cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of malignant tumors involving pterygopalatine fossa.

BACKGROUND To identify the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of malignancies involving the pterygopalatine fossa (PPF). METHODS Fifty-seven patients who underwent curative surgery for malignant tumor involving PPF were reviewed. RESULTS The rates for three-year local control (LC), five-year disease-free survival (DFS) and five-year overall survival (OS) were 55.4%, 34.5%, and 52.7%, respectively. Perineural invasion (PNI) of the maxillary nerve with facial numbness (symptomatic V2 PNI) (P = .04) and cranial involvement (P = .03) were predictors for poor OS. Symptomatic V2 PNI was also a significant predictor for poor LC (P = .05) and DFS (P = .03). Within the subgroup analysis of patients with pathologically confirmed V2 PNI, asymptomatic V2 PNI patients had significantly better LC (71.2% vs 31.8%, P = .05) and DFS (43.8% vs 17.3%, P = .05) compared to symptomatic patients. CONCLUSION Malignant tumors involving the PPF have diverse pathologies and a poor prognosis. Symptomatic V2 PNI may be an independent poor prognostic factor.
Interactions of BA, GA3, NAA, and surfactant on interspecific hybridization of Lycopersicon esculentum x L. chilense

Time consuming and expensive tissue culture type techniques are currently used for achieving Lycopersicon esculentum × L. chilense interspecific hybrids. The objective of this study was to determine if the number of viable hybrid seed produced directly from this wide cross could be improved by optimizing female/male parent selection when treated with various hormones in the presence or absence of a surfactant (Triton X-100). Individual or combination treatments of BA(6-benzylaminopurine), GA3 (gibberellic acid), and/or NAA(α-naphthaleneacetic acid) were applied (both with and without surfactant)to the ovaries of two L. esculentum female parents (Fla 7613 and89S) one day following pollination by nineL. chilense accessions. Hormone applications over 1-, 3-, and 5-dayperiods were made and all treatments were compared to a distilled water control. Across all experiments 21 viable hybrids from 1920 fruits (1.1%) were obtained from2128 pollinations. There were five consistent trends observed across three experiments. First, treatments utilizing NAA produced more hybrids than any other treatment hormone. Second, eight of the total 21 hybrids resulted from five consecutive days of hormone treatments (P-value ≤0.01), and six of those eight were realized when NAA was involved. Third, the use of Triton X-100 in combination with the hormone treatments significantly reduced the number of fruits/pollination (P-value ≤ 0.01), but did not significantly reduce the number of overall viable hybrids (P-value > 0.4). Fourth, the L. chilense male parent LA2759 significantly produced the most interspecific hybrids (P-value ≤ 0.04),seven hybrids from 295 fruits, compared to the male parent LA130 which did not produce any hybrids (from 293 fruits) -other accessions were intermediate. Fifth, nearly ten times more hybrids were produced from crosses with Fla 7613 than with 89S. These experiments provide a foundation for future studies to discern specific concentrations, timing and frequency of application of NAA and possibly, GA3, to efficiently produce interspecific hybrids of L. esculentum × L. chilense.
Pt 3 Ag alloy wavy nanowires as highly effective electrocatalysts for ethanol oxidation reaction

Direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC) has received tremendous research interests because of the more convenient storage and transportation of ethanol vs. compressed hydrogen. However, the electrocatalytic ethanol oxidation reaction typically requires precious metal catalysts and is plagued with relatively high over potential and low mass activity. Here we report the synthesis of Pt3Ag alloy wavy nanowires via a particle attachment mechanism in a facile solvothermal process. Transmission microscopy studies and elemental analyses show highly wavy nanowire structures with an average diameter of 4.6 ± 1.0 nm and uniform Pt3Ag alloy formation. Electrocatalytic studies demonstrate that the resulting alloy nanowires can function as highly effective electrocatalysts for ethanol oxidation reactions (EOR) with ultrahigh specific activity of 28.0 mA/cm2 and mass activity of 6.1 A/mg, far exceeding that of the commercial Pt/carbon samples (1.10 A/mg). The improved electrocatalytic activity may be partly attributed to partial electron transfer from Ag to Pt in the Pt3Ag alloy, which weakens CO binding and the CO poisoning effect. The one-dimensional nanowire morphology also contributes to favorable charge transport properties that are critical for extracting charge from catalytic active sites to external circuits. The chronoamperometry studies demonstrate considerably improved stability for long term operation compared with the commercial Pt/C samples, making the Pt3Ag wavy nanowires an attractive electrocatalyst for EOR.
Chapter 6A – Apparent Mineralocorticoid Excess

Apparent mineralocorticoid excess (AME) is a rare inherited form of hypertension caused by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD) deficiency. The disorder was first described biochemically and hormonally in 1977 by New et al. in a Native American girl with severe hypertension. AME defined an important “pre-receptor” pathway in steroid hormone action and their specificities to the receptor. The exploration of the pathogenesis of AME opened a new area in receptor biology as a result of the demonstration that the specificity of the mineralocorticoid receptor function depends on a metabolic enzyme (11β-HSD2) rather than the receptor itself. The clinical manifestations of AME mimic those of excessive mineralocorticoid activity, but plasma levels of aldosterone and other known mineralocorticoids are not elevated. Affected patients may present with low birthweight, failure to thrive, severe hypertension, hypercalciuria and renal failure. The hypertension is severe, with onset in early childhood.
Comparison of radiofrequency and microwave ablation and identification of risk factors for primary treatment failure and local progression.

Abstract Purpose To compare percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) for treatment of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to identify risk factors for treatment failure and local progression. Methods 145 unique HCC [87 (60%) RFA, 58 (40%) MWA] were retrospectively reviewed from a single tertiary medical center. Adverse events were classified as severe, moderate, or mild according to the Society of Interventional Radiology Adverse Event Classification system. Primary and secondary efficacy, as well as local progression, were determined using mRECIST. Predictors of treatment failure and time to local progression were analyzed using generalized estimating equations and Cox regression, respectively. Results Technical success was achieved in 143/145 (99%) HCC. There were 1 (0.7%) severe and 2 (1.4%) moderate adverse events. Of the 143 technically successful initial treatments, 136 (95%) completed at least one follow-up exam. Primary efficacy was achieved in 114/136 (84%). 9/22 (41%) primary failures underwent successful repeat ablation, so secondary efficacy was achieved in 128/136 (90%) HCC. Local progression occurred in 24 (19%) HCC at a median of 25 months (95% CI = 19–32 months). There was no difference in technical success, primary efficacy, or time to local progression between RFA and MWA. In HCC treated with MWA, same-day biopsy was associated with primary failure (RR = 9.0, 95% CI: 1.7–47, P = 0.015), and proximity to the diaphragm or gastrointestinal tract was associated with local progression (HR = 2.40, 95% CI:1.5–80, P = 0.017). Conclusion There was no significant difference in primary efficacy or time to local progression between percutaneous RFA and MWA.
Abstract IA-12: Functional analysis of BRCA regulatory variants with deep learning models

Precision medicine in oncology depends on identifying variants that are functional and interpreting them in terms of cancer disease risk, treatment guidance, and prognosis. This is especially challenging for regulatory variants, which constitute the majority of the genome and control transcription and RNA processing. We use state-of-the-art deep learning models that predict the molecular impact of variants to systematically analyze genomes and SNPs and discover BRCA-associated SNPs that impact transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, identify genes and biological processes implicated across tissues of impact, and reconcile these findings with prior genomic annotation-based analysis. Citation Format: Olga Troyanskaya. Functional analysis of BRCA regulatory variants with deep learning models [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Special Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Diagnosis, and Imaging; 2021 Jan 13-14. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2021;27(5_Suppl):Abstract nr IA-12.
EFFECT OF TEMPERING ON SHEAR MODULUS OF Fe-Mn BASE ALLOYS

The plot of relative change of shear modulus vs temperature for as- tempered Fe-Mn base alloy containing Cr and Ti reveals a minimum and a maxi- mum, while for the alloy containing Cr, Ni, W and C, a maximum only. These seem due to that the alloying elements Ni, W and C decrease the transition point of an- timagnetization. The change of shear modulus resulted from mechanical linear mag- netostriction may be gradually increased with the increase of tempering temperature or the prolongation of tempering time.
Using surface asperities for efficient random particle overlap detection in the generation of randomly oriented and located particle arrangements

Abstract A novel method of detecting overlap between two irregularly shaped virtual particles whose surfaces are described by analytical functions is presented in this study. Utilizing the analytical equation that describes the surface of the particle, the first and second spatial derivatives are used to locate the major surface asperities via the surface curvature. During the particle placement process, detecting overlap between two particles is a crucial, but slow, step. While the asperity check does not detect all cases of overlap between two particles, it leverages the probability that overlap is most likely to occur at a surface asperity. Microstructures are generated using four particle size gradations and three volume fractions to demonstrate the decreased computational time associated with using the asperity overlap detection versus a brute force method. This overlap detection method provides significant increases in efficiency, averaging a speedup of 10 when generating a 40 % volume fraction microstructure.
Effect of grinder configuration on forest biomass bulk density, particle size distribution and fuel consumption

Abstract The effect of the grinder configuration, bit type and screen size, on bulk density and fuel consumption when processing forest harvest residues for energy purposes is analyzed. Residues were divided in three size classes based on the piece diameter and length and were processed in a six treatment structured randomized test using a horizontal grinder. For each treatment the basic density, moisture content, bulk density, particle size distribution, fuel consumption and bark and other non-wood substances content was estimated. No effect of bit type or screen size on bulk density was found when processing branches-and-tops size class residue. For the pulpwood and butt-log-chunks size classes, the knife-edge bits tend to produce a denser material explained in part by their cutting capabilities across the grain compared to the normal hammering process using carbide hammer bits. Fuel consumption was only affected by screen size when processing the branches-and-tops size class. For pulpwood and butt-log-chunks size classes, the use of carbide hammer bits for processing increased fuel consumption between 42 and 48% compared to knife-edge bits. Bark and other non-wood substances content accounted for 11% of the total grinding mixture in the branches-and-tops size class compared to 2.5% in grindings from pulpwood and butt-log-chunks size classes. The branches-and-tops size class residue produced denser bulk material compared to the other classes and consumed less fuel due in part to the higher basic density and increasing amount of fine particles compared to the other analyzed size classes.
Hyperimmune vaccinal gamma globulin; source, evaluation, and use in prophylaxis and therapy.

Hyperimmune vaccinal gamma globulin was prepared from the blood of 320 adult donors who showed maximal skin response to smallpox vaccination and who donated 1 pint of blood each, 4 to 6 weeks after such successful vaccination. Hyperimmune vaccinal gamma globulin contains neutralizing antibodies in excess of those found in ordinary gamma globulin. While with the present tests available it is not possible to accurately make a quantitative comparison, it is likely that the antibody content of hyperimmune vaccinal gamma globulin is at least threefold that of ordinary gamma globulin. In a group of 75 individuals intimately exposed to smallpox and vaccinated after exposure, 8 cases and 3 deaths occurred. Among 56 individuals who received identical vaccination followed by prophylactic doses of hyperimmune vaccinal gamma globulin, there were 2 secondary cases, with 1 fatality. Both groups were comparable from the standpoint of proportionate distribution of susceptible individuals and the severity of exposure to disease. While the number of contacts in each group was too small to warrant drawing a definite conclusion, it appeared to be established in the direction of increased protection following administration of passive immunity in the form of hyperimmune vaccinal gamma globulin. It would appear that the experience so far is encouraging enough to continue and to expand the use of hyperimmune vaccinal gamma globulin in the prophylaxis and therapy of serious dermal complications of smallpox vaccination.
A study of the threonyl adenylate complex with threonyl transfer ribonucleic acid synthetase and its reaction with hydroxylamine.

Abstract Threonyl transfer ribonucleic acid synthetase from Escherichia coli was purified 320-fold in 10% yield. The Km for the over-all reaction, in which threonyl-tRNA is formed, is 10-4 m for ATP and 12 x 10-6 m for threonine. The molecular weight is 117,000 ± 9% as determined by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The enzyme readily catalyzes a threonine-dependent ATP-PPi exchange reaction. Threonyl adenylate-enzyme complex was isolated, and, in the presence of MgCl2 and tRNA, the amino acid was rapidly esterified to tRNA. At pH 7, the complex has a half-life of 29 min at 30° and 78 min at 10°. When threonyl adenylate-enzyme complex is treated with hydroxylamine, no threonine hydroxamate is formed and free threonine is the product, but if the complex is first treated with p-chloromercuribenzoate followed by hydroxylamine, threonine hydroxamate can be recovered in 50% yield. The phenylalanyl adenylate-enzyme complex was isolated, and it readily reacted with hydroxylamine to form phenylalanine hydroxamate. This complex has a half-life of 7 min at 30° and 35 min at 10°.
Endoscopic Treatment of Vesicoureteral Reflux

Since its introduction in 1984, endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) has gained popularity and has proved successful in an increasing number of patients. Continuous improvements in injectable materials and increased experience with the technique have led to a broadening of the indications for endoscopic treatment.The authors report their experience with 1732 patients and 2455 refluxing ureters, treated over the past 20 years. From January 1986 to June 2005, 1732 patients underwent endoscopic treatment for grades II to V VUR. Polytetrafluoroethylene was injected as the bulking material in the first 14 cases; after 1989 bovine collagen was used in 442 cases, and starting in 1995 dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer was used in 1276 cases.The followup protocol also changed over the years.The main changes consisted of time and number of micturition cystourethrograms (MCUG): in the first years MCUG was performed 3 and 12 months after endoscopic treatment; after 1999 a single MCUG was performed 3–6 months postoperatively. Minimum follow-up was 6 months.After one injection the overall success rate was 79% of ureters, and 91%, 78%, and 62% for grades II, III, and IV-V VUR, respectively. After the second injection, the overall success rate increased to 91%. Voiding dysfunction was identified as a possible limiting factor in the success of endoscopic treatment. Our results confirm that endoscopic treatment of VUR is a valid alternative to both long-term antibiotic prophylaxis and open surgery. The short hospital stay, the absence of significant postoperative complications, the safety of new injectable materials, and the increasingly high success rate suggest that endoscopic treatment should be offered as a first-line option to all children with VUR.
SLIM: an alternative Web interface for MEDLINE/PubMed searches – a preliminary study

Background With the rapid growth of medical information and the pervasiveness of the Internet, online search and retrieval systems have become indispensable tools in medicine. The progress of Web technologies can provide expert searching capabilities to non-expert information seekers. The objective of the project is to create an alternative search interface for MEDLINE/PubMed searches using JavaScript slider bars. SLIM, or Slider Interface for MEDLINE/PubMed searches, was developed with PHP and JavaScript. Interactive slider bars in the search form controlled search parameters such as limits, filters and MeSH terminologies. Connections to PubMed were done using the Entrez Programming Utilities (E-Utilities). Custom scripts were created to mimic the automatic term mapping process of Entrez. Page generation times for both local and remote connections were recorded.
Benzodiazepine prescribing patterns and drug overdose mortality among individuals receiving opioid analgesics

Background Drug overdose mortality, particularly involving opioid analgesics, has risen steadily over the past two decades and is now the leading cause of injury death in the United States. Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed concurrently to individuals receiving opioid analgesics. Little is known about the association between benzodiazepine-prescribing patterns and overdose mortality in those receiving opioid analgesics. We aimed to study the association between benzodiazepine prescription history, dose, type and dosing schedule, and the risk of drug overdose mortality among individuals receiving opioid analgesics. Materials and methods This was a case-cohort study utilizing Veterans Health Administration (VHA) administrative data. Participants were all individuals who died of a drug overdose (n = 2326) while receiving opioid analgesics and a random sample of individuals (n = 404725) who received VHA medical services and opioid analgesics between fiscal years 2004 and 2009. Benzodiazepine prescription history, dose, type, and dosing schedule were determined by dispensation data from the VHA's Pharmacy Benefits Management Services. Benzodiazepine prescription history was categorized as periods of time when individuals were currently prescribed, formerly prescribed, or not prescribed benzodiazepines. Drug overdose mortality was based on cause of death information from the National Death Index. Associations between benzodiazepine prescription history, dose, type and dosing schedule, and overdose mortality were examined using Cox proportional hazards models. Results Twenty-seven percent of individuals who received opioid analgesics also received benzodiazepines during the study period. Approximately half of the drug overdose deaths (n = 1162) occurred during periods when individuals were concurrently receiving benzodiazepines and opioids. Risk of overdose death increased based on benzodiazepine prescription history: formerly prescribed versus not prescribed, adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 2.22 (95% confidence interval [CI]; 1.95-2.52; absolute risk difference approximation [ARDA] = 0.12%); currently prescribed versus not prescribed, adjusted HR = 3.59 (95% CI, 3.24-3.97; ARDA = 0.25%). Risk of overdose death increased as daily benzodiazepine dose increased. When compared to clonazepam, temazepam was associated with a decreased overdose risk; adjusted HR = 0.73 (95% CI; 0.56-0.95; ARDA = 0.03%). Benzodiazepine dosing schedule was not associated with overdose risk. Conclusions Among individuals receiving opioid analgesics, receipt of benzodiazepines was associated with an increased risk of drug overdose death, and these risks were generally consistent at all levels of opioid dose. The risks and benefits of benzodiazepine-prescribing in this population warrant further evaluation. Language: en
The Action of an Automorphism of C On a Shimura Variety and its Special Points

In [8, pp. 222–223] Langlands made a very precise conjecture describing how an automorphism of C acts on a Shirnura variety and its special points. The results of Milne-Shin [15], when combined with the result of Deligne [5], give a proof of the conjecture (including its supplement) for all Shirnura varieties of abelian type (this class excludes only those varieties associated with groups having factors of exceptional type and most types D). here the proof is extended to cover all Shimura varieties. As a consequence, one obtains a complete proof of Shimura’s conjecture on the existence of canonical models. The main new ingredients in the proof are the results of Kazhdan [7] and the methods of Borovoi [2].
Voting with Your (Fill in the Blank): The Effect of Exit Options on Mayoral Election Turnout

Environments matter for politics. They supply information, incentives, and influences that mold how individuals and electorates engage in politics. However, environments are typically conceived of in a relatively narrow fashion, considering only the immediate context or jurisdiction that an individual or electorate is located within. We expand this framework, arguing that surrounding environments are also consequential by offering an important constraint: exit options. Building on Hirschman’s (1970) assertion that people can exercise exit or voice in response to organizational dissatisfaction, we argue that the quality and quantity of exit options available to the electorate act to either constrain the citizenry stimulating turnout, or enable exit at the expense of voting. We test these hypotheses with a unique dataset of turnout in mayoral elections across 496 cities between 2002-2004 incorporating not only immediate environments, but also the nature of the surrounding political environments to capture exit options. We demonstrate that these exit options influence democratic activity. Some of our findings run counter to what we would expect (and hope) from democracy in multi-government contexts: fewer and less robust exit options appear to reduce turnout. Our research demonstrates that conceiving of environments as being limited to a single domain of analysis is missing much of the story. Environments exist in layers. Accounting only for the most central layer omits the interdependence between places, and the influences they exert.
A capillary discharge thermonuclear burner

Transient behavior of high-power discharges in smalldiameter capillaries is a means for obtaining thermonuclear burn.
The intersection of life expectancy and gender in a transitional state: the case of Russia

This paper examines the gender-related features of the health crisis in Russia which has produced the largest gender gap in life expectancy in the world. Stress and negative health lifestyles are the two most likely causes of the long-term adverse longevity pattern in Russia. However, this development cannot be clarified by a simple cause and effect explanation. This is because gender roles and gender-based normative behaviour, along with class influences, intervened to help shape outcomes. Men and women responded to the crisis along gender lines, with stress the best single explanation for a stunted longevity for females and negative health lifestyles accounting for much of the premature mortality among males.
Oral contraceptives and postoperative venous thrombosis.

A nationwide surveillance of mortality associated with sterilization led to the identification of the death of a woman who was using oral contraceptives (OCs) prior to operation and died as a result of mesenteric venous thrombosis after tubal sterilization. This case is reported as a reminder of the increased risk of postoperative thromboembolism associated with OC use and to suggest how this risk can be decreased. The patient was a healthy 24-year-old white woman with 2 living children. She did not smoke and had no history of thromboembolic disorders. She had been using OCs for several years and continued their use until the time of hospitalization for operation. The specific OC preparation she was using is unknown. The first 48 hours following the operation the patient did well except for some mild to moderate lower abdominal pain. On the 4th day she developed severe acute abdominal pain and suffered a cardiovascular collapse for which she required resuscitation. She was considered to be septic and dehydrated; thus treatment with intravenous fluids and antibiotics was initiated. An echogram obtained on the 5th day after sterilization suggested the possibility of an abdominal mass on the right sight and an exploratory laparotomy was performed. There was 2000 ml of clear fluid in the peritoneal cavity. The cecum and ascending colon were necrotic with thrombosis of the colic and ileocolic veins. The pelvis and the appendectomy stump appeared normal. A right hemicolectomy and resection of the distal ileum were performed followed by a primary side-to-side ilecolostomy. The patients condition deteriorated after laparotomy despite vigorous management and she died the next morning 7 days after the sterilization operation. Significant findings at postmortem examinations were thrombosis of both the ileocolic vein and the superior mesenteric vein and inflammation in the area of colon adjacent to the anastomosis. The cause of death was determined to be endotoxic shock secondary to large bowel necrosis which resulted from thrombosis of the mesenteric veins. This patient was at increased risk for postoperative venous thrombosis because she continued to use OCs during the month before the operation. 2 carefully conducted case-control studies have shown that OCs increase by more than 3-fold the risk of postoperative thromboembolism. It is unclear how much the knowledge of this risk has altered preoperative management of women having elective operation in the U.S. At least 1 prospective study has found no difference in incidence of idiopathic deep venous thrombosis with increasing estrogen doses but the risk of postoperative thromboembolism associated with OCs containing a lower estrogen content has not been studied.
A new approach to statistical process control in a test environment: the empirical delta control chart

Past attempts at Harris Semiconductor to control the test measurements process and their inherent weaknesses are discussed. The empirical delta control chart (ED-chart), along with its corresponding control unit/die philosophy, is introduced as an alternative toward controlling the semiconductor wafer and package test environments. Only one control chart (per test parameter tracked) is required for all control units and die, as opposed to one chart for each unit or die. To add to this, no modification of the control limits is required when new control devices are introduced to the system. Their low chart count and their ability to stay with one set of charts solves many of the maintenance problems typically associated with statistical process control (SPC) in a test area. The permanent nature of an ED-chart representing one continuing standard facilitates the idea of continuous improvement. ED-charts emphasize the measurement aspect of a test area-where the ability to test accurately and repeatability over time are the goal. >
Small-molecule modulators of the OX40-OX40 ligand co-stimulatory protein-protein interaction.

Background and purpose The OX40-OX40L protein-protein interaction (PPI) is an important cell-surface signalling co-stimulatory regulator within the TNFR superfamily (TNFRSF) and a promising therapeutic target for immunomodulation. PPIs are difficult to modulate using small-molecules. Here, we describe the identification of a small-molecule OX40 modulator and confirm its partial agonist character. Experimental approach Cell-free screening assays were developed and used to identify OX40-OX40L inhibitors. Modified versions of this assay were used to elucidate the binding partner and the binding nature of active compounds. OX40-transfected sensor cells with NF-κB reporters were constructed and used to confirm and characterize activity and specificity. Immunomodulatory activity and partial agonist nature were further confirmed by ex vivo T-cell polarization assays. Key results Several compounds that concentration-dependently affected OX40-OX40L were identified. Cell assays indicated that they were partial agonists with low micromolar potency and adequate selectivity. Under polarizing conditions based on TGF-β, the most promising compound mimicked the effect of an agonistic anti-OX40 antibody in suppressing regulatory T-cell generation and diverting CD4(+) CD62L(+) Foxp3(-) cells to TH 9 phenotype in vitro. Conclusions and implications We identified, to our knowledge, the first small-molecule compounds able to interfere with OX40-OX40L binding and, more importantly, to act as partial agonists of OX40. This is particularly interesting, as small-molecule agonism or activation of PPIs is considered unusually challenging and there are only few known examples. These results provide proof-of-principle evidence for the feasibility of small-molecule modulation of the OX40-OX40L interaction and for the existence of partial agonists for TNFRSF-PPIs.
Is Preferential Treatment of Female Offenders a Thing of the Past? A Multisite Study of Gender, Race, and Imprisonment

Dramatic increases in the number of women incarcerated in state and federal prisons have led some researchers to conclude that differential sentencing of female offenders is a thing of the past. This study uses data on offenders convicted of felonies in Chicago, Miami, and Kansas City to address this issue. The authors find no evidence to support this “gender neutrality” hypothesis. In all three jurisdictions, women face significantly lower odds of incarceration than do men. The results also reveal that the effect of race is conditioned by gender but the effect of gender, with only one exception, is not conditioned by race; harsher treatment of racial minorities is confined to men but more lenient treatment of women is found for both racial minorities and Whites.
Life is everywhere

The question of the existence of extraterrestrial life is of great scientific interest. Presently we have knowledge of life only on the Earth that appears to have a single and unique biogenesis. Arguments are made that it is more likely that the living process exists throughout the cosmos, than that the Earth is the only inhabited planet.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Understanding the Determinants of Service Channel Preference in the Early Stages of Adoption: A Social Cognitive Perspective on Online Brokerage Services*

In today’s increasingly technology-mediated world, individuals are often confronted with a decision of whether to obtain services through online, self-service technologies or traditional, nontechnological alternatives. Understanding the mechanisms by which consumers choose among these competing service channels represents an important concern for organizations, consumers, and Web site designers. This study develops a research model based on Social Cognitive Theory to explain and predict service channel preferences that arise in the early stages of adoption, before a consumer conducts business using a particular channel. The model is subsequently tested in the brokerage services context, using observations obtained via survey. Given the growing popularity of online investing combined with the challenging prospect of making optimal decisions in an inherently risky environment, the context offers insights of practical and theoretical importance. The results suggest that task-specific self-efficacy beliefs serve as the activating mechanism kicking off a chain of psychological events that entice consumers to favor a particular service channel. Higher levels of self-efficacy induce individuals to prefer the online approach. In addition to its direct effect on preference for the online service channel, higher levels of self-efficacy influence one’s propensity to take risks and expectations of performance-oriented rewards, which, in turn, sway consumers to favor the online service channel. Furthermore, self-efficacy and perceptions concerning the credibility of online information interact to affect service ∗ This article is dedicated in memory of the corresponding author’s mother, Margaret A. Looney, who recently lost a courageous battle with cancer. The corresponding author would like to thank Ron and Judy Paige, who provided resources and funding for this research through a faculty fellowship. The authors sincerely appreciate the insightful comments of the editors and reviewers on earlier versions of this manuscript. † Corresponding author.
Single-mode polymer optical fiber sensors for high-strain applications

We demonstrate the measurement of the phase shift in a polymethylmethacrylate single-mode optical fiber interferometer, operating at a wavelength of 632.8 nm, up to 15.8% nominal strain in the fiber. The phase-displacement sensitivity is measured to be 1.39 × 10 7 rad m -1 for this strain range. This strain range is well beyond that previously measured for polymer Bragg gratings and silica optical fiber sensors.
Estimation of metabolite T1 relaxation times using tissue specific analysis, signal averaging and bootstrapping from magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging data

Object A novel method of estimating metabolite T1 relaxation times using MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) is proposed. As opposed to conventional single-voxel metabolite T1 estimation methods, this method investigates regional and gray matter (GM)/white matter (WM) differences in metabolite T1 by taking advantage of the spatial distribution information provided by MRSI. Material and methods The method, validated by Monte Carlo studies, involves a voxel averaging to preserve the GM/WM distribution, a non-linear least squares fit of the metabolite T1 and an estimation of its standard error by bootstrapping. It was applied in vivo to estimate the T1 of N-acetyl compounds (NAA), choline, creatine and myo-inositol in eight normal volunteers, at 1.5 T, using a short echo time 2D-MRSI slice located above the ventricles. Results WM-T1,NAA was significantly (P < 0.05) longer in anterior regions compared to posterior regions of the brain. The anterior region showed a trend of a longer WM T1 compared to GM for NAA, creatine and myo-Inositol. Lastly, accounting for the bootstrapped standard error estimate in a group mean T1 calculation yielded a more accurate T1 esti
Analysis of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

SUMMARY A literature review of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is presented. Emphasis is placed on the papers that analyse the impedance response of the cathode and anode half-cells of the PEMFCs based on a continuum-mechanics approach. The other type of analysis, which is based on the equivalent-circuits approach, is addressed for comparison. The relative advantages and disadvantages of the two approaches are discussed. Papers dealing with continuum-mechanics-based EIS modelling of general electrochemical systems are briefly reviewed. Copyright # 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Microstructure and bend ductility of a (Fe,Ni) 3V ordered alloy irradiated in HFIR

Disks of a (Fe,Ni)/sub 3/V long-range-ordered alloy were irradiated in the High Flux Isotope Reactor to 10, 21, and 42 dpa and helium levels of 1000, 2700, and 6000 at. ppM, respectively. The irradiation temperatures were 300, 400, 500, and 600/sup 0/C. The alloy remained ordered under all conditions. Swelling of the alloy was low with a peak of 1.3% occurring at 500/sup 0/C. Severe embrittlement and intergranular fracture occurred after 10 dpa at 600/sup 0/C and extended to lower temperatures as the damage level increased. Helium bubbles and a thin, continuous film of VC observed in the grain boundaries may be the cause of the embrittlement.
Overview of the gas phase retention volume behavior of organic compounds on polyurethane foam

Abstract There is a need to be able to predict the compound-dependent volumes of gas that can be sampled with little breakthrough using porous polyurethane foam (PUF). Gas/solid sorption theory predicts that the specific retention volume per gram of sorbent at temperature T ( K ) ( V g . T . , m 3 g −1 ) should correlate with the vapor pressure of the pure compound ( p T o -, torr) at T . For compounds that are solids at the T of interest, the vapor pressure of the sub-cooled liquid ( p L o , T ) should be used. For polyether-type PUF that has a density of ~ 0.022 g cm −3 , regressions of available data lead to the following correlation equations: (1) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, log V g ,293 = −1.195 log p L ,293 o −1.884 ( r 2 = 0.989); and (2) organochlorine compounds, log V g ,293 = −1.059 log p L ,293 o −1.764 ( r 2 = 0.950). These equations will be useful in predicting retention volumes for compounds whose behavior on PUF have not as yet been studied. If the entropy of desorption for a given compound from PUF is equal to the entropy of desorption from the pure form of the compound, then the'available data indicate that the difference between the enthalpy of desorption from PUF and the enthalpy of vaporization of the pure compound is about 6 kcal mol −1 for both the PAHs and the organochlorine compounds.
Thermomechanical behavior of a multicomponent continuous medium interacting with an electromagnetic field

The behavior of a homogeneous mixture of isotropic continua interacting with an electromagnetic field is discussed. It is assumed that the continuum has a simple memory for strains, temperature, polarization, and magnetization. Constitutive functionals are constructed for the continuum and a theorem on free energy is proved.
Planar three-dimensional constrained lenses

A new design for a beamforming lens is presented. Both faces are planar arrays of radiating elements interconnected by transmission lines whose length varies as a function of radius. While the front face elements are regularly spaced, the back face elements are displaced radially from their corresponding front face elements, the amount of displacement also being a function of radius. We show that such a lens is capable of forming low sidelobe beams over an angular sector 36 beamwidths across in all planes of \phi by switching between clusters of only seven feed elements. Because both faces are planar, construction of lightweight lenses for multibeam antennas should be feasible.
Origin of rare earth element signatures in groundwaters of circumneutral pH from southern Nevada and eastern California, USA

Concentrations of the rare earth elements (REE) were measured in circumneutral pH groundwaters from southern Nevada and Death Valley, CA. Groundwaters from the regional lower Paleozoic carbonate-rock aquifer (Cambrian–Devonian) have flat shale-normalized patterns that closely resemble the shale-normalized patterns of the aquifer rock samples (principally Cambrian). Groundwaters associated with younger carbonate rocks (chiefly Permian) in the study region exhibit heavy REE (HREE) enriched, shale-normalized REE patterns with substantial negative Ce anomalies that also mimic these carbonate rocks. In addition, groundwaters from the felsic volcanic rock aquifers have the same flat to light REE (LREE) enriched shale-normalized patterns with large negative Eu anomalies as the felsic volcanic rocks. The similar REE patterns of all the groundwaters and associated aquifer rocks studied suggest that the groundwaters inherited REE signatures from the host rocks through which they flow. Because negative Ce anomalies are not an uncommon feature of carbonate rocks of marine origin, the negative Ce anomalies reported here for these groundwaters may reflect a Permian marine Ce signature. Previously, we demonstrated that carbonate complexes dominate REE speciation in southern Nevada and Death Valley groundwaters. Moreover, solid–liquid partitioning coefficients (Kd) indicate that the affinity of LREEs to sorb to aquifer surface sites is substantially greater than for the HREEs in the southern Nevada carbonate- and felsic volcanic-rock alluvial aquifers. Consequently, the HREEs enrichments reported here for groundwaters associated with younger Paleozoic carbonate rocks compared to these source rocks is consistent with REE carbonate complexation and preferential removal of LREEs to aquifer surface sites.
Influence of the basic state zonal flow on convectively coupled equatorial waves

Observational data are used to test the hypothesis that the basic state modulates the dispersion properties of convectively coupled equatorial waves (CCEWs). This hypothesis is based on shallow water theory, which predicts that the zonal speed of propagation of such tropospheric equatorial modes is altered by the equivalent depth and the basic zonal flow. Localized space-time spectra are calculated to investigate how CCEW spectral peaks vary across the tropics and how they are affected by the variations in zonal wind observed geographically and by season. Doppler shifting by the basic state barotropic zonal flow is readily identified. Once this Doppler shifting is taken into account, the equivalent depths of CCEWs inferred from global power spectra are surprisingly uniform, both geographically and temporally. However, there are also detectable modulations that appear consistent with changes in vertical shear of the zonal flow, along with other shifts that are not as easily explained.
Osh6 overexpression extends the lifespan of yeast by increasing vacuole fusion.

In yeast cells, the vacuole divides and fuses in each round of cell cycle. While mutants defective in vacuole fusion are “wild type” for vegetative growth, most have shortened replicative lifespans under caloric restriction (CR) condition, a manipulation that extends lifespan in wild type cells. To explore whether vacuole fusion extends lifespan, we screened for genes that can complement the fusion defect of selected mutants (erg6Δ, a sterol mutant; nyv1Δ, a mutant involved in the vacuolar SNARE complex and vac8Δ, a vacuolar membrane protein mutant). This screen revealed that Osh6, a member of the oxysterol-binding protein family, can complement the vacuole fusion defect of nyv1Δ, but not erg6Δ or vac8Δ, suggesting that Osh6’s function in vacuole fusion is partly dependent on membrane ergosterol and Vac8. To measure the effect of OSH6 on lifespan, we replaced the endogenous promoter of OSH6 with a shorter version of the ERG6 promoter to obtain PERG6-OSH6. This mutant construct significantly extended the ...
Effects of Xanthine Oxidase on Synthesis of 5-Methyluridine by the Ribosyl Transfer Reaction

In the presence of xanthine oxidase, 5-methyluridine was synthesized from inosine and thymine by the ribosyl transfer reaction using purine nucleoside phosphorylase and pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylase. The hypoxanthine formed was converted into urate via xanthine by xanthine oxidase. After inosine was completely consumed, an equilibrium state, in which 5-methyluridine, thymine, ribose-1-phosphate, and phosphate were involved, was achieved. At the equilibrium state, maximum yield of 5-methyluridine was obtained. The equilibrium constant of the reaction (K = [thymine] [ribose-1-phosphate]/[5-methyluridine] [phosphate]) was 0.062. Based on the equilibrium constant, the yield of 5-methyluridine depended on a ratio of initial concentrations of inosine and phosphate, on condition that the initial concentrations of inosine and thymine were the same. The yields of 5-methyluridine in the presence and absence of xanthine oxidase were 76 and 33%, respectively, when the initial concentrations of inosine, thymine,...
Studies on the localization of a protein, immunologically similar to a 62-kilodalton sucrose-binding protein isolated from developing soybean cotyledons, in the shoot and root of spinach

summary Previous work, using antisera developed against a 62 kDa sucrose-binding protein isolated from developing Soybean cotyledons, resulted in the identification of an immunologically similar protein on the sieve-tube plasma membranes of the small minor veins of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L. var. Bloomsdale Dark Green). These studies have been expanded to determine the extent of the immunologically similar protein throughout the shoot and root of the mature spinach plant. lndirect immunogold labelling of resin-embedded leaf and stem tissues resulted in the specific localization of colloidal gold on the plasma membrane of mature sieve tubes in the major veins and large minor veins of the lamina as well as sieve tubes of the petiole and stem. The amount of label associated with the petiole and stem sieve tubes was less than in the sieve tubes of the lamina. In all cases, the label was evenly distributed along the plasma membrane and, except for a small amount of background label on the cell walls, was not associated with any other cellular component including organelles, membranes or membrane systems. Other cell types of the vascular and ground tissues were also essentially free of label. Control sections treated with non-immune rabbit IgG were free of label. Sections of root tissue treated with the 62 kDa antisera contained immunolabel on the plasma membrane of the sieve tubes and, in addition, the plasma membrane of various parenchymatic elements including companion cells and vascular parenchyma cells. In both root and shoot tissues, the plasma membrane of sieve tubes considered to be structurally and physiologically immature did not contain label. These results are discussed in relation to the apoplastic and symplastic transport of solutes in source and sink tissues.
A Function Space Large Deviation Principle for Certain Stochastic Integrals

Consider a process {Y(t)} of the form $$Y(t) = \sum\limits_1^d {\mathop \smallint \limits_0^t Y_k (X(s)) \circ d\beta _\kappa (s) + \mathop \smallint \limits_0^t Y_0 (X(s))ds} $$ where {X (t)} is a diffusion process on a compact manifold and {βk(t)}, k=1, ..., d, are independent Wiener processes. We derive a Schilder type large deviation principle for the two families: $$\left\{ {\frac{1}{T} \cdot \sum\limits_0^{N - 1} {(Y(k + t) - Y(k))} , t \in [0,1]} \right\}N = 1,2,3...$$ and $$\left\{ {\frac{1}{T} \cdot Y(T \cdot t), t \in [0,1]} \right\}{\text{ }}T \geqq 0$$ as N→∞, respectively T→∞, and identify the corresponding rate functions on C([0, 1]; ℝ). We give a few applications to the asymptotic distribution of the Liapunov exponent of a homogeneous system.