cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Problems of Poison: New Paradigms and "Agreed" Competition in the Era of AI-Enabled Cyber Operations

Few developments seem as poised to alter the characteristics of security in the digital age as the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. For national defense establishments, the emergence of AI techniques is particularly worrisome, not least because prototype applications already exist. Cyber attacks augmented by AI portend the tailored manipulation of human vectors within the attack surface of important societal systems at great scale, as well as opportunities for calamity resulting from the secondment of technical skill from the hacker to the algorithm. Arguably most important, however, is the fact that AI-enabled cyber campaigns contain great potential for operational obfuscation and strategic misdirection. At the operational level, techniques for piggybacking onto routine activities and for adaptive evasion of security protocols add uncertainty, complicating the defensive mission particularly where adversarial learning tools are employed in offense. Strategically, AI-enabled cyber operations offer distinct attempts to persistently shape the spectrum of cyber contention may be able to pursue conflict outcomes beyond the expected scope of adversary operation. On the other, AI-augmented cyber defenses incorporated into national defense postures are likely to be vulnerable to "poisoning" attacks that predict, manipulate and subvert the functionality of defensive algorithms. This article takes on two primary tasks. First, it considers and categorizes the primary ways in which AI technologies are likely to augment offensive cyber operations, including the shape of cyber activities designed to target AI systems. Then, it frames a discussion of implications for deterrence in cyberspace by referring to the policy of persistent engagement, agreed competition and forward defense promulgated in 2018 by the United States. Here, it is argued that the centrality of cyberspace to the deployment and operation of soon-to-be-ubiquitous AI systems implies new motivations for operation within the domain, complicating numerous assumptions that underlie current approaches. In particular, AI cyber operations pose unique measurement issues for the policy regime.
Periocular Mohs Reconstruction by Lateral Canthotomy With Inferior Cantholysis: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND Most eyelid defects after Mohs micrographic surgery are referred to oculoplastic surgery or plastic surgery for reconstruction, but growing evidence suggests the safety of such repairs performed by dermatologic surgeons is equivalent if not better. Lateral canthotomy with inferior cantholysis may be used by the dermatologic surgeon to reconstruct larger lower eyelid defects. OBJECTIVE To demonstrate lateral canthotomy with inferior cantholysis performed by the dermatologic surgeon can result in safe, functionally and cosmetically acceptable surgical outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS An institutional review board-approved retrospective study of repairs performed by a single dermatologic surgeon between January 2013 and August 2019. Patient demographics, operative and follow-up notes were reviewed. Two cosmetic dermatologists assessed aesthetic results based on final follow-up photographs using a visual analogue scale. RESULTS Eight cases were included in the analysis. Seventy-five percent of patients were men, with a mean age of 74.1 years old. All tumors were basal cell carcinoma; the mean defect size was 2.4 cm2. No serious complications or postoperative interventions occurred. The median cosmetic score was 85.6 ± 11.5. CONCLUSION Dermatologic surgeons can safely perform repairs of lower eyelid defects with lateral canthotomy with inferior cantholysis, achieving satisfactory functional and cosmetic outcomes.
Barriers to Care Affecting Presentation to Urogynecologists in a Community Setting.

Objective To evaluate barriers to care for patients presenting to urogynecologists and determine how these barriers differ in private and public/county health care settings. Methods Standardized anonymous questionnaires were distributed from May 2018 to July 2018 to new patients presenting to a urogynecologist at three institutions: two private health care clinics (sites A and B) and one public/county hospital clinic (site C). Patients identified symptom duration, symptom severity, and factors inhibiting presentation to care from a list of barriers. Patients then identified the primary barrier to care. Results One hundred nine questionnaires were distributed, and 88 were submitted, resulting in an 81% response rate (31 from site A, 30 from site B, 27 from site C). In analysis of the private versus public setting, there was no statistical difference between age (58 years vs 57 years, P = 0.69), body mass index (28 vs 30, P = 0.301), symptom duration (24 months vs 16 months, P = 0.28), or severity respectively. When asked to identify the primary barrier to presentation, patients in the private setting stated they did not know to see a specialist (26.2%, P = 0.002), while patients in the public setting could not obtain a closer appointment time (22.2% vs 13.1%, P = 0.35. Additionally, patients in the public setting were more likely to cite lack of health care coverage as a barrier to care (18.5% vs 1.6%, P = 0.01). Conclusion This study highlights barriers that can contribute to the disparity of care seen in our patient population. Efforts should be made to acknowledge and mitigate hindrances impacting access to care.
Selective Triazenation Reaction (STaR) of Secondary Amines for Tagging Monomethyl Lysine Post‐Translational Modifications

Lysine monomethylation (Kme) is an impactful post-translational modification (PTM) responsible for regulating biological processes and implicated in diseases, thus there is great interest in identifying these methylation marks globally. However, the progress in this area has been challenging because the addition of a small methyl group on lysine leads to negligible change in the bulk, charge, and hydrophobicity. Herein, we report an empowering chemical technology selective triazenation reaction, which we term "STaR", of secondary amines using arene diazonium salts to achieve highly selective, rapid, and robust tagging of Kme peptides from a complex mixture under biocompatible conditions. Although the resulting triazene-linkage with Kme is stable, we highlight the efficient decoupling of the triazene-conjugate to afford unmodified starting components under mild conditions when desired. Our work establishes a unique chemoselective, traceless bioconjugation strategy for the selective enrichment of Kme PTMs.
TOPSIS & EXPROM2 multicriteria decision methods for Al2O3/Al 6061 nanocomposite selection

Abstract In this research novel approach to the selection of the best suitable composition of nanocomposite from the various alternatives of nano-Al2O3/Al6061 using multi-criteria decision-making, techniques are presented. Low strength and hardness limit the use of Al6061 in moderate to high-stress applications such as in aerospace and automobiles. To overcome this deficiency, multi-characteristics Al2O3 nanoparticles are successfully reinforced in various wt. % to Al6061 matrix to fabricate novel Al2O3/Al6061 nanocomposites on aluminum stir casting furnace. That results in an improvement in mechanical properties at a different order of importance and various material cost. Hence it is essential to determine the best suitable alternative of nanocomposite and corresponding optimum quantity satisfying application requirements. Therefore, to tackle the difficulty of best suitable composition selection at required order of importance, multicriteria decision-making techniques such as TOPSIS and EXPROM2, was implemented and rankings are obtained. Weight criteria are determined using the AHP model. Comparative study of all MCDM is carried out by spearmen’s rank correlation. The best material found is 4A (4% Al2O3 reinforcement). MCDM analysis was found satisfactory for material selection problems.
The Need for Better Evidence in VA Disability Compensation Cases and the Argument for More Medical-Legal Partnerships

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation process is intended to recompense military veterans who suffer a physical or mental disability caused by their service in the United States military.'Anyone who has worked to help a veteran navigate the VA disability compensation system knows that the process can be daunting. A veteran is required to provide evidence to the VA that the disability he suffers is related to his military service. While the VA system does have procedures that are intended to ease the burden of providing this evidence, the overall implementation of the system, particularly when it applies to medical evidence, is not terribly efficient or effective. Recognizing the importance of medical evidence in particular to establish a veteran's entitlement to disability compensation, this Article intends to 1) provide an overview of the veteran's need for medical evidence; 2) discuss some of the issues within the VA system that inhibit a veteran from reaping the statutory benefit Congress intended the VA system to provide; and 3) provide an alternate method of helping veterans to navigate the medical evidentiary requirements of this process. To explore these topics, a case study will be provided in order to examine the issues in more depth.
Review of Law and the Modern Mind: Consciousness and Responsibility in American Legal Culture. By Susanna L. Blumenthal. Harvard University Press, 2016.

Review of Law and the Modern Mind: Consciousness and Responsibility in American Legal Culture. By Susanna L. Blumenthal. Harvard University Press, 2016.
Modulating extraction and retention of fluorinated β-diketonate metal complexes in perfluorocarbons through the use of non-fluorinated neutral ligands

Extraction of metal ions into perfluorocarbon solvents using fluorinated ligands has shown promise in a number of applications ranging from catalysis to biomedical imaging. However, the speciation of the extracted metal complexes is poorly understood hindering the design and implementation of new fluorous extraction systems. The extraction of s-, p-, d-, and f-block metal ions from the aqueous phase to the fluorous phase (perfluoro-15-crown-5 ether) with a fluorinated acetylacetonate pro-ligand was investigated and the speciation of the extracted metal complexes characterized, including coordinatively saturated mononuclear and polynuclear species and coordinatively unsaturated mononuclear species. The leaching of these species back into aqueous media was studied along with the effects of synergistic extraction using a combination of fluorinated acac and nonfluorinated neutral ligands. Our findings indicate that formation of coordinatively saturated mononuclear metal complexes in the fluorous phase is essential for retaining extracted species and suggest an important role for synergistic extraction for metal ions that do not form these types of metal complexes with acac ligands alone.
Induction of distinct neuroinflammatory markers and gut dysbiosis by differential pyridostigmine bromide dosing in a chronic mouse model of GWI showing persistent exercise fatigue and cognitive impairment.

Abstract Aims To characterize neuroinflammatory and gut dysbiosis signatures that accompany exaggerated exercise fatigue and cognitive/mood deficits in a mouse model of Gulf War Illness (GWI). Methods Adult male C57Bl/6 N mice were exposed for 28 d (5 d/wk) to pyridostigmine bromide (P.O.) at 6.5 mg/kg/d, b.i.d. (GW1) or 8.7 mg/kg/d, q.d. (GW2); topical permethrin (1.3 mg/kg), topical N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (33%) and restraint stress (5 min). Animals were phenotypically evaluated (Kozlova et al., 2021) and sacrificed at 6.6 months post-treatment (PT) to allow measurement of brain neuroinflammation/neuropathic pain gene expression, hippocampal glial fibrillary acidic protein, brain Interleukin-6, gut dysbiosis and serum endotoxin. Key findings Compared to GW1, GW2 showed a more intense neuroinflammatory transcriptional signature relative to sham stress controls. Interleukin-6 was elevated in GW2 and astrogliosis in hippocampal CA1 was seen in both GW groups. Beta-diversity PCoA using weighted Unifrac revealed that gut microbial communities changed after exposure to GW2 at PT188. Both GW1 and GW2 displayed systemic endotoxemia, suggesting a gut-brain mechanism underlies the neuropathological signatures. Using germ-free mice, probiotic supplementation with Lactobacillus reuteri produced less gut permeability than microbiota transplantation using GW2 feces. Significance Our findings demonstrate that GW agents dose-dependently induce differential neuropathology and gut dysbiosis associated with cognitive, exercise fatigue and mood GWI phenotypes. Establishment of a comprehensive animal model that recapitulates multiple GWI symptom domains and neuroinflammation has significant implications for uncovering pathophysiology, improving diagnosis and treatment for GWI.
Hierarchical Clustering Using Non-Greedy Principal Direction Divisive Partitioning

We present a non-greedy version of the recently published Principal Direction Divisive Partitioning (PDDP) algorithm. The PDDP algorithm creates a hierarchical taxonomy of a data set by successively splitting the data into sub-clusters. At each level the cluster with largest variance is split by a hyper-plane orthogonal to its leading principal component. The PDDP algorithm is known to produce high quality clusters, especially when applied to high dimensional data, such as document-word feature matrices. It also scales well with both the size and the dimensionality of the data set. However, at each level only the locally optimal choice of spitting is considered. At a later stage this often leads to a non-optimal global partitioning of the data. The non-greedy version of the PDDP algorithm (NGPDDP) presented in this paper address this problem. At each level multiple alternative splitting strategies are considered. Results from applying the algorithm to generated and real data (feature vectors from sets of text documents) are presented. The results show substantial improvements in the cluster quality.
N-Methylglutamate Synthetase THE USE OF FLAVIN MONONUCLEOTIDE IN OXIDATIVE CATALYSIS

Abstract N-Methylglutamate synthetase, an FMN-containing enzyme, catalyzes the reversible formation of N-methyl-l-glutamate from methylamine and l-glutamate (methylamine + l-glutamate ⇌ N-methyl-l-glutamate + ammonia). The reaction follows a Ping Pong Bi Bi kinetic pattern consistent with a double displacement mechanism involving a glutaryl enzyme intermediate. An active glutaryl enzyme can be isolated by incubating enzyme with [14C]glutamate or N-[glutaryl-14C]methylglutamate but not from N-[methyl-14C]-methylglutamate. Formation of this intermediate involves the incorporation of 2 moles of glutamate and the reduction of 2 moles of FMN per mole of enzyme. Likewise the removal of the glutaryl moiety by methylamine or ammonia occurs with the stoichiometric oxidation of FMN. The rate of flaxin reduction by a fixed level of glutamate or N-methylglutamate is 5 to 9 times faster than the over-all reaction, while flavin reoxidation by methylamine or ammonia is 0.5 to 1.0 times the rate of the corresponding over-all reaction. Incorporation or subsequent removal by methylamine, of the glutaryl moiety into the enzyme also occurs at rates approximately equal to that of the corresponding over-all reactions. These results are consistent with a double displacement mechanism utilizing the cyclic reduction-oxidation of FMN for oxidative catalysis.
Development of realistic physical breast phantoms matched to virtual breast phantoms based on human subject data

Purpose: Physical phantoms are essential for the development, optimization, and evaluation of x-ray breast imaging systems. Recognizing the major effect of anatomy on image quality and clinical performance, such phantoms should ideally reflect the three-dimensional structure of the human breast. Currently, there is no commercially available three-dimensional physical breast phantom that is anthropomorphic. The authors present the development of a new suite of physical breast phantoms based on human data. Methods: The phantoms were designed to match the extended cardiac-torso virtual breast phantoms that were based on dedicated breast computed tomography images of human subjects. The phantoms were fabricated by high-resolution multimaterial additive manufacturing (3D printing) technology. The glandular equivalency of the photopolymer materials was measured relative to breast tissue-equivalent plastic materials. Based on the current state-of-the-art in the technology and available materials, two variations were fabricated. The first was a dual-material phantom, the Doublet. Fibroglandular tissue and skin were represented by the most radiographically dense material available; adipose tissue was represented by the least radiographically dense material. The second variation, the Singlet, was fabricated with a single material to represent fibroglandular tissue and skin. It was subsequently filled with adipose-equivalent materials including oil, beeswax, and permanent urethane-based polymer. Simulated microcalcification clusters were further included in the phantoms via crushed eggshells. The phantoms were imaged and characterized visually and quantitatively. Results: The mammographic projections and tomosynthesis reconstructed images of the fabricated phantoms yielded realistic breast background. The mammograms of the phantoms demonstrated close correlation with simulated mammographic projection images of the corresponding virtual phantoms. Furthermore, power-law descriptions of the phantom images were in general agreement with real human images. The Singlet approach offered more realistic contrast as compared to the Doublet approach, but at the expense of air bubbles and air pockets that formed during the filling process. Conclusions: The presented physical breast phantoms and their matching virtual breast phantoms offer realistic breast anatomy, patient variability, and ease of use, making them a potential candidate for performing both system quality control testing and virtual clinical trials.
Mode of Inhibition of β-Hydroxydecanoyl Thioester Dehydrase by 3-Decynoyl-N-acetylcysteamine

Abstract The alkynoic substrate analogue 3-decynoyl-N-acetylcysteamine (NAC) was previously shown to inhibit β-hydroxydecanoyl thioester dehydrase irreversibly. 2,3-Decadienoyl-NAC prepared by chemical isomerization of 3-decynoyl-NAC inhibits dehydrase activity even more effectively. The allenic and the acetylenic inhibitors both inactivate dehydrase by combining with a histidine residue at the active site. α-Dideutero-3-decynoyl-NAC reacts more slowly with dehydrase than its hydrogen analogue: kh:kd = 2.60. No kinetic isotope effect is observed for the inhibition of enzyme by α-d-2,3-decadienoyl-NAC. It is concluded that 3-decynoyl-NAC as such is not the true inhibitor, but that the dehydrase isomerizes it to the allene which in turn inactivates the enzyme by a chemical reaction. The finding that free 2,3-decadienoic acid inhibits dehydrase, whereas 3-decynoic acid does not, supports the postulated mode of action.
Contribution to the History of Einstein’s Geometry as a Branch of Physics

About a year ago in a short note1 I outlined a “New Foundation of General Relativity.” My main point was that the usual postulational approach to general relativity (GR) does not distinguish between the Nordstrom-Einstein-Fokker (NEF) scalar theory and Einstein’s tensor theory. Thus a new postulate had to be added for which I have chosen the “derivability of the equations of motion from the field equations.” Later, I remembered having seen a review (invited talk) of Einstein on the “Present Status of the Problem of Gravitation” which he delivered at the “85. Naturforscherversammlung zu Wien,” in 1913 before a joint meeting of the Divisions of Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy and which was published in the same year in the “Physikalische Zeitschrift ”together with the lively discussion which Einstein’s talk generated.2 In his review, Einstein also tried to distinguish between Nordstrom’s second scalar theory (which in 1914 he and Fokker brought into a generally covariant form) and his own (preliminary) tensor theory. I noticed, with some surprise, that Einstein’s argument for favoring his tensor theory was not correct. Nevertheless, his profound intuition led him to the right theory. As Goethe in his “Faust” said,“Der Mensch in seinem dunklen Drange ist sich des rechten Weges wohl bewusst.” Applied to our case, “Einstein in his obscure drive was conscious of the right pathway.”
The Colima Volcanic complex, Mexico

Volcan Colima is Mexico's most historically active andesitic composite volcano. It lies 150 km north of the Middle America Trench at the western end of the Mexican Volcanic Belt, closer to the trench than any other composite volcano in Mexico. Since its earliest reported eruption in 1576, V. Colima has evolved through three cycles of activity. Each cycle culminated in a major ashflow eruption, halting activity for 50 or more years. The last major ashflow eruption occurred in 1913. Andesitic block lava eruptions in 1961–1962 and 1975–1976 marked the inception of activity in a fourth historical cycle which may also terminate with a major ashflow eruption in the early part of the next century.
Methods for cancer epigenome analysis.

Accurate detection of epimutations in tumor cells is crucial for ­understanding the molecular pathogenesis of cancer. Alterations in DNA methylation in cancer are functionally important and clinically relevant, but even this well-studied area is continually re-evaluated in light of unanticipated results, such as the strong association between aberrant DNA methylation in adult tumors and polycomb group profiles in embryonic stem cells, cancer-associated genetic mutations in epigenetic regulators such as DNMT3A and TET family genes, and the discovery of altered 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, a product of TET proteins acting on 5-methylcytosine, in human tumors with TET mutations. The abundance and distribution of covalent histone modifications in primary cancer tissues relative to normal cells is an important but largely uncharted area, although there is good evidence for a mechanistic role of cancer-specific alterations in histone modifications in tumor etiology, drug response, and tumor progression. Meanwhile, the discovery of new epigenetic marks continues, and there are many useful methods for epigenome analysis applicable to primary tumor samples, in addition to cancer cell lines. For DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation, next-generation sequencing allows increasingly inexpensive and quantitative whole-genome profiling. Similarly, the refinement and maturation of chromatin immunoprecipitation with next-generation sequencing (ChIP-seq) has made possible genome-wide mapping of histone modifications, open chromatin, and transcription factor binding sites. Computational tools have been developed apace with these epigenome methods to better enable accurate interpretation of the profiling data.
Utilizing “Omics” Tools to Study the Complex Gut Ecosystem

In a healthy gut, the immune system tolerates a diverse microbial commensal community avoiding inappropriate inflammation responses and minimizing the presence of pathogens. When the balance between host and microbes is disrupted, risk for disease increases. There is mounting evidence that microbial dysbiosis is a substantial risk factor for common gut diseases including IBS, IBD and colorectal cancer. Understanding this dysbiosis is challenging because of the extraordinary complexity of the gut ecosystem and the tremendous variability between healthy individuals in the taxa that make up the human microbiome. Advances in technology, especially sequencing technology, are beginning to allow for a full description of this complexity. In this review, we consider how new “omics” technology can be applied to the study of the gut ecosystem in human and animal models with special consideration given to factors that should be considered in the design of experiments and clinical trials.
The Real-Time Graphical Interval Logic Toolset

Our experience in using the RTGIL tools has shown that these tools and the graphical representation of the logic are very helpful for specifying and verifying properties of concurrent real-time systems. In addition to the aircraft example, we have used these tools to specify and verify properties of a railroad crossing system, a robot, an alarm system, and a four-phase handshaking protocol.
Installing, Maintaining, and Using a Local Copy of BLAST for Intranet and Workstation Use

The Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) is one of the widest used and most useful applications in sequence-based bioinformatics analysis. Frequently it is not practical or possible to use remote BLAST services through the Internet due to restrictions of a security or technical nature or the need for high-throughput analysis requiring greater amounts of processing power than are available from remote services. This unit describes the steps involved in obtaining and installing a copy of the BLAST software for use on a local intranet or stand-alone workstation. Once installed, the BLAST package can be used to create BLAST-searchable nucleotide and protein sequence databanks. Various popular hardware (PPC, Intel) and operating system (MacOSX, FreeBSD and Linux) options for running and maintaining the software are discussed. Finally, steps for indexing proprietary and third party (publicly available) sequence databanks for use with BLAST and managing these resources are discussed. Keywords: BLAST; sequence similarity searching; Unix-like operating systems
Analysis of fish bile with HPLC - fluorescence to determine environmental exposure to benzo(a)pyrene

Brown bullhead from the Black River, Ohio, have a high incidence of liver neoplasia which is associated with elevated concentrations of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the sediment. We evaluated the use of biliary concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] equivalents as a means for determining PAH exposure. Bile was collected from 16 brown bullheads and 8 common carp taken from each of two Lake Erie tributaries in Ohio, the industrialized Black River and the non-industrialized Old Woman Creek. Hatchery bullhead (n = 8) were used to determine base levels of PAHs. A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) - fluorescence technique was used to determine the concentration of B(a)P equivalents in the bile samples. The area of all peaks fluorescing at 380/430 nm was summed to give a single value for B(a)P equivalents in each sample. Concentrations of B(a)P equivalents generally reflected concentrations of PAH in sediment where fish were collected. Bile taken from Black River carp contained the highest concentration of B(a)P equivalents and was significantly different from all other groups. The value obtained for Black River bullhead was also high and was found to be significantly different from hatchery bullhead. B(a)P equivalents varied between carp and bullhead from the same habitat possibly because of differing food habits or metabolic pathways. However, our results indicate that relative levels of B(a)P equivalents in the bile offish correspond well to B(a)P levels in sediment and may offer a means of determining environmental exposure of fish to the parent compound.
Reflectance of Goldblack Deposits, and Some Other Materials of Low Reflectance from 254 mμ to 1100 mμ. The Scattering-Unit-Size in Goldblack Deposits*

The total reflectances for the spectral region 254 mμ to 1100 mμ of goldblack deposits and several other low-reflecting materials have been determined from the angular distribution of the reflectance. Reflectances in the visible spectrum were also obtained using an integrating sphere. All substances examined, except optical-black-lacquer, were found to have immeasurable specular reflectance at all the wavelengths measured.These measurements together with long wavelength reflectance measurements of goldblack deposits indicate that such deposits contain a relatively large number of scattering units between ~0.2μ and 8μ. Additional measurements, presented here, including the angular distribution of the forward scattering in the visible spectrum, give results in agreement with the above.
Designing effective baseline monitoring programs for the great barrier reef marine park, queensland, Australia

Rising pressure for both the protection and expanded use of coastal and marine resources underscores the need for effective management of these dynamic and often poorly understood environments. Yet the long‐term data required to make ecologically sound decisions is often lacking, highlighting the importance of effective baseline monitoring programs. This is particularly evident for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, the largest marine protected area of its type in the world. This paper briefly describes the marine park and how it is managed, discusses the components of an effective baseline monitoring program, explores the worth of various monitoring program designs, and introduces the Reef Research Allocation Model (RRAM), a GIS‐based spatial decision support tool under development for use in selecting monitoring sites.
Case-control studies = odds ratios: blame the retrospective model.

Many epidemiologists and statisticians believe that the odds ratio is the only measure that can be reliably estimated from case-control studies. I have received many reviews of case-control study papers instructing us to change “rate ratio” to “odds ratio” when, in fact, it was the rate ratio that we had estimated. Further, in discussions about methods we have developed to estimate absolute risk measures from nested case-control studies, I have found that many are surprised to learn that absolute risk can be estimated systematically and reliably in the case-control setting. While case-control studies are best suited for estimation of relative measures, and I do not wish to minimize the challenges of estimation on other scales from case-control data generally, there are reliable methods for doing so. Reporting of absolute risk estimates seems desirable to supplement the usual case-control relative measure analyses, 1 but this is only rarely done even when it is feasible. So why is there an odds-ratio fixation? I believe the core problem is that epidemiologists often think of case-control studies as a “retrospective model.” According to this view, we start with a set of cases and controls. Then the covariates (exposures and other factors) occur as independent realizations with distribution dependent on disease status. This is in contrast to the “prospective model” of cohort data, in which we start with a group of subjects with given covariates, and disease status is the result of independent realizations with probability dependent on the covariate values. Students learn that the odds ratio parameters in the retrospective logistic model are same as the odds ratio parameters in the corresponding prospective logistic model, but that other measures do not translate. The matter is further confused because valid estimation of odds ratio parameters from retrospective model casecontrol data may be obtained using the corresponding prospective cohort data logistic regression, with the estimated “baseline odds” a nuisance parameter to be ignored. 2,3 But case-control studies are not backwards cohort (“trohoc”) studies. 4 A more realistic way to represent case-control designs is as sampling from a prospective cohort that depends on disease outcomes and other information available on cohort subjects— what we have called the nested case-control model. 5 While this representation is certainly not new, and is often used in epidemiology textbooks as a “conceptual framework” to think about basic sampling and bias issues, almost invariably the retrospective model approach is used to develop the analysis methods. The alternative approach my colleagues and I have taken is to develop case-control study methods based completely on the nested case-control model, and to provide a unifying framework across cohort and case-control analysis methods, as well as across individually matched and unmatched case-control study designs. While there are still some important gaps to be filled, we have made progress. After
Leveraging the Power of Individuals for Arts Advocacy

The 2008 recession was accompanied by a wave of technological, social, and other changes. In its wake, arts advocates find themselves on a changed battlefield, where individuals have an increasing ability to organize and leverage community networks to effect policy change. This new context requires different structures of advocacy support, as well as different advocacy strategies. This article suggests an adjusted framework for arts advocacy strategy, chronicling changes in political and other contexts and their subsequent implications for the arts.
Substance abuse : A pediatric concern

Use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs is a worldwide problem and affects many children and adolescents. The use of opiates, cannabis, tobacco, and alcohol have been well recognized for centuries in India. Abuse of alcohol is widespread in college campuses. In the United States, in 1997, 54.3% of high-school students had used an illicit drug by the time they entered 12th grade. In India the use of drugs and alcohol within the context of religious beliefs and local traditions has been historically documented. Children & adolescents are exposed to alcohol, cannabis products, and tobacco product. Several risk factors and protective factors have been identified. A screening psychosocial history is the most useful tool to identify non-specific indicators of substance abuse. In India the use of pan masala, and home brewed products containing marijuana and alcohol have special significance. Pan masala is shown to have carcinogenic, genotoxic, and clastogenic properties. The pediatrician can play a vital role in the appropriate recognition and early referral.
Making amends : Adaptive perspectives on conflict remediation in monkeys, apes, and humans.

Conflict is an integral, and potentially disruptive, element in the lives of humans and other group-living animals. But conflicts are often settled, sometimes within minutes after the altercation has ended. The goal of this paper is to understand why primates, including humans, make amends. Primatologists have gathered an impressive body of evidence which demonstrates that monkeys and apes use a variety of behavioral mechanisms to resolve conflicts. Peaceful post-conflict interactions in nonhuman primates, sometimes labeled "reconciliation," have clear and immediate effects upon former adversaries, relieving uncertainty about whether aggression will continue, reducing stress, increasing tolerance, and reducing anxiety about whether aggressors will resume aggression toward former victims. However, the long-term effects of these interactions are less clearly established, leaving room to debate the adaptive function of conflict resolution strategies among primates. It is possible that reconciliatory behavior enhances the quality of valued, long-term social relationships or that reconciliatory interactions are signals that the conflict has ended and the actor's intentions are now benign. Both of these hypotheses may help us to understand how and why monkeys, apes, and humans make amends.
Does ADHD matter? Examining attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder on the likelihood of recidivism among detained youth.

There is limited research regarding attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among youth in the juvenile justice system, but the existing research demonstrates higher rates of difficulties, including substance abuse, parental dysfunction, and school issues. There is, however, little knowledge regarding the impact of detainment on delinquent youth with an ADHD diagnosis, which is the focus of this study. The main research question is if detained youth diagnosed with ADHD are more likely to be rearrested and/or reconvicted, while considering the impact of the type of detention facility to which the individual youth is assigned (treatment or a traditional facility). The findings indicate that there is a statistically significant relationship between an ADHD diagnosis, the interaction between ADHD and the type of detention facility, and reconviction. Offenders with ADHD were more likely to recidivate than non-ADHD youth and the youth with ADHD detained in the treatment center appear to have a negat...
Dispersion relations in graphite intercalation compounds: Phonon dispersion curves

A phenomenological model based on staging periodicity and in-plane superlattice symmetry is developed for the phonon dispersion relations of graphite intercalation compounds, analogous to the formalism developed for the electronic dispersion relations. The formalism, based on the zone folding of the graphite dynamical matrix required by symmetry, gives with a minimum number of parameters the only available calculation for the phonon dispersion relations for high-stage compounds. Specific application of the model to a ${\mathrm{C}}_{2n}X$ structure yields results in good agreement with the stage dependence of the lattice mode spectra, indicating that the staging periodicity is the dominant effect in these compounds. Implications on the velocity of sound, second-order Raman spectrum, and specific-heat measurements are discussed.
The determination of mean residence time using statistical moments: It is correct

The present communication seeks to end a controversy created by a recent publication regarding the applicability of statistical moment principles for determination of mean residence time of drug in the body ¯tb.It is shown that the equation ¯tb=AUMC/AUC iscorrect when applied to pharmacokinetic systems in which the total drug elimination rate is directly proportional to the drug concentration in the systemic circulation, i.e., firstorder central elimination. More general equations for ¯tbin terms of elimination rate, amount eliminated, and amount in the body are presented along with demonstrations of their utility.
Microwave Spectrum of Ne:HBr: Structural Perspectives on Rg:HX, Rg=Ne, Ar, Kr, X=F, Cl, Br, I

Abstract Microwave spectra of ground state 20Ne:1H79Br, 20Ne:1H81Br, 22Ne:1H79Br, 22Ne:1H81Br, and their corresponding deuterated isotopomers are obtained using pulsed-nozzle Fourier Transform microwave spectroscopy. The 20Ne:1H79Br ground state 〈 P 2 ( cos θ ′ ) 〉 = 0.09025 ( 11 ) is characteristic of a nearly free rotor. The available 20Ne:1H79Br, 20Ne:2H79Br, 22Ne:1H79Br and 22Ne:2H79Br data are analyzed and used to determine an initial ground vibrational state morphed potential for the dimer. This resulting intermolecular potential indicates a global minimum Ne:BrH linear isomeric structure with Rcm = 3.42 A. These analyses also provide structural perspectives on the prototypical homologous series Rg:HX (Rg = Ne, Ar, Kr; X = F, Cl, Br, I).
Partial Purification of an Ethylene-binding Component from Plant Tissue.

An ethylene binding component(s) has been partially purified from mung bean sprouts. Tissue was homogenized in 0.3 molar sucrose and 0.2 molar potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0). The homogenate was centrifuged, and resuspended fractions were assayed by incorporating them onto cellulose fibers (0.7 grams per milliliter). These were exposed to [14C]ethylene (3.7 × 10−2 microliters per liter of 120 millicurie per millimole) in the presence or absence of 1000 microliters per liter unlabeled ethylene. The cellulose was transferred to separate containers and the [14C]ethylene was absorbed in mercury perchlorate and counted. Distribution of ethylene binding to various fractions was: 0 to 3,000g, 3%; 3,000 to 12,000g; 4%; 12,000 to 100,000g, 69%; cellular debris, 24%; 100,000g supernatant, 0%. Adjustment of the pH to 4.0 precipitates the ethylene-binding component. Neutralization, addition of Triton X-100, and readjustment of the pH to 4.0 “solubilized” most of the binding component. Further purification was obtained by chromatography on CM-Sephadex in 10 millimolar potassium acetate buffer, (pH 5.0) containing 1% Triton X-100. Elution was with 200 millimolar potassium phosphate (pH 6.0) containing 1% Triton X-100. Upon treatment of the Triton “solubilized” component with cold acetone, over 90% of the binding capacity was lost. Extraction of the acetone-precipitated residue with 2% Triton X-100 restored some of the binding capacity which was found in the soluble fraction. The pH optimum for binding is 6.0. Passing the Triton X-100 extract of the acetone powder through Sepharose 6B provides considerable purification. The binding component moved ahead of most of the protein.
Taking metagenomic studies in context.

Today we are witnessing an explosion in interest in marine microbial communities, including Bacteria, Archaea, protists and viruses. Recent advances in genomic science have helped scientists to study microorganisms with much greater precision than ever before and provided new ways to evaluate ecosystem diversity and functional potential. In their article ‘Metagenomic marine nitrogen fixation – feast or famine?’, published in this issue of TIM, Johnston et al. have focused on one specific area – the nitrogen cycle – and have attempted to draw conclusions from the lack of particular N2-fixing genes in the Sargasso Sea metagenomic data described by us (1). We wish to clarify that a key piece of context from our study [1xEnvironmental genome shotgun sequencing of the Sargasso Sea. Venter, J.C. et al. Science. 2004; 304: 66–74Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (2237)See all References[1] is unaccounted for by Johnston et al., and cannot be neglected if accurate conclusions are to be drawn.The failure of the their effort to detect key elements of biological nitrogen fixation in the Sargasso Sea database (SSDB) cannot be taken to infer, as the authors do, the ‘patchiness’ of the nif genes in marine samples. The Sargasso study was not designed to fully elucidate the nitrogen cycle from the Sargasso Sea ecosystem, but rather to describe the gene complement found within a particular biological size fraction extracted from the filtered samples. Owing to their size, many nitrogen fixing cyanobacteria potentially present in the samples collected would not be represented in the size fraction examined in the Sargasso study, which focused on microbes captured on a 0.1μm filter after passing through a 0.8μm prefilter (Table S1 in Ref. [1xEnvironmental genome shotgun sequencing of the Sargasso Sea. Venter, J.C. et al. Science. 2004; 304: 66–74Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (2237)See all References[1]). Clearly, many nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria could well be found on the larger size fractions, which have yet to be analyzed.Johnston et al. rightly point out that metagenomic databases are rich resources leading to intriguing questions, not only of the genes and pathway components identified as being present in particular samples, but also which genes are conspicuously absent. It is crucial, however, to take great care to consider the full context of the samples being analyzed before any conclusions are drawn.
Relationships Between Calcified Atherosclerotic Plaque and Bone Mineral Density in African Americans With Type 2 Diabetes

Inverse relationships have been reported between bone mineral density (BMD) and calcified atherosclerotic plaque (CP). This suggests these processes may be related. We examined relationships between BMD and CP in 753 African Americans with type 2 diabetes from 664 families, accounting for the effects of modifiable cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Association analyses were performed using generalized estimating equations (GEEs) to assess cross-sectional relationships between computed tomography-determined measures of thoracic and lumbar vertebral volumetric BMD (vBMD) and CP in the coronary and carotid arteries and infrarenal aorta. Significant inverse associations were seen between thoracic and lumbar vBMD and CP in all three vascular beds in unadjusted analyses. A fully adjusted model accounting for age, sex, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, C-reactive protein, hemoglobin A(1c), smoking, and hormone-replacement therapy revealed significant inverse associations between thoracic vBMD and CP in coronary and carotid arteries and aorta, whereas lumbar vBMD was associated with CP in coronary artery and aorta. Inverse associations exist between vertebral BMD and calcified atherosclerotic plaque in African-American men and women with type 2 diabetes. This relationship was independent of conventional CVD risk factors and supports the hypothesis that bone metabolism and atherosclerotic plaque mineralization are related processes.
Teratogenic Effects of Audiogenic Stress in Albino Mice

The teratogenic effects of audiogenic stress were studied in 60-day-old pregnant Swiss-Webster mice by exposing the pregnant dams to the effects of a noise generator for varying periods during pregnancy.The most severe fetal effects were noted when the pregnant dams were stressed on Days 8–17 and Days 10–15 of pregnancy.In an attempt to discern the days of greatest susceptibility to stress, a second group of mice was studied, and it was determined that Days 7–8 was the period of maximal susceptibility.The teratogenic effects produced by audiogenic stress included a reduction in fetal weight, complete or partial resorption of fetuses, cranial hematoma, dwarfed hind limbs, and tail defects.
Predictors of mortality among HIV-infected women in Kigali, Rwanda.

In 1988 researchers recruited 18-35 year old women from pediatric and prenatal care clinics at the Centre Hospitalier de Kigali in Rwanda to observe HIV disease progression. They compared probability of survival of the 460 HIV-positive women with that of the 998 HIV-negative women. They used simple clinical and laboratory variables as predictors of mortality from AIDS. The researchers did not use the WHO clinical case definition of AIDS as the outcome measure since 40 and 30 women from each group respectively met the criteria for AIDS at entry. Only 66% (25) of the HIV=infected women who died met the criteria for AIDS during the study. After 2 years mortality among HIV-infected women stood at 7% (39) which was more than 20 times higher than that among women not HIV infected (0.3%; p < .001). Mortality was 21% for those who met the WHO criteria for AIDS. The wasting syndrome was the cause of the death in 51% of HIV-infected death cases. The baseline predictors of mortality in HIV-infected women in descending order of prevalence of predictor included an at most body mass index of 21 kg.sq. (48%; relative hazard [RH] 2.3) low income (46%; RH=2.6) mm/hour erythrocyte sedimentation rate (39%; rh = 4.9) chronic diarrhea (10%; RH = 2.6) a history of herpes zoster (9%; RH 5.3) and oral candidiasis (1%; RH 7.3). The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was a better predictor than lymphocyte counts (p < .001) and p < .11 respectively). Of the 40 HIV-infected women who met the criteria for AIDS the health of 32 women improved so the physicians no longer considered them to have AIDS. Thus health workers should treat symptomatic HIV-positive cases. AIDS was responsible for 90% of all deaths among reproductive age women living in Kigali. Health workers in Africa can use the simpler erythrocyte sedimentation rate instead of the more costly CD4 counts as a predictor of progression to AIDS.