cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nilotinib-Associated Destructive Thyroiditis

Protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors are currently an important drug class in the treatment of leukemia. They represent targeted cancer therapy and have become the treatment of choice in chronic myeloid leukemia. Tyrosine kinases are enzymes expressed in multiple tissues and are involved in several signaling pathways influencing cellular growth. Below we describe a patient who developed an unusual complication of tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy: thyrotoxicosis due to destructive thyroiditis. We review the pathophysiology of tyrosine kinase inhibitor-induced thyroid dysfunction particularly with regard to new second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Competitive cost analysis in the mineral industries: The example of nickel

Abstract The theoretical basis of competitive cost analysis is described and linked with the practical aspects of constructing and analysing industry supply curves. Concepts of cost categories such as fixed and variable, avoidable, reactivating, net operating, cash, and total are discussed, as well as costs under capacity and less than capacity operating rates. The production unit is defined and cost determination by activity is discussed. Nickel production costs are used as an example to demonstrate the use of net and cash break even costs as proxies for variable costs in constructing industry supply curves and predicting behaviour of individual producers.
Improved Estimation of Target Velocity Using Multiple Model Estimation and a Dynamic Bayesian Network for a Robotic Tracker of Ocean Animals

A vision-based automatic tracking system for ocean animals in the midwater has been demonstrated in Monterey Bay, CA. Currently, the input to this system is a measurement of relative position of a target with respect to the tracking vehicle, from which relative velocities are estimated by differentiation. In this paper, the estimation of target velocities is extended to use knowledge of the modal nature of the motions of the tracked target and to incorporate the discrete output of an online classifier that categorizes the visually observable body motions of the animal. First, by using a multiple model estimator, a more expressive hybrid dynamical model is imposed on the target. Then, the estimator is augmented to input the discrete classification from the secondary vision algorithm by recasting the process and sensor models as a dynamic Bayesian network (DBN). By leveraging the information in the body motion classifications, the estimator is able to detect mode changes before the resulting changes in velocity are apparent and a significant improvement in velocity estimation is realized. This, in turn, generates the potential for improved closed-loop tracking performance.
Guidelines for Audiologists on the Benefits and Limitations of Genetic Testing

Purpose This tutorial provides information to aid audiologists in determining when a referral for a genetics evaluation is appropriate for a patient with hearing loss. Direction is given on discuss...
Transcriptional regulation of the parathyroid hormone-related peptide gene by glucocorticoids and vitamin D in a human C-cell line

A parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHRP) has been identified in human tumors associated with the syndrome of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. The PTHRP and parathyroid hormone (PTH) genes appear to have arisen by duplication and to represent members of a gene family. PTHRP mRNAs have been demonstrated in a number of normal tissues, but little is known concerning the regulation of PTHRP gene expression in any site. We studied PTHRP gene expression in TT cells, a human C-cell line which also produces calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide. We found that both the synthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone, and the active vitamin D metabolite, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, decreased steady-state PTHRP mRNA levels in TT cells in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. The dexamethasone effect was completely blocked by the glucocorticoid antagonist RU-486. 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 was found to be inactive. Neither dexamethasone nor 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 appeared to influence PTHRP mRNA stability in TT cells, and both agents were shown by nuclear transcription run-off assay to decrease PTHRP gene transcription. These findings indicate that the PTHRP gene is under the transcriptional control of glucocorticoids and vitamin D in a cell line with prototypical neuroendocrine features.
Beneficial Effects of Isoproterenol and Quinidine in the Treatment of Ventricular Fibrillation in Brugada Syndrome

The use of an implantable cardiac defibrillator has been advocated as the only effective treatment for the management of ventricular fibrillation (VF) in patients with Brugada Syndrome (BrS). However, this device is only useful for terminating VF. Intermittent and/or recalcitrant VF for which lifesaving cardioversion occurs is a problematic situation in this patient population. The immediate use of appropriate antiarrhythmics in the acute setting has proven to be lifesaving. Quinidine has been well established as an effective antiarrhythmic in BrS, while isoproterenol (ISP) has had some recognition as well. The addition of drug therapy to prevent the induction of these arrhythmias has been shown to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with BrS. It was proven to be especially effective in the presence of early repolarization, evidenced by the reduction or normalization of the early repolarization pattern on ECG. Thus, for the prophylactic management and long term suppression of VF in BrS, further prospective studies should be performed to determine the effectiveness of quinidine and ISP in this patient population.
External bias effect on junction photoluminescence in CdS/CdTe solar cells

We study photoluminescence (PL) from the CdS/CdTe solar-cell junction region. We observed that applied external bias V does not change the spectral shape of the PL signal, but significantly affects the integral PL intensity I(V). It increases with moderate forward bias, tends to saturate when V is above the open-circuit voltage and is suppressed for reverse bias. In the region of forward-bias saturation I(V) is extremely sensitive to device stressing. We attribute the observed phenomena to the field-induced separation of the light-generated electrons and holes. At forward bias above the open circuit voltage, when the field effect is suppressed, PL intensity is dominated by non-radiative recombination.
Needle localization for thoracoscopic resection of small pulmonary nodules in children

Abstract Background: Children who have malignant disease and pulmonary nodules frequently need a tissue diagnosis to direct therapy. Computed tomography (CT)-guided needle localization and methylene blue marking allow thoracoscopic resection of nonvisable nodules. Methods: Malignant disease was diagnosed in three patients aged 2, 2.5, and 11 years. Pulmonary nodules seen on chest CT, representing either metastatic disease or infection developed in each patient. All lesions were 1 to 2 cm deep to the pleural surface, precluding thoracoscopic visualization. A Homer mammographic needle was placed near the lesion using CT guidance under general anesthesia. The pleura overlying the lesion was also marked with methylene blue. Under the same anesthetic, patients went to the operating room where the lesions were thoracoscopically resected. Results: Needle localization and methylene blue staining accurately localized the lesion in all cases. Thoracoscopic resection provided a diagnosis of metastatic disease or infection in all cases. There were no complications. Conclusion: CT-guided needle localization of pulmonary lesions deep to the pleural surface, is a safe, accurate method for allowing thoracoscopic resection in these children who would otherwise need open thoracotomy for diagnosis.
The Use of Colour–difference Formulae in the Leather Industry

There has been an interest in colour measurement and the measurement of colour differences for a considerable number of years in the leather industry. A brief outline of their use and of the related problems is given and the application of colour–difference equations to matching, sorting and specifications is reviewed. Particular attention is drawn to the fact that no single colour–difference formula is likely to be acceptable for all productions of leather.
Altered mental status in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is secondary to nonconvulsive status epilepticus

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a syndrome with numerous neurological manifestations including altered mental status and seizures. At least 10% of the patients with TTP seen at our institution had nonconvulsive status epilepticus as a cause of or associated with their altered mental status. We propose that altered mental status secondary to nonconvulsive status epilepticus requiring electroencephalographic diagnosis and antiepileptic medication occurs in a substantial proportion of patients with TTP.
Obesity in the rat induced by hypothalamic implants of gold thioglucose.

Abstract This study was designed to circumvent the use of highly toxic levels of gold thioglucose and yet use the compound to induce obesity in rats. This was accomplished by placing gold thioglucose-filled cannulas in the ventromedial nuclei of the hypothalamus. Statistically significant increases in food consumption and weight gain were observed in both male and female animals after such cannulation. The possible advantage of using this method, rather than electrolytic lesions, to produce obesity in rats is discussed.
Investigating the effects of digital filtering on digital modulations

Digital filters are a basic building block of a communication system and can serve many diverse purposes such as: restricting a signal to a prescribed frequency band, separating a signal into two or more sub-bands, modifying the spectral content of a signal, modeling a communication channel, performing mathematical operations, reducing the noise content of a signal, etc. On occasion, digital filters are used to estimate the bandwidth of a digital modulation and this paper will investigate possible issues that can be encountered when using digital filters for this purpose.
Defending intellectual property: State efforts to protect creative works

We examine state efforts to protect intellectual property. In particular, we assess two alternative hypotheses relating to these efforts: the intellectual property protection argument, which predicts an increasing amount of law aimed at protecting intellectual property from unauthorized use; and the intellectual property access argument, which predicts little growth in law aimed at protecting intellectual property but considerable growth in law aimed at providing access to it. Focusing on copyright law, we consider legislative action dealing with copyright between 1949 and 1992, efforts to enforce copyright law as a whole between 1955 and 1993, and efforts to enforce copyright law in one sphere between 1985 and 1994. Our analysis provides mixed support for the intellectual property protection argument. Federal legislators increasingly sought to pass laws protecting creative works, and their efforts intensified over the last decade. On the other hand, federal officials were less than aggressive in enforcin...
Characteristics of Lower Wilcox Reservoirs, Valentine Field, Lavaca County, Texas: ABSTRACT

In the Valentine field, Lavaca County, Texas, sandstones of the lowermost Wilcox Group produce oil at depths of about 9,100 ft (2,776 m) in a stratigraphic trap from two sandstones locally called the "Technik" and "Kubena" zones. Full-diameter cores from the Technik zone show that it consists of thin-bedded turbidites. The Technik reservoir is 25 ft (8 m) thick in a core from the Harkins 1 Mikulenka well. The upper part is composed of thicker beds on the order of 2 to 4 ft (0.6 to 1.2 m), and each displays sequences of massive or massive-to-laminated bedding. These sandstones represent turbidite sequences of the AE and ABE types and were probably End_Page 1595------------------------------ channel deposits. The lower part is composed of thinner beds about 1 ft (0.3 m) thick of more complete sequences which include ripple laminae. These sandstones represent turbidites of the ABCE type and were probably overbank deposits. Some adjacent sandy shales are moderately bioturbated, generally on a fine scale. The Technik nonreservoir facies is 31 ft (9.5 m) thick in a core from the Harkin-Five Resources 1 Cyrus Paul well. The section consists of thinly interbedded shales and turbidite sandstones which are typically incomplete sequences of the AE, BE, and CE types. The shales are not bioturbated. The nonreservoir facies may be characterized as "distal" overbank deposits. The nonreservoir facies of the overlying Kubena zone is similar. The reservoir sandstones are fine grained (0.17 mm) and contain 59% quartz, 12% other mineral grains, 14% matrix, and 15% kerogenlike organic material. Silica overgrowths and calcite cements comprise an average 13% of bulk volume. Composition results in a relatively low average permeability of 4 md and porosity of 18%. The Technik reservoir sandstone appears to represent the fill of outer-shelf channels along which sands were transported to the shelf margin and into the deeper basin beyond. The nonreservoir facies represents overbank deposits adjacent to channels, but the relation between channel and overbank deposits is not clear. The overbank deposits could have been either contemporaneous, levee sediments adjacent to channel-fill sandstones, or they may represent deposits into which later channels were eroded and then filled. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1596------------
37. ADXS11-001, mitomycin, 5-FU and radiation for anal cancera A phase I/II study

Background Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA is present in the majority of squamous cell cancers of the anus. ADXS11–001 immunotherapy is a live attenuated Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) bioengineered to secrete an HPV-16-E7 fusion protein targeting HPV-transformed cells. The Lm vector infects antigen-presenting cells, stimulating both MHC class 1 and 2 pathways resulting in specific T-cell immunity to tumours. The Brown University Oncology Research Group has initiated a phase I/II study evaluating two treatment schedules of ADXS11–001 with standard chemoradiation for anal cancer. Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed anal cancer with a primary tumour >4 cm or lymph node involvement, without distant metastases, are eligible. All patients receive two courses of mitomycin, 5-FU with concurrent radiation (54 Gy in 30 fractions by IMRT). Patients receive four treatments of ADXS11–001, 1 × 109 colony-forming units intravenously once approximately every 28 days. In treatment schedule 1, the first dose is given before chemoradiation and the second to fourth doses are given every 28 days after completion of radiation. In treatment schedule 2, the second dose of ADXS11–001 is administered during chemoradiation. Results: Three patients have been treated with ADXS11–001 and chemoradiation on treatment schedule 1. One patient developed grade 3 chills and one patient experienced grade 2 flu-like symptoms post-infusion, both resolved with symptomatic treatment. Conclusions: ADXS11–001 is a highly novel form of immunotherapy designed to generate an immune response against HPV transformed cells. Accrual is continuing to evaluate safety and efficacy for patients with anal cancer.
A statistical approach to modeling the behavior of bond raters

Since the early 1970s the literature concerning statistical models of bond ratings has burgeoned. The thrust of these studies has been the attempt to predict as accurately as possible the rating assigned to a particular firm’s bond issue based on readily available data concerning that firm’s financial characteristics.’ In concentrating on accurate prediction, however, these studies have tacitly assumed that the bond rater’s assessment of default risk is perfectly accurate. As a result, those variables that are theoretically important in directly affecting default risk are the ones employed as predictors, and the statistical model judged as best is the one having the highest percentage of correct ratings predictions. We have no objection to this approach per se; correctly predicting bond ratings is clearly important, and these studies have contributed dramatically to our understanding of the bond-rating process. Perhaps because of their interest in accurate prediction, however, these studies have paid little attention to several questions of interest and potential importance both to rating agencies and to the firms whose debt is rated. These questions are as follows: What variables significantly affect a rater’s assessment of a bond’s quality?* What is the relative importance of each of these variables in determining the position of the bond in the rater’s implicit quality hierarchy? What is the magnitude of the effect of an incremental change in a particular financial variable on the probability of a firm’s issue receiving a given rating? Answers to these questions should be of interest to the financial manager of a debt-issuing company to the extent that the ability to control key financial variables implies some ability to control the rating assigned to its bonds. Likewise, answers to these questions should be of interest to rating agencies for establishing objective norms for their raters.3
Some reflections on the early days of mass spectrometry at the university of minnesota

Abstract A discussion is given of the electron impact ionizing system introduced by Bleakney in 1929 and how it influenced mass spectrometer development in the next decade. The transformation from an instrument mounted in a solenoid whose magnetic field both collimated the ionizing beam of electrons and performed the mass analysis to an instrument in which an electromagnet replaced the solenoid is traced. The further transition to an arrangement in which a sector magnetic field is employed for performing the mass analysis, and the ion source and collector systems are outside the sector magnet, is described.
Effects of ligand activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ in human prostate cancer

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) is a nuclear hormone receptor that plays a key role in the differentiation of adipocytes. Activation of this receptor in liposarcomas and breast and colon cancer cells also induces cell growth inhibition and differentiation. In the present study, we show that PPARgamma is expressed in human prostate adenocarcinomas and cell lines derived from these tumors. Activation of this receptor with specific ligands exerts an inhibitory effect on the growth of prostate cancer cell lines. Further, we show that prostate cancer and cell lines do not have intragenic mutations in the PPARgamma gene, although 40% of the informative tumors have hemizygous deletions of this gene. Based on our preclinical data, we conducted a phase II clinical study in patients with advanced prostate cancer using troglitazone, a PPARgamma ligand used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Forty-one men with histologically confirmed prostate cancer and no symptomatic metastatic disease were treated orally with troglitazone. An unexpectedly high incidence of prolonged stabilization of prostate-specific antigen was seen in patients treated with troglitazone. In addition, one patient had a dramatic decrease in serum prostate-specific antigen to nearly undetectable levels. These data suggest that PPARgamma may serve as a biological modifier in human prostate cancer and its therapeutic potential in this disease should be further investigated.
Near threshold photodissociation of expansion cooled NCNO: Nascent CN(X2Σ+) without internal excitation

Abstract The dissociation of expansion cooled NCNO following A 1 A″  X 1 A′ excitation transpires via vibrational predissociation, and the CN(X 2 Σ) fragments are extremely cold near reaction thereshold. Only υ″ = O is produced, and 90% of the CN is in N ″ = O corresponding to ( E internal ) −1 . A revised value for the NCNO dissociation energy ( D o = 17085 ± 10 cm −1 ) is reported.
I Remember: The Decade Before (And After) l977

This autobiographical essay recounts the intellectual and professional journey that led the author to write his 1977 article on how to teach Slavic bibliology to the humanist and the social scientist. It seeks to contextualize the views expressed in the original talk at Oxford University and thereby to provide additional material for a future history of Slavic bibliographic instruction.
Meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials of laparoscopic vs conventional inguinal hernia repairs

Background: Despite randomized controlled trials, the merits of laparoscopic hernia repair remain poorly defined. A meta-analysis may provide a timely overview.
Village Voice or Village Oligarchy?: The Jurors of the Durham Halmote Court, 1349 to 1424

In the decades following the arrival of the Black Death in County Durham, the rhythms of old village and estate institutions such as the local halmote court may have provided some sense of stability in a changing world. In fact, the first surviving records of the bishopric halmotes are from 1349, as the court met even as the disease ravaged the populace.1 The Durham halmotes regulated much of rural life, administering the conveyance of land, hearing litigation, collecting seignorial dues, and enforcing agri cultural bylaws, and at the heart of the court was its jury, drawn from the customary tenantry of each village.2 Whereas studies of manorial juries
Pediatric rehabilitation: 5. Transitioning teens with disabilities into adulthood.

Objective This self-directed learning module focuses on preparing adolescent patients with special health care needs for adulthood by promoting their independence in their own self-care; helping them to navigate issues of sexuality, marriage, and parenting; preparing the patient and family to make guardianship decisions during the transition between childhood and adulthood; and planning for higher education or vocation. Emphasis will be on the role of the physiatrist in providing this guidance and its importance in improving the patient's quality of life. It is part of the study guide on pediatric rehabilitation in the Self-Directed Physiatric Education Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation and pediatric medicine. The goal of this article is to refine the learner's knowledge of preparing adolescent patients with special health care needs for adulthood to improve their quality of life.
Modeling Proteins as Residue Interaction Networks to Understand Structure-Function Relationship

Proteins participate in various cellular processes in their monomeric and oligomeric states. Their structural stability and interaction capability are important for their efficient functioning in oligomeric state. Identification of residues important for those interactions remains a problem. Here, we model proteins as network with amino acid residues being the nodes of the network and proximity (both bonded and non-bonded interactions) between residues are the edges. Network studies of proteins have shown that active sites and functionally important residues in monomeric proteins can be identified. In the current work we use Network Analysis (NA) for identifying important residues in our interacting protein database, FLIPdb. We adapted a coarse grained approach to construct network by connecting Cμ atoms of amino acid residues within 9 A distance. Analysis of network centrality parameters such as degree, closeness, and betweeness indicate that the network characteristics of residues involved in quaternary interactions (particularly those functionally-linked) are differentiable from the network characteristics of other residues.
Semilinear wave equations

Abstract Solution of semilinear wave equations by the decomposition method is demonstrated to have advantages over conventional methods. Application to quasilinear wave equations and other forms follows immediately.
Sacral neuromodulation for the symptomatic treatment of refractory interstitial cystitis: a prospective study.

ABSTRACTPurpose: The efficacy of sacral neuromodulation for the treatment of symptoms in patients with refractory interstitial cystitis was evaluated.Materials and Methods: A total of 25 patients with a mean age of 47 years and refractory interstitial cystitis were prospectively evaluated with a trial of sacral nerve stimulation. Patients who demonstrated 50% improvement in frequency, nocturia, voided volume and average pain qualified for permanent sacral nerve stimulator implantation. Treatment success was measured by voiding diary, report of average pain, and response to the Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index and Interstitial Cystitis Problem Index.Results: Of the 25 patients 17 qualified for permanent sacral nerve stimulator implantation. At an average of 14 months followup mean daytime frequency and nocturia improved from 17.1 to 8.7 and 4.5 to 1.1, respectively (p <0.01). Mean voided volume increased from 111 to 264 ml. (p <0.01). Report of average pain decreased from 5.8 to 1.6 points on a scale of...
Croatia: A country “created from God's tears”

This article introduces Croatia as a newly independent Eastern European state that is emerging from centuries of rule by others. Croatia aims to be a modern European nation, offering great potential for international business, tourism, and economic development. Information about Croatia is in short supply, so this article provides valuable insights for businesspeople considering doing business in Croatia. This information can also serve as a general benchmark for neighboring countries that were members of the former Yugoslavia. In the article, we provide background cultural information on Croatia and discuss aspects of the environment relating to (1) political, regulatory, and legal conditions; (2) human resource factors; and (3) foreign direct investment, trade, and marketing conditions. We conclude with managerial and research implications, as well as an evaluation of the outlook for Croatia's future. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Detection of radiation-induced cervical atheromas by panoramic radiography.

Abstract Therapeutic irradiation of the neck is frequently used to treat patients with head and neck carcinoma. The irradiation, however, has been implicated as the cause of cervical carotid artery atherosclerotic lesions and subsequent stroke. Panoramic radiography previously shown capable of demonstrating isolated lesions was used to assess their development over time. Individuals with a pre-irradiation radiograph free of atheromas were enrolled for study. The prevalence rate of atheroma formation on post-irradiation (bilateral portals at ⩾45 Gy) radiographs obtained at an interval of ⩾36 months was determined. A control group of non-irradiated patients having similar risk factors for head and neck carcinoma and atherosclerosis and having an initial radiograph free of atheroma formation were likewise enrolled for study. The prevalence rate of atheroma formation on a second radiograph obtained from these individuals at an interval of ⩾36 months was determined. The study population consisted of 17 patients, with a mean age of 56.5 (range 21.5–77.8) years who received a mean therapeutic irradiation dose of 53.2 Gy (range 45–71) to each side of their neck. The prevalence rate of atheromas manifested on the post-irradiation radiographs was 53%. These radiographs were obtained, on average, 69.7 (range 37–133) months after completion of radiation therapy. The prevalence rate of atheromas manifested on the second radiograph of patients in the control group was 5.9%. These radiographs were obtained, on average, 53.5 (range 52–55) months after the first. The difference in prevalence rates was statistically significant (p=0.0003). Individuals who have received therapeutic irradiation to the neck are more likely to develop carotid artery atheromas after treatment than are risk-matched control patients who have not been irradiated. These lesions can be detected by panoramic radiography.
The relationship between coping and psychological well-being among people with osteoarthritis: A problem-specific approach

We examined the strategies that people with osteoarthritis (OA) use to cope with illness-related problems in four areas: household activities, leisure activities, pain management, and social relationships. We also examined the relationship between the coping strategies participants reported using upon entry to the study (Time 1) and psychological well-being reported six months later. Three hundred people, aged 50 and over, with OA participated in the study. Data were collected via two mailed questionnaires, administered at six-month intervals. We found that two of the coping strategies examined, self-criticism and social withdrawal, were used more frequently for social relationship problems than for any of the other three types of problems. None of the other coping strategies (i.e. problem solving, cognitive restructuring, social support, emotional expression, problem avoidance, turning to religion, information seeking) were used differentially across problem areas. Multivariate analyses revealed that the coping strategies people used at Time 1 significantly predicted psychological well-being, as assessed by measures of positive affect, negative affect, and depressive symptoms, six months later. However, the specific strategies that predicted positive affect were different from those that predicted negative affect and depressive symptoms. Implications of these findings for future research on coping with chronic illness are discussed.
Treasures in the Cellar: Images of Architecture in the National Gallery of Art Library Image Collections, and Other Highlights for Slavic and East European Scholars

The National Gallery of Art Library Image Collections is a vast visual repository of images of works of art and architecture. Among resources for Slavic scholars, the archive of William Craft Brumfield is exemplary. Other National Gallery holdings of interest to Slavicists can be found in the Department of Photography, the Department of Prints and Drawings, and the Library Rare Book Collection.
Using Living Skin Equivalents for Diabetic Foot Ulceration

Diabetic foot ulcers are a major clinical challenge with enormous socioeconomic consequence. All advances in the understanding and management of this problem are eagerly received by wound specialis...
Fracture characterization of concrete/epoxy interface affected by moisture

article i nfo Keywords: Concrete Debonding Epoxy Fracture Interface Moisture abstract Knowledge on durability of concrete/epoxy bonded systems is becoming essential as the use of these systems in applications such as fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) in strengthen- ing of concrete structures is becoming increasingly popular. Prior research studies in this area indicate that moisture plays an important role on durability of these systems. Prema- ture failures of the bonded system may occur regardless of the durability of the individual constituent materials forming the material system, and that the durability of the overall FRP-bonded system may be governed by the interface integrity. In this study, fracture toughness of concrete/epoxy interfaces as affected by combinations of various degrees of moisture ingress and temperature levels is quantified. For this purpose, sandwiched beam specimens containing concrete/epoxy interfaces were tested and analyzed using the con- cepts of fracture mechanics. Mechanical properties of individual materials constituting the interface (concrete and epoxy) were also characterized for the evaluation of the corre- sponding interface fracture toughness. Experimental results have shown a significant decrease, up to about 50%, in the interface fracture toughness of concrete/epoxy bond with selected levels of moisture and temperature conditioning of the specimens for both mode I and mixed mode conditions, and that moisture affected debonding may occur in the inter- face region involving a distinctive dry-to-wet debonding mode shift from material decohe- sion (concrete delamination) to interface separation. The mechanistic knowledge and the experimental data presented in this paper will serve as a basis for the use in the design improvement of material systems containing such interfaces for better system durability.
Burn survivors' perceptions of rehabilitation.

Abstract Background The perspectives of burn survivors offer a powerful tool in assessing the efficacy of burn therapy interventions and methods. Despite this potential wealth of data, comprehensive analysis of burn survivor feedback remains largely uninvestigated and underdocumented. The aim of this study was to evaluate specific burn therapy interventions based on the opinions of a sample of the burn community. Methods The survey was distributed to a convenience sample drawn from burn survivors attending the Phoenix Society's 21st Annual World Burn Congress in New York City, New York. Items of inquiry focused on therapeutic intervention and reintegration. The 164 surveys (a 44% response rate) returned included burn survivors from a variety of demographic segments and with burn injuries of disparate size, location, and severity. Interventions of interest included splinting and positioning, pressure garments, therapeutic exercise, group therapy, and nontraditional therapy. Respondents also rated the contribution of acute burn rehabilitation toward reintegration into familial, societal, and professional roles. Results The vast majority of respondents felt that the rehabilitative interventions they experienced positively affected their long-term physical and psychosocial outcomes. In the areas of improving movement and scarring and expediting reintegration and usefulness, the majority of applicable interventions generated “strongly agree” or “agree” as the most popular responses. Conclusions These findings support the efficacy of many practices employed by burn rehabilitation specialists and offer a glimpse into the inherent benefits found in assessment of burn survivors’ perspectives.
Pudendal neuropathy in evacuatory disorders

PURPOSE: Aims of the present study were to assess frequency of pudendal neuropathy in patients with constipation and fecal incontinence, to determine its correlation with clinical variables, anal electromyographic assessment, and anal manometric pressures, and to determine usefulness of the pudendal nerve terminal motor latency assessment in evaluation of these evacuatory disorders. METHODS: From 1988 to 1993, 395 patients (constipated, 172; incontinent, 223) underwent pudendal nerve terminal motor latency, electromyography, and anal manometry. Pudendal neuropathy was defined as a pudendal nerve terminal motor latency greater than 2.2 ms. RESULTS: Patients were a mean age of 60.7 (range, 17–88) years. Overall incidence of pudendal neuropathy was 31.4 percent (constipated, 23.8 percent; incontinent, 37.2 percent;P<0.05). Incidence of pudendal neuropathy dramatically increased after 70 years of age in both groups (22 percentvs.44 percent;P<0.05). Moreover, subjects with pudendal neuropathy were older than those without pudendal neuropathy (mean age, 67vs.57 years;P<0.05). The presence of pudendal neuropathy was associated with decreased motor unit potentials recruitment in patients with incontinence (P<0.01). Patients with and without pudendal neuropathy had a similar mean squeezing pressure in both groups. CONCLUSION: Pudendal neuropathy is an age-related phenomenon. Although pudendal neuropathy is associated with abnormal anal electromyographic findings in patients with incontinence, no association with anal manometric pressures was found. Pudendal nerve terminal motor latency assessment is a useful tool in the evaluation of patients with fecal incontinence, but its role in the assessment of constipated patients remains unknown.
Digit ratio (2D:4D), mate guarding, and physical aggression in dating couples

The current study assessed digit ratio (2D:4D) and mate guarding in 101 dating couples. Low 2D:4D men (indicating higher prenatal testosterone exposure) were more likely to state that they threatened male competitors and used more threats and physical aggression toward their female partners. Men were particularly likely to use threats and physical aggression toward partners who cheated in the current relationship. In addition, women resisted mate guarding by men with high 2D:4D, particularly when women cheated on their partner. High 2D:4D women were more possessive toward their partner. This is consistent with ideas regarding the effects of sexual selection on mate guarding.
Species-Specific PCR Assays for Differentiating Heterodera filipjevi and H. avenae

Abstract Heterodera avenae and H. filipjevi are economically important cyst nematodes that restrict production of cereal crops in the Pacific Northwest United States and elsewhere in the world. Identification of these two species is critical for recommending and implementing effective management practices. Primers were designed from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of H. avenae and H. filipjevi ribosomal DNA. The primers were highly specific when examined on target isolates but did not amplify DNA from nontarget Heterodera, Globodera, Meloidogyne, Pratylenchus, and other nematode species tested. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and amplification conditions were established, and H. avenae and H. filipjevi were clearly distinguished by PCR fragments of 242 and 170 bp, respectively. Robust PCR amplification was achieved with DNA extracted from a single egg or second-stage juvenile (J2) using a laboratory-made worm lysis buffer, and DNA from 0.5 egg or J2 using a commercial kit. The PCR assays wer...
ECS-induced retrograde amnesia for one trial active avoidance

A procedure is described for obtaining one trial active avoidance in a standard step down apparatus. Four groups of rats were given a single step down trial consisting of either platform shock, platform shock followed by ECS, ECS, or no treatment. On the test trial, the platform shock Ss stepped off the platform significantly faster than the other groups which did not differ among themselves. The data refutes the contention that ECS acts selectively on passive as opposed to active responses.
Moritz Kaposi: Idiopathic pigmented sarcoma of the skin

Moritz Kaposi first published a description of the entity that bears his name in 1872, calling it "idiopathic multiple pigmented sarcoma of the skin." For many years thereafter, Kaposi's sarcoma was considered to be a relatively rare, slow-growing malignancy, most commonly seen in middle-aged and elderly men. This changed in 1981, with Alvin Friedman-Kein's report of what eventually proved to be HIV-associated (epidemic) Kaposi's sarcoma. Kaposi's sarcoma is now one of the diagnostic markers of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, as well as the most common neoplastic complication of that disease. HIV-associated Kaposi's sarcoma tends to disseminate widely to mucous membranes and the viscera. Almost all of the cases reported in the United States have occurred in homosexual and bisexual men, and a number of hypotheses have been suggested to explain this association. Over the past several years, however, the incidence of HIV-associated Kaposi's sarcoma has declined, and the reasons for this are also uncertain.
Temporal Land Cover Analysis for Net Ecosystem Improvement

Abstract Although ecological processes at landscape scales can drive ecosystem structure and function at local sites, the monitoring and assessment of restoration projects and programs rarely incorporates changes in landscapes. Riverscapes naturally have a high level of hydrologic connectivity so when floodplain habitats are reconnected to the main stem river to restore function, it is especially important to consider the potential effects of watershed processes on outcomes. This study demonstrates a method for selecting relevant indicators, identifying appropriate spatial scales, and measuring trends to inform assessment of a large-river restoration program. We identified eight major watersheds contributing to river reaches within the 1468 km2 historical floodplain of the lower Columbia River and estuary. We assessed land-cover change at the watershed, reach, and restoration site scales by reclassifying remote-sensing data from the NOAA Coastal Change Analysis Program's land cover/change product into forest, wetland, and urban categories. The watershed analysis showed a 361.6 km2 total and 198.3 km2 net forest loss during the first six years of the Columbia Estuary Ecosystem Restoration Program, 2001–2006. Total urbanization in the watersheds during 1996–2006 was 48.4 km2. Trends in forest gain/loss and urbanization differed between watersheds. Wetland gains and losses were within the margin of error of the satellite imagery analysis. These findings are important to restoration planning and assessment, e.g., floodplain restoration sites in reaches downstream of watersheds with decreasing forest cover may be subject to increased sediment loads and those downstream of urbanization may experience altered hydrological processes caused by increased impervious surface.
Slow Neutron Velocity Spectrometer Studies of Cu, Ni, Bi, Fe, Sn, and Calcite

The thermal cross section of Cu is well matched by the curve $\ensuremath{\sigma}=(7.8+0.54{E}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{2}})$. Microcrystalline interference is observed in the low energy region. The cross section decreases slowly from 8 to 7.3 between 2 and 100 ev, then decreases more rapidly until at zero timing it is 5.3. A small dip is observed near 3000 ev. The thermal cross section of Ni is well matched by the curve $\ensuremath{\sigma}=(17.0+0.77{E}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{2}})$. Microcrystalline interference effects are observed at low energies. The Ni cross section is approximately constant at 17.2 from 3 to 50 ev. A small dip is observed with a minimum near 100 ev. Above 100 ev the cross section drops rapidly to 8 at zero time of flight. Bismuth shows no $\frac{1}{v}$ slope in the thermal region because of microcrystalline interference effects. The free cross section of Bi is (9.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2) and is constant over the energy region investigated. The thermal cross section of Fe is well matched by the curve $\ensuremath{\sigma}=(11.0+0.35{E}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{2}}$. Microcrystalline interference effects are observed in the low energy region. The cross section of Fe remains approximately constant at 11 from 3 to 300 ev, then decreases to 4.8 at zero time of flight. The cross section of Sn in the thermal region rises because of microcrystalline interference effects which mask any $\frac{1}{v}$ slope. The free cross section is (4.9\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1). There is a slight dip in the transmission curve of tin around 6 ev which may or may not be real. Other small dips near 50 and 100 ev are probably real. The cross section increases near zero time of flight indicating that there are probably resonances above 1000 ev. The cross section of a large Nicol Prism decreases from the additive CaC${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ cross section of 20 at short wave-lengths to about 3.5 at 0.005 ev. The residual cross section cannot be explained by theory.
Agricultural technologies for climate change in developing countries: Policy options for innovation and technology diffusion

Climate has obvious direct effects on agricultural production. The reverse is more apparent than ever as greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture are tallied. The development and effective diffusion of new agricultural practices and technologies will largely shape how and how well farmers mitigate and adapt to climate change. This adaptation and mitigation potential is nowhere more pronounced than in developing countries where agricultural productivity remains low; poverty, vulnerability and food insecurity remain high; and the direct effects of climate change are expected to be especially harsh. Creating the necessary agricultural technologies and harnessing them to enable developing countries to adapt their agricultural systems to changing climate will require innovations in policy and institutions as well. Potential constraints to innovation involve both the private and public sectors in both developing and developed countries. The process of transferring agricultural innovations across agroecological and climatic zones is often subject to agronomic constraints. Often, the most binding constraints occur at the adoption stage, with several factors that potentially impede poor farmers’ access to and use of new technologies. Based on discussions of these constraints, we derive six policy principles and use these principles to suggest several specific investments and policy priorities.
Geomorphic evidence for the distribution of ground ice on Mars

High-resolution Viking orbiter images show evidenced for quasi-viscous relaxation of topography. The relaxation is believed to be due to creep deformation of ice in near-surface materials. The global distribution of the inferred ground ice shows a pronounced latitudinal dependence. The equatorial regions of Mars appear to be ice-poor, while the heavily cratered terrain poleward of + or - 30 deg latitude appears to be ice-rich. The style of creep poleward of + or - 30 deg varies with latitude, possibly due to variations in ice rheology with temperature. The distribution suggests that ice at low latitudes, which is not in equilibrium with the present atmosphere, has been lost via sublimation and diffusion through the regolith, thereby causing a net poleward transport of ice over martian history.