In previous studies, we found that acute alcohol abuse in a binge-drinking model in mice decreased resistance to bacterial sepsis when alcohol was administered near the time of bacterial challenge. In the present study, we investigated the effects of alcohol administered later in the course of sepsis (18 h after injection of Escherichia coli). Our working hypothesis was that decreased production of cytokines caused by alcohol at this time would actually improve survival, because overproduction of pro-inflammatory mediators is thought to be the proximate cause of mortality in sepsis. Unexpectedly, administration of alcohol late in the course of sepsis led to a rapid increase in the number of viable bacteria in the peritoneal cavity. Significant increases in the concentrations of several cytokines and chemokines coincided with the increased number of bacteria in alcohol-treated mice and decreased survival time. These results demonstrated our working hypothesis to be incorrect, and reiterated the complexity of sepsis. Hypothermia is a consistent feature in this model of sepsis. In control mice (E. coli only), body temperature was near normal by 18 h or 21 h after administration of E. coli, but in mice treated with alcohol 18 h after E. coli, hypothermia was significant 3 h later and ultimately mortality was significantly increased. However, counteracting the hypothermic effect of alcohol by external warming of mice led to earlier mortality, demonstrating that hypothermia was not the major cause of mortality. These results, along with previous results from studies in which alcohol was given before initiation of sepsis, suggest that decreased cytokine and chemokine production may not be the key effect of alcohol that decreases resistance to sepsis. It seems more likely that suppression of mechanisms by which macrophages and neutrophils kill bacteria is critical, and this can occur even in the presence of high levels of cytokines and chemokines.
Indigenous Men and Masculinities: Legacies, Identities, Regeneration and Masculindians: Conversations about Indigenous Manhood

Review of Robert Alexander Innes and Kim Alexander, eds. Indigenous Men and Masculinities: Legacies, Identities, Regeneration. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 2015. http://msupress.org/books/book/?id=50-1D0-33ED#.VxrMvj-wdeI Sam McKegney. Masculindians: Conversations about Indigenous Manhood. East Lansing: Michigan State University Press, 2014. https://uofmpress.ca/books/detail/masculindians
Targeting of alpha4beta1 Integrin and CD4/CD8 on Human T Cells, in Addition to CD3 and CD28, Induces Maximal Activation, as Assessed by Single-Cell Analysis of MAP Kinase Pathway Activation and Cytokine Production.

Abstract Optimal T cell activation requires the formation of immunological synapses between T cells and antigen-presenting cells (APC). Immunological synapse formation involves the binding of ligands on APC to co-stimulatory receptors on T cells, resulting in maximal activation. Most prior in vitro studies examining the process of T cell activation have utilized immobilized mAbs or ligands to assess the roles of co-stimulatory molecules in T cell activation. Micro-domain formation in such models may be inflexible, potentially yielding misleading results about the relative importance of individual costimulatory pathways. To more physiologically mimic immunologic synapse formation, we stimulated T cells with soluble primary mAbs that were then cross-linked by secondary antibodies. Specifically, we induced cross-linking of surface proteins on purified human T cells using a combination of mAbs recognizing four potential co-stimulatory receptors (CD3, CD4 or CD8, CD28 and VLA4/a4b1 integrin), and assessed phospho-Erk1/2 and cytokine production at a single cell level using flow cytometry. Consistent with the predictions of the Bretscher-Cohn two-signal model, CD28 induced a modest increase in Erk1/2 phosphorylation (in CD4) and IL-2 production (in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells) and IFNg (in CD8+ T cells), while low dose (0.1mcg/ml) anti-CD3 mAb alone failed to induce significant activation (P additional co-stimulations through a4b1/VLA4 and CD4 or CD8 may be necessary to induce optimal T cell signaling, targeting of a4b1 and CD4/CD8 by specific agonists or antagonists may have therapeutic benefit in immunomodulation (e.g., augmentation of vaccine responses and/or abrogation of pathogenic T cell activation). Download : Download high-res image (71KB) Download : Download full-size image
Prevention and management of glucocorticoid-induced side effects: A comprehensive review: Gastrointestinal and endocrinologic side effects

Part 2 of this 4-part continuing medical education series continues with a discussion of the prevention and management of gastrointestinal side effects associated with corticosteroid use, including peptic ulcer disease, gastrointestinal bleeding, and pancreatitis, followed by a review of corticosteroid-related endocrinologic side effects, such as diabetes, adrenal suppression, and Cushing syndrome.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of health education on iodine deficiency disorders in Hebei province in 2009

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of health education on iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) in Hebei, and to provide basic information for development of control strategies. Methods A total of 34 project counties were selected in Hebei province, and 3 townships were chosen in each project county. Heath educational activities were carried out in the classes of grade 5 in the central primary school of each selected township. In the meantime, 3 villages were chosen in each selected township where the health education for women of childbearing age in the community was carried out. Sureys on knowledge of IDD control were conducted in the 34 project counties before and after the health educational activities. Results The knowing rates of IDD control among pupils in all 34 project counties increased from 71.10%(7835/11 019) to 94.84%(10 840/11 430) after health education, with a average increase of 23.74%. The knowing rates of IDD control among housewives increased from 77.02%(4531/5883) to 95.32%(5902/6192), with a average increase of 18.30%. Of which, the knowing rates of IDD control among pupils in Hengshui city increased from 55.56% (750/1350) to 94.89% (1281/1350),with a average increase of 39.33%. The knowing rates of IDD control among housewives in Handan city increased from 65.68%(532/810) to 96.50%(909/942), with a average increase of 30.82%. Conclusions The knowing rates of IDD control among pupils and housewives are remarkably increased after implementing the health education projects. They have better life and health habits, and the project achieves desired effect. Key words: Iodine; Deficiency diseases; Goiter, endemic; Health education
Repair of physiologic time series: Replacement of anomalous data points to preserve fractal exponents

Extraction of fractal exponents via the slope of the power spectrum is common in the analysis of many physiological time series. The fractal structure thus characterized is a manifestation of long-term correlations, for which the temporal order of the sample values is crucial. Missing data points due to artifacts and dropouts are common in such data sets, however, which can seriously disrupt the computation of fractal parameters. We evaluated a number of methods for replacing missing data in time series to enable reliable extraction of the fractal exponent, and make recommendations as to the preferred replacement method depending on the proportion of missing values and any a priori estimate of the fractal exponent.
Quantification of rat retinal and choroidal blood plasma kinetics, volume, and flow in vivo using dynamic contrast optical coherence tomography (Conference Presentation)

Blood flow patterns and kinetics in the choriocapillaris are poorly understood owing to a lack of quantitative ophthalmic imaging techniques for studying microvascular flow in the eye. Compared with the proximal retinal vasculature, the more distal choroidal vasculature is relatively more challenging to probe. Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Doppler Ultrasound can assess the retina and choroid, but do not resolve the finer layers or microvasculature. While Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) angiography produces high-quality choroidal images, attempts at quantification through Doppler-based methods have had mixed success. Here, we use a new technique called Dynamic Contrast OCT (DyC-OCT), which tracks the passage of an intravascular scattering contrast agent, to reveal laminar blood flow patterns in the retina and choroid in vivo. While conceptually similar to fluorescence angiography, DyC-OCT has the substantial benefit of depth resolution, which enables separation of retinal and choroidal microvasculature. The scattering contrast agent enables improved angiography of both macro- and microvasculature in the retina and choroid. Blood plasma transit times are measured in individual vessels, while flow and volume are quantified for each of the microvascular layers. As expected, the choriocapillaris had the highest volume and flow. Blood flow rates were estimated with an average retinal blood flow of 9.1 ± 4.3 μL/min and an average choroidal blood flow of 40 ± 18.3 μL/min in the rat eye. These rates are consistent with previous literature. DyC-OCT affords a new perspective on the poorly understood choriocapillaris blood flow and kinetics and may be useful for studying outer retinal diseases.