cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Methodology to Characterize the Seismic Compression of Unsaturated Sands under Different Drainage Conditions

This study focuses on a new experimental setup and methodology to characterize the volumetric contraction of unsaturated sands during cyclic shearing under different drainage conditions. A new cyclic simple shear device was developed with suction-saturation control using a hanging column suitable for testing unsaturated granular soils with a maximum suction of 11 kPa. The pore water and pore air pressures are monitored during cyclic shearing using an embedded tensiometer and a gauge pressure transducer protected by a hydrophobic filter, respectively. In addition to describing the specimen preparation techniques and testing methodology, typical results for the seismic compression of nearly saturated, dry, and unsaturated sand specimens during cyclic shearing under different drainage conditions are compared. The differences in the response of these sand specimens were interpreted using the changes in mean effective stress and secant shear modulus during cyclic shearing. In drained conditions, the unsaturated sand specimen showed lower seismic compressions than the dry sand specimen and the nearly saturated sand specimen. In undrained conditions, a greater contraction was observed for the unsaturated conditions due to decreases in mean effective stress and secant shear modulus. The decrease in effective stress occurred due to a decrease in matric suction associated with different rates of increase in pore water and air pressure and an increase in degree of saturation with volumetric contraction.
AutoQual: task-oriented structural vibration sensing quality assessment leveraging co-located mobile sensing context

In this paper, we introduce AutoQual, a mobile-based assessment scheme for infrastructure sensing task performance prediction under new deployment environments. With the growth of the Internet-of-Things (IoT), many non-intrusive sensing systems have been explored for various indoor applications, such as structural vibration sensing. This indirect sensing approach’s learning performance is prone to deployment variance when signals propagate through the environment. As a result, current systems heavily rely on expert knowledge and manual assessment to achieve effective deployments and high sensing task performance. In order to mitigate this expert effort, we propose to systematically study factors that reflect deployment environment characteristics and methods to measure them autonomously. We present AutoQual that measures a series of assessment factors (AFs) reflecting how the deployment environment impacts the system performance. AutoQual outputs a task-oriented sensing quality (TSQ) score by integrating measured AFs trained from known deployments as a prediction of untested system’s performance. In addition, AutoQual achieves this assessment without manual effort by leveraging co-located mobile sensing context to extract structural vibration signal for processing automatically. We evaluate AutoQual by using it to predict untested systems’ performance over multiple sensing tasks. We conduct real-world experiments and investigate 48 deployments in 11 environments. AutoQual achieves less than 0.10 average absolute error when auto-assessing multiple tasks at untested deployments, which shows a $$\le 0.018$$ absolute error difference compared to the manual assessment approach.
Dynamics in Data Privacy and Sharing Economics

As human beings, we continuously consume products, services, as well as produce products and services for others to consume. Due to our inherent bias of likes and dislikes, we unintentionally or intentionally end up liking products and/or services that are personalized for us, or somehow unintentionally match our likes. This personalization is influenced by the data gathered about us directly or indirectly. The richer the data is about us, the more personalized products and services we receive, thereby saving us time and money while meeting our desired goals for experience or exchange of value for the offers we are wanting. We remain forever concerned about the direct or accidental use of our data that can fall into the hands of nefarious users of the dark Web, or criminals who can cause us all kinds of harm using the data we shared. Herein lies the paradox of personalization and privacy. To solve this paradox, we acknowledge that there has to be a tradeoff between data privacy and personalization, and an optimized match on trust, with a value between the data owners (data subjects) and the data buyers. In this article, we discuss the dynamics, with tradeoffs, and set-up for these to play out in an optimal way specific to each of us.
Breast reconstruction is a viable option for older patients

Breast cancer is diagnosed at a median age of 62 years in the USA. At the same time, mortality rates for breast cancer continue to decrease, falling by 40% from 1989 to 2016. In the coming decades, the number of elderly patients with breast cancer, potentially seeking reconstruction, is expected to increase. A retrospective chart review of 309 patients, aged 60 years or older, undergoing immediate or delayed breast reconstruction, was conducted. Patient characteristics, clinical information and major complications requiring reoperation were evaluated. Multivariate analyses identified factors contributing to complications such as BMI, comorbidities, smoking status, history of previous breast conservation therapy (BCT), total expander volume, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. 26.7% of patients had at least one complication requiring reoperation, and 6.9% of patients suffered reconstructive failure. Logistic regression analysis of all patients (n = 309) found a statistically significant relationship between major complication and history of ipsilateral BCT (p = 0.026) and adjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.005). Logistic regression analysis in patients undergoing tissue expander (TE) reconstruction (n = 215) showed that major complications were related to BMI over 35 kg/m2 (p = 0.04), history of ipsilateral BCT (p = 0.048), and adjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.033). Breast reconstruction in women over 60 years old was not independently associated with higher major complication rates in our series.
Drumming Arm: an Upper-limb Prosthetic System to Restore Grip Control for a Transradial Amputee Drummer

This paper describes a quasi-passive transradial prosthesis designed to restore drumstick grip control for amputee drummers. A compact motor with low rotor resistance driven by Electromyography (EMG) is implemented in the prosthesis to support real-time drum performances. A variety of grip profiles are achieved by adjusting the stiffness and damping of an impedance controller based on machine learning predictions from EMG data. In addition to the prosthetic design, the paper presents a dynamic model that simulates the drumstick trajectories and estimates the control gains for various natural bouncing patterns. We evaluate the effectiveness of the design through human experiments under real-time performing scenarios for two common drumming grip techniques. The results demonstrate that the prosthetic model can support similar bouncing patterns to the drummer’s healthy hand for single, double, and triple-stroke rolling techniques. The results also show that the system supports usable real-time periodic grip change from single to double-stroke, successfully simulating the common paradiddle drumming technique.
A Policy Model for the Livestock and Poultry Sectors of Mexico

Many economic and demographic trends along with increased free trade agreements are projected to increase Mexico's prominence in the world markets for meat products in the next decade. This report documents the development by the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) of a new model of Mexico's livestock and poultry sectors, including beef and cattle, swine and pork, and broilers. Improvements in the new model include functional form equations, more equations for each commodity, and the use of both live animal and meat trade equations.
Detection of the first and second heart sound using probabilistic models

In this study, a methodology based on hidden Markov models (HMM) as a probabilistic finite state-machine to model systolic and diastolic interval duration is proposed. The detection of the first (S1) and second (S2) heart sound is performed using a network of two HMM's with grammar constraints to parse sequence of systolic and diastolic intervals. Duration modeling was considered in the HMM model architecture selection based on experimental measurements of systolic and diastolic intervals in normal subjects. Feature extraction of heart sound signals was based on time-cepstral features. Results are presented in terms of detection performance compared with QRS peak annotations of the simultaneous ECG recording. The performance of the proposed approach has been evaluated in 80 subjects. The results showed that the system was effective to detect the first and second heart sounds with sensitivity of 95% and a positive predictive value of 97% and thus provides a promising methodology for heart sound analysis.
The Influence of William Godwin on the Novels of Mary Shelley

The pas t few decades have seen a revival of interes t in the social philosophy of William Godwin and a revaluation of his works . Although Godwin has been viewed as a powerful influence on the works of Words­ worth , Coleridge , and Shelley , little notice has been taken of his influence on the work of his daughter , Mary Shelley . It has , on the contrary , been popular to attribute Mary ' s Frankens tein to the influence of her husb and , Percy Bysshe Shelley . Many cri tics have reco gnized a close connection between the works of Godwin and Mary , but the comments are limi ted and general ; and mos t s tudies of Mary ' s novels use a biographical or critical approach . The primary purpose of this s tudy o f Mary Shelley ' s novels , however , is to trace the influence that her father and his works had upon her wri ting . A writer and his work are so closely intertwined that it is no t always possible to separate the one from the other . This is especially true of Godwin and Mary because the novels of b o th are filled with autobiographical and biographical elements which mus t be accounted for in order to reveal the influence they had on each o ther . For this reason , the s tudy begins with a biographical sket ch of the father and daughter wi th emphasis placed upon those events and circums tances in their lives which had an ef fect on their writing of fiction . The present-day reader who is not familiar with Godwin ' s philosophy would not notice the mos t prevalent similarity between the two : the ideas--the philosophies --run very nearly parallel
The effect of drug charge type and charge density on corneal transport

In order to understand the effect of charge type on corneal transport of peptides, it is useful to first investigate the mechanism of transport of amino acids across corneal tissue. The transport characteristics of l-[14C]lysine and l-[14C]glutamic acid were based on in vitro flux measurements. Net flux of l-lysine occurs via a sodium-dependent cotransport mechanism (with a coupling ratio of 1:1). The transport of l-lysine involves the Na+-K+-ATPase pump and requires a stereospecific carrier-mediated transport system. The permeability coefficient (P) of l-lysine was decreased from 10.1 ± 0.80 to 2.34 ± 0.75 × 10−6 (cm/s by blocking the active pump and carrier-mediated system. However, l-glutamic acid was apparently absorbed by a passive aqueous transport mechanism which was oubain-insensitive, [Na+]-independent, temperature-insensitive and non-stereospecific. Overall, the cornea was 2–3-fold more permeable to a cation (l-lysine) than an anion (l-glutamic acid). In addition, the negatively charged drug, salicylic acid, was 2.3 times less permeable than the cationic drug, benzylamine.
Prostatic fluid concentrations of isoflavonoids in soy consumers are sufficient to inhibit growth of benign and malignant prostatic epithelial cells in vitro

BACKGROUND. The differential intestinal metabolism of the soy isoflavones is likely to influencetheabilityofsoytopreventprostatecancer.Whiledaidzein,genistein,andequolhave direct antiproliferative effects on prostatic epithelial cells in vitro, there are no such data for the isoflavone glycitein, or seven metabolites: O-desmethylangolensin (ODMA), 6-hydroxyODMA (6H-ODMA),dihydrodaidzein (DHD),cis-4-hydroxyequol (C4HE), 3 0 -hydroxydaidzein (3HD), 6-hydroxydaidzein (6HD), and 8-hydroxydaidzein (8HD). In the current study,the in vitro activities of these compounds were elucidated, and the active ranges of concentrations were compared to that found in Caucasian prostatic fluid (PF) and plasma samples. METHODS. The effects of isoflavonoids on cell growth, cell cycle distribution, and apoptosis (active Caspase 3) were examined on benign prostatic epithelial cells (PrEC), and the prostate cancer cell line LNCaP. RESULTS. PF concentrations of genistein, equol, and daidzein (but not ODMA or DHD) were often within the ranges that reduce PrEC growth in vitro. Profound differences in sensitivities were observed with LNCaP. The hydroxydaidzeins, C4HE, and 6H-ODMA had significant inhibitoryeffectsat10 � 5 MonPrECgrowth(butnotLNCaP).Glyciteinhadsignificanteffectson both. Reductions in cell growth were typically associated with both changes in cell cycle distribution and Caspase 3 activation. When five isoflavonoids were used in combination at concentrations present in PF samples, synergistic effects were observed. CONCLUSION. The profound differences in sensitivities of prostatic epithelial cells to these compoundsalongwiththeirsynergisticeffectssuggestthatmultiplemetabolitesinvivomaybe optimal for preventing prostate cancer. Prostate 66: 557–566, 2006. # 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Bladder exstrophy repair: complete primary repair of exstrophy.

t t lthough the history of treatment of patients with exstrophy goes back several centuries, urinary iversion with ureterosigmoidostomy remained the reatment standard until the late 1950s. However, in he early 1960s, efforts at complete repair of bladder xstrophy, including both closure of the bladder and enital reconstruction, were reported. Lattimer et al.1 nd others2–4 discussed the results with 70 cases in 966. However, the initially encouraging results inluded significant problems with urinary infection nd upper tract dilation (90%).5 Perhaps these results eflect that, unfortunately, these efforts preceded the ommon use of intermittent catheterization for blader outflow obstruction. The reaction to these results as either to continue to treat young exstrophy paients with cystectomy and diversion or to use a taged approach in which the bladder is closed withut an initial attempt at repair of the bladder neck or rethra or epispadias.6–8 This staged approach was hampioned by Jeffs8 who was primarily responsible, long with Tate Chisholm and Julian Ansell, for howing that exstrophy could be repaired surgically ithout urinary diversion.9–11 These pioneers proved hat it was possible to achieve volitional urinary coninence and good health in the patient with exstrohy. However, the staged approach requires a numer of procedures and results have varied widely hroughout the world. We believe that a newer understanding of the athophysiology and anatomy of exstrophy faciliates neonatal complete primary repair of exstrohy (CPRE), and that this approach results in good otential for primary urinary volitional continence “potty training”) without the need for intermitent catheterization or bladder diversion or augentation. We also believe that CPRE facilitates he normalization of bladder development, which
Safely stretching our options for removing large CBD stones.

In 10–15 % of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures performed for the indication of suspected choledocholithiasis, identified stones can be difficult to remove [1]. Common factors associated with failure include stones[1 cm, numerous stones, and altered biliary anatomy. There are several techniques for removing these ‘‘difficult CBD stones’’. Leaving a plastic biliary stent in place with or without ursodeoxycholic acid therapy with subsequent ERCP is often successful [2]. Mechanical lithotripsy (ML) fragmentation combined with biliary sphincterotomy (EST) successfully removes many large stones [3, 4]. Complications following biliary sphincterotomy and ML include bleeding, pancreatitis, and perforation and are usually mild and self-limited but on rare occasions can cause short-term morbidity or even death [5]. Electrohydraulic lithotripsy can be useful for disintegrating stones prior to removal, but requires direct visualization of the stone with cholangioscopy with attendant risks such as hemobilia, cholangitis, and ductal perforation [6]. Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD), or balloon sphincteroplasty, has evolved as another technique for removing large bile duct stones. Controlled radial expansion (CRE) balloons 6–10 mm in diameter stretch the intact sphincter of Oddi to facilitate stone removal. Though early experience with balloon sphincteroplasty was promising, subsequent multicenter, randomized controlled trials reported overall higher rates of pancreatitis including severe pancreatitis leading to death in some patients treated with balloon sphincteroplasty [7, 8]. While balloon sphincteroplasty remains an accepted practice in some parts of the world, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy only recommends EPBD for patients in whom sphincterotomy is considered too risky or difficult such as patients medically anticoagulated or those with post-surgical anatomy or a periampullary diverticulum [1]. Endoscopic papillary large-balloon dilation (EPLBD) is a technique introduced in 2003 that dilates with a 12 to 20-mm CRE balloon following biliary sphincterotomy [9]. Balloon size is chosen to be at least the same diameter as the stone but no larger than the diameter of the bile duct. The initial published retrospective series reported that biliary stones too large to be removed despite a complete sphincterotomy and use of an extraction balloon or basket could be successfully removed in most cases without the use of ML [9]. Furthermore, the overall complication rate was an acceptable 15.5 %, consisting of mild-to-moderate cholangitis, pancreatitis, and bleeding, with no deaths [9]. Several retrospective studies, prospective series, and randomized controlled studies have reported that EPLBD is an effective and mostly safe method for the removal of large CBD stones [10–16]. A recent systematic review of R. Daniel Lawson: A military service member (or employee of the U.S. Government).
Differences in the Quality of Housing Units Occupied by Elderly Men versus Elderly Women

Abstract Unmet housing needs can be more costly and more hazardous to health and well-being in the case of elderly than in the case of nonelderly, because the elderly in general spend more time in their homes. The purpose of this paper, based on the data from the 1991 wave of the American Housing Survey, is to examine the adequacy/ quality of housing units headed by those aged 65 years or older and to examine factors that would predict poor-quality housing headed by older persons. The findings indicate that housing units occupied by older minority women, especially those living with relatives or with nonrelatives were the most likely to be deficient, whereas those occupied by white older women living alone were the least likely to be deficient. Policy and social service implications of the findings are also discussed.
The Conspiracy of Silence: Context and Voting on Gay Marriage Ballot Measures

Gay marriage bans have received widespread support in the past decade in states across America. The authors evaluate the extent to which context mitigates or exacerbates support for gay rights. Their question is grounded in the debate over whether exposure to out-groups creates acceptance through contact or whether exposure induces hostility through threat. Using data from twelve marriage ban elections, the authors find conditional support for the threat hypothesis. While the presence of a gay population is unimportant to the majority of the population, evangelical Christians who live proximate to larger gay populations are more likely to support bans on gay marriage.
Effects of morphology and molecular structure on tensile impact behavior of linear polyethylene

An instrumented tensile impact test which allows a load time curve to be obtained coincident with the energy to rupture values has been applied to the examination of a series of linear polyethylene homopolymers and copolymers of varying molecular weight and thermal history. The effect of test specimen geometry was also investigated. A morphological examination of these resins indicated a strong dependence of spherulite size on molecular weight, and to a much lesser degree on molding conditions; it appeared to be independent of comonomer. The overall crystallinity, as determined by both x-ray and density methods, and crystallite perfection was increased by a slower crystallization rate, but was independent of molecular weight. The tensile impact strength (energy to rupture) was found to increase with molecular weight, and decrease on the introduction of comonomer. But the effect of thermal history gave rise to results which bore no clear-cut relation to molecular and morphological parameters. The value of the instrumented tensile impact test is shown by the fact that these apparent anomalies can now be resolved by separating the elastic and plastic portions of the deformation. An increased level and perfection of crystallinity results in higher load bearing properties accompanied by a reduction in duration of impact. It is primarily the duration, rather than the peak load, which is affected by molecular weight. The main effect produced by changing from a type L (long) tensile impact specimen to a type S (short) was to reduce considerably the duration of the plastic region while simultaneously raising the maximum elastic load; this is thought to be associated with a more localized deformation and therefore a higher rate of strain.
Mechanisms of acute gain and late lumen loss after atherectomy in different preintervention arterial remodeling patterns

The main mechanism of restenosis after directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) remains obscure. We investigated mechanisms of restenosis after DCA in different coronary artery remodeling patterns. DCA was performed in 51 de novo lesions. The lesions were evaluated by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) before, immediately after, and 6 months after the procedure. According to the IVUS findings before DCA, we classified the lesions into the following 3 groups: (1) positive (n = 10), (2) intermediate (n = 25), and (3) negative (n = 16) remodeling. We measured lumen area, vessel area, and plaque area using IVUS before DCA, immediately after DCA, and at follow-up. Lumen area increase after DCA was mainly due to plaque area reduction in the positive and intermediate remodeling groups (90 ± 15% and 80 ± 25% increase in lumen area, respectively), whereas that in the negative remodeling group was due to both plaque area reduction (57 ± 22% increase in lumen area) and vessel area enlargement (43 ± 33% increase in lumen area). The plaque area increase correlated strongly with late lumen area loss in the positive and intermediate remodeling groups (r = 0.884, p <0.001; r = 0.626, p <0.001, respectively), but the decrease in vessel area was not correlated with lumen area loss. In contrast, both an increase in plaque area and a decrease in vessel area were correlated with late lumen area loss (r = 0.632, p = 0.009; r = 0.515, p = 0.041) in the negative remodeling group. Coronary artery restenosis after atherectomy was primarily due to an increase in plaque in the positive and/or intermediate remodeling groups. However, in the negative remodeling group, late lumen loss might have been caused by both an increase in plaque and vessel shrinkage.
Does feigning amnesia impair subsequent recall

Defendants who are accused of serious crimes sometimes feign amnesia to evade criminal responsibility. Previous research has suggested that feigning amnesia might impair subsequent recall. In two experiments, participants read and heard a story about a central character, described as “you,” who was responsible for the death of either a puppy (Experiment 1) or a friend (Experiment 2). On free and cued recall tests immediately after the story, participants who had feigned amnesia recalled less than did participants who had recalled accurately. One week later, when all participants recalled accurately, participants who had previously feigned amnesia still performed worse than did participants who had recalled accurately both times. However, the participants who had formerly feigned amnesia did not perform worse than did a control group who had received only the delayed recall tests. Our results suggest that a “feigned amnesia effect” may reflect nothing more than differential practice at recall. Feigning amnesia for a crime need not impair memory for that crime when a person later seeks to remember accurately.
Brachytic stem and narrow leaflet effects on soybean seed composition and yield.

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed protein and oil concentrations and their interrelationships with seed yield are important considerations in a soybean breeding program. Brachytic stem and narrow leaflet traits were transferred to a Tracy-M' background to evaluate their effect on seed yield and concentration of seed protein and oil. Data were collected on eight brachytic stem (sb) lines, eight narrow leaflet (ln) lines, seven lines with the combination (sb, ln) of traits, and the recurrent parent, Tracy-M, from 1986 through 1988 at Stoneville, MS, on a Sharkey clay soil (...)
Relation between age at surgery and regression of right ventricular hypertrophy in tetralogy of Fallot

Pre- and postoperative echocardiographic right ventricular wall thickness (RVW), transverse dimension (RVD), and their ratio (W/D) were measured from subcostal views in 29 patients with Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) in order to assess whether primary reparative surgery without prior palliative shunts in early infancy results in significantly faster regression of RV hypertrophy than repair later in life. Fourteen patients who were repaired before 6 months of age were compared with 15 patients who were repaired after 6 months of age. In the group of patients who were repaired before 6 months of age both RVW and W/D ratio decreased significantly whereas RVD did not change from pre- to postoperative status. The group of patients who were repaired after 6 months of age showed no significant changes in RVW, RVD, or W/D ratio. These findings suggest that early primary reparative surgery of TOF may have a positive effect on faster regression of RVH during the first postoperative year which may reduce the detrimental effect of longstanding hypertrophy on myocardial function and the potential for arrhythmia.
"Periplus Maris Erythraei": notes on the text

The sole reliable text of the Periplus Maris Erythraei is H. Frisk's, published in 1927. He not only re-examined the one important manuscript that has survived but brought to bear his knowledge of the language of the Greek papyri of Egypt, which is close kin to that written by the plain-spoken captain or merchant who composed the Periplus. As a result, he was able to eliminate in passage after passage the freewheeling emendations introduced by nineteenth-century editors and return to the wording of the manuscript.
Theory-Inspired Nano-Engineering of Structure, Lattice Dimensionality, and Viscoelasticity of New Polymer and Dendrimer Materials

Moieties that promote intermolecular cooperativity are attached as pendants to organic electro-optic chromophores effecting a reduction in lattice dimensionality and influencing the poling-induced order of chromophores. Theory relates centric and acentric order parameters to lattice dimensionality. Experimentally, centric order parameters are defined by VAPRAS and VASE, while the acentric order parameters are extracted from ATR. Molecular cooperativity also influences viscoelastic properties. SM-FM demonstrates the existence of a distinct phase of matter of reduced dimensionality. IFA permits definition of the entropy change associated with the reduced dimensionality. The correlation of IFA and DRS data permits definition of the cooperativity length scale.
Augmentation of short-term plasticity in CA1 of rat hippocampus after chronic ethanol treatment.

Abstract The neurotoxic effects of chronic ethanol exposure were investigated in rat hippocampus by electrophysiological analysis of the Schaffer collateral-commissural input to stratum radiatum of CA1. Experimental animals were fed an ethanol-containing liquid diet for 20 weeks but were withdrawn from the special diet at least eight weeks prior to acute electrophysiological recordings. Ethanol treatment had no effect on input-output relationships for either the population EPSP or the population spike (PS). During paired-pulse stimulation, the ethanol group exhibited a greater facilitation of the test pulse PS relative to the control group, although potentiation of the EPSP was unchanged. In addition, the ethanol group showed a trend toward greater facilitation of the PS during 5 and 10 Hz tetani. No differences between groups were observed in the magnitude or duration of the long-term potentiation produced by 5, 10 or 100 Hz stimulus trains. Ethanol treatment did significantly reduce the tranient spike depression after low frequency stimulation. This pattern of results is similar to that found for treatments which reduce hippocampal recurrent inhibition. Thus, chronic ethanol treatment may produce a lasting disruption of intrinsic inhibitory neurotransmission in the rat hippocampus.
The immune system uses ion channels, too

Recent electrophysiological studies on lymphocytes 1–7 show that the immune system may employ cellular transduction mechanisms similar to those already found in the nervous system. For example, like the CNS, the immune system uses chemical messengers to send signals between cells, and even possesses ‘memory', involving long-term changes in responsivity following exposure to antigens. This article describes electrophysiological studies on lymphocytes which reveal, voltage-activated calcium and potasium channels similar to those in neurons. New evidence suggests a link between these voltage-activated ion channels and the process of lymphocyte activation.
Identification of a unique epigenetic sub-microenvironment in prostate cancer

The glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) gene promoter is methylated in tumour cells in more than 90% of prostate carcinomas. Recently, GSTP1 promoter methylation was identified in tumour-associated stromal cells in addition to the tumour epithelium. To define the extent and location of stromal methylation, epigenetic mapping using pyrosequencing quantification of GSTP1 promoter methylation and an anatomical three-dimensional reconstruction of an entire human prostate specimen with cancer were performed. Normal epithelium and stroma, tumour epithelium, and tumour-associated stromal cells were laser capture-microdissected from multiple locations throughout the gland. As expected, the GSTP1 promoter in both normal epithelium and normal stromal cells distant from the tumour was not methylated and the tumour epithelium showed consistently high levels of promoter methylation throughout. However, tumour-associated stromal cells were found to be methylated only in a localized and distinct anatomical sub-field of the tumour, revealing the presence of an epigenetically unique microenvironment within the cancer. Morphologically, the sub-field consisted of typical, non-reactive stroma, representing a genomic alteration in cells that appeared otherwise histologically normal. Similar epigenetic anatomical mapping of a control prostate gland without cancer showed low background methylation levels in all cell types throughout the specimen. These data suggest that stromal cell methylation can occur in a distinct sub-region of prostate cancer and may have implications for understanding tumour biology and clinical intervention.
Position Estimation at Starting and Lower Speed in Three-Phase Switched Reluctance Machines Using Pulse Injection and Two Thresholds

The paper presents a method of accurate indirect position estimation for switched reluctance machines suitable for starting and continuous operation. The position estimation and control of the SRM is accomplished in terms of a few sectors within an electrical cycle. The sector of machine operation is obtained by comparing the injected current amplitude in an idle phase with two thresholds. Each sector is unique and identifies which phase has to be used for sensing and which phase has to be used for powering the SRM. A normalized inductance profile identified from the injected currents helps to develop an algorithm for the application of this method from low power to very high power machines with accurate and reliable estimation and control.
Variation in net trophic transfer efficiencies among 21 PCB congeners

The authors tested the hypothesis that the efficiency with which fish retain polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners from their food strongly depends on K{sub ow} and degree of chlorination of the congener. The authors used diet information, determinations of concentrations of individual PCB congeners in both coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and their prey, and bioenergetics modeling to estimate the efficiencies with which Lake Michigan coho salmon retain various PCB congeners from their food. The retention efficiency for the tetrachloro congeners averaged 38%, whereas retention efficiencies for higher chlorinated congeners ranged from 43 to 56%. Not including tetrachloro congeners, the authors found neither decreasing nor increasing trends in the efficiencies with which the coho salmon retained the PCB congeners from their food with either increasing K{sub ow} or increasing degree of chlorination of the PCB congeners. The authors concluded that (a) for PCB congeners with 5--8 chlorine atoms/molecule, K{sub ow} and degree of chlorination had little influence on the efficiency with which coho salmon retained the various PCB congeners in their food, and (b) the efficiency with which coho salmon retained tetrachloro PCB congeners in their food appeared to be slightly lower than that for higher chlorinated PCB congeners.
Distorted wave calculation of the angular distributions of electrons inelastically scattered on atoms

Abstract The accuracy of the distorted wave method for calculating differential cross sections for inelastic electron scattering is tested by comparing its results with close-coupling calculations for the 1s–2s excitation of atomic hydrogen. Comparison is also made with plane wave theories. Considerable improvement over the plane wave theories is found.
A Glucocorticoid Reduces Adverse Effects of Adenovirus Vectors in the Cochlea

Gene transfer using a recombinant adenovirus is a powerful tool for research and clinical applications, but its cytotoxicity and immune response limit its use, especially when repeated application of
The occurrence of "mixed" nuclear bag intrafusal fibers in the cat muscle spindle.

A total of 147 muscle spindles was studied histochemically in serial transverse sections of 42 cat tenuissimus muscle specimens. Nuclear bag1, nuclear bag2 and nuclear chain intrafusal muscle fibers were distinguished by the differential staining resulting from the reactions for myosin adenosine 5′-triphosphatase and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide tetrazolium reductase. The majority of intrafusal fibers were of the same histochemical type at both fiber poles. However, seven muscle spindles contained one nuclear bag fiber each that presented as a bag1 in one pole and as a bag2 in the other pole. These “mixed” nuclear bag fibers were found in spindles that also contained at least one bag1 and one bag2 fiber of equivalent histochemical presentation in both fiber poles. The “mixed” bag fibers displayed differences of apparent fiber diameter and relative polar length between the two fiber poles. The motor innervation pattern, as revealed by staining for cholinesterase, was also dissimilar between the two poles of “mixed” bag fibers. The study indicates that the spindle equatorial region may in some instances serve as a boundary between two morphologically and histochemically different poles of the same intrafusal fiber.
Patterning motoneurons in the vertebrate nervous system

Vertebrate motoneurons show considerable diversity in their soma locations, axonal trajectories and innervation targets. Results from studies of a variety of vertebrate species as well as fruit-flies are elucidating the mechanisms by which this diversity is generated. Motoneuron subpopulations appear to be defined by combinations of transcription factor genes expressed in distinct spatiotemporal patterns in both motoneuron progenitors and postmitotic motoneurons. Notochord-derived signals can induce motoneuron formation, paraxial-mesoderm-derived signals can pattern motoneuron subpopulations along the rostrocaudal body axis, and local signals within the neural tube can regulate the number and time at which motoneurons form. Additional, later signals can promote formation of proper central circuitry and motoneuron survival. The identification of the genes and signals responsible for regulating these processes should help to provide a more-detailed understanding of motoneuron patterning.
Axisymmetric plasticity theory of fibrous composites

Abstract A continuum theory for axisymmetric plastic deformation of fibrous composites is proposed. The composite is assumed to be both plastically extensible and compressible and, therefore, experiences kinematic hardening when loaded by axisymmetric composite stresses. A simple Hardening Rule I and an associated flow rule are formulated. The results obtained from these rules are verified by comparison with finite element plasticity solutions for a cylindrical composite model of the B-Al system. Very good agreement is obtained both for proportional and general loading regimes. Significant plastic macrodilatation is caused by loading in the axisymmetric composite stress plane.
Energy cost and muscular activity required for leg swing during walking

To investigate the metabolic cost and muscular actions required for the initiation and propagation of leg swing, we applied a novel combination of external forces to subjects walking on a treadmill...
Carotid body tumors, inheritance, and a high incidence of associated cervical paragangliomas

Background Current experience with carotid body tumors suggesting a high prevalence of associated cervical paragangliomas prompted this review. Patients and methods An 8-year retrospective study of patients with carotid body tumors was undertaken, detailing presentation, diagnosis, and treatment. Results Eleven patients harboring 17 carotid body tumors were discovered. All patients had a neck mass. Seven patients (64%) had bilateral carotid body tumors. Six (55%) reported a positive family history-4 were first-generation relatives, 5 had bilateral tumors, and 3 had other head and neck paragangliomas. Angiography documented 4 associated vagal and 2 glomus jugulare paragangliomas in addition to the carotid body tumors. Precise surgical care limited blood loss to an average of 590 cc. The carotid artery was repaired during 5 resections (29%). Cranial nerve injury occurred in 3 cases, all following vagal body or glomus jugulare resection. Every patient is currently alive, stroke free, and functioning without major disability. Conclusions Patients with carotid body tumors have a propensity for multiple head and neck paragangliomas. Angiography is diagnostic. The need for associated paraganglioma resection dramatically increases the risk of cranial nerve injury.
The Distribution of Contractile Cells in the Apex of the Preovulatory Hamster Follicle

The apical regions of maturing hamster follicles were examined by electron microscopy at 14, 9, 5, and 3 h prior to expected ovulation. At all time periods, a discrete layer of smooth muscle cells was found within the theca externa of the maturing follicle. In addition, bundles and clusters of filaments were found in the surface epithelial cells of maturing hamster follicles throughout the preovulatory period. A contractile role in ovulation is suggested for both the smooth muscle and surface epithelial cells.
Effect of Ionizing Radiation Dose, Temperature, and Atmosphere on the Survival of Salmonella typhimurium in Sterile, Mechanically Deboned Chicken Meat

Abstract The response to gamma radiation (0 to 3.60 kGy; 100 krad = 1 kGy) of Salmonella typhimurium was tested in otherwise sterile, mechanically deboned chicken meat (MDCM) in the absence of competing microflora. Response was determined at temperatures of −20 to +20 C and when the MDCM was packaged in vacuum or in the presence of air. A central composite response-surface design was used to test the response of the pathogen to the treatments in a single experiment Predictive equations were developed from the analyses of variances of the resulting data. The accuracy of each predictive equation was tested by further studies of the effects of gamma radiation on S. typhimurium in the presence or absence of air at −20, 0, and +20 C. All data were then analyzed to refine the predictive equations further. Both the original and the refilled equations adequately predicted the response of S. typhimurium in MDCM to gamma radiation doses up to 3.60 kGy in the presence of air or in vacuo. Gamma irradiation was significantly more lethal for S. typhimurium in the presence of air and at higher temperatures. The final equations predict a reduction in the number of surviving Salmonella in MDCM irradiated to 1.50 kGy at −20 C of 2.53 logs in air or 2.12 logs if irradiated in vacuum. If the contaminated MDCM were to receive a dose of 3.0 kGy at −20 C in air, the number of Salmonella would be decreased by 4.78 logs, and if irradiated in vacuum, by 4.29 logs. At an irradiation temperature of +20 C and a dose of 3.0 kGy, the number of viable Salmonella would be decreased by 6.38 logs if irradiated in air.
An alternative derivation of Katsevich's cone‐beam reconstruction formula

In this paper an alternative derivation of Katsevich’s cone-beam image reconstruction algorithm is presented. The starting point is the classical Tuy’s inversion formula. After ~i! using the hidden symmetries of the intermediate functions, ~ii! handling the redundant data by weighting them, ~iii! changing the weighted average into an integral over the source trajectory parameter, and ~iv! imposing an additional constraint on the weighting function, a filtered backprojection reconstruction formula from cone beam projections is derived. The following features are emphasized in the present paper: First, the nontangential condition in Tuy’s original data sufficiency conditions has been relaxed. Second, a practical regularization scheme to handle the singularity is proposed. Third, the derivation in the cone beam case is in the same fashion as that in the fan-beam case. Our final cone-beam reconstruction formula is the same as the one discovered by Katsevich in his most recent paper. However, the data sufficiency conditions and the regularization scheme of singularities are different. A detailed comparison between these two methods is presented. © 2003 American Association of Physicists in Medicine. @DOI: 10.1118/1.1628413#
How are Suicide Bombers Analysed in Mental Health Discourse? A Critical Anthropological Reading

This paper complicates the notion of the suicide bomber as represented in mental health literature. Most authors apply Western psychiatric concepts to understand suicide bombers without accounting for value differences around life and death or terrorism and martyrdom. Accordingly, these researchers replicate arguments to explain individual behaviour from a particular epistemological perspective. In contrast, critical approaches to this literature can expose the worldviews of the analysers and the analysed to devise sounder interpretations. This paper scrutinises mental health discourse on suicide bombing to ask: (1) What do we learn about the authors of suicide bombers in these articles? (2) How do their analyses demonstrate the relationship between knowledge and power? These conclusions can enable researchers to reduce biases and devise behavioural models that more accurately reflect the realities of their subjects.
Ionizing irradiation of foot-and-mouth disease virus and its ribonucleic acid.

The infectivity of FMDV preparations containing growth medium and cellular products was many times more resistant to inactivation by ionizing radiation than was pure virus. About 4×106 rads were required to reach a survival of less than 10−8 in experiments permitting only the direct absorption of radiation energy by the virus preparation. The infectivity of pure virus preparations was shielded from radiation damage by cysteine and gelatin to a lesser extent than by growth medium and cellular products. Radio-sensitivity was not increased by the addition of a sulfhydril binding reagent, p-hydroxymercuribenzoate. Ribonucleic acid extracted from irradiated virus showed the same rate of infectivity loss as did the virus. The infectivity of free RNA, however, was more sensitive to irradiation than intact virus. Ribonucleic acid in the presence of gelatin had the same stability as intact pure virus. Absorbance-temperature measurements showed that loss of infectivity by pure virus was accompanied by degradation of the virus particles, loss of aromaticity in the purine and pyrimidine rings, as well as hydrolysis of the RNA backbone chain.
Common carotid artery wall thickness and external diameter as predictors of prevalent and incident cardiac events in a large population study

Arterial diameters enlarge in response to wall thickening, plaques, and many atherosclerotic risk factors. We hypothesized that right common carotid artery (RCCA) diameter would be independently associated with cardiac disease and improve risk discrimination. In a middle-aged, biracial population (baseline n = 11225), we examined associations between 1 standard deviation increments of baseline RCCA diameter with prevalent myocardial infarction (MI) and incident cardiac events (MI or cardiac death) using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models, respectively. Areas under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) were used to estimate model discrimination. MI was present in 451 (4%) participants at baseline (1987–89), and incident cardiac events occurred among 646 (6%) others through 1999. Adjusting for IMT, RCCA diameter was associated with prevalent MI (female OR = 2.0, 95%CI = 1.61–2.49; male OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.04–1.30) and incident cardiac events (female HR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.51–2.02; male HR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.15–1.40). Associations were attenuated but persisted after adjustment for risk factors (not including IMT) (prevalent MI: female OR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.40–2.14; male OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.02–1.28, and incident cardiac events: female HR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.08–1.48; male HR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.08–1.32). After additional adjustment for IMT, diameter was associated with incident cardiac events in women (HR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.00–1.40) and men (HR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.06–1.29), and with prevalent MI only in women (OR = 1.73; 95% CI = 1.37–2.17). In women, when adjustment was limited, diameter models had larger AUC than other models. RCCA diameter is an important correlate of cardiac events, independent of IMT, but adds little to overall risk discrimination after risk factor adjustment.