cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genitourinary System Tumors

Numerous molecular tests for prostate and bladder cancers, and to a lesser extent, testis and kidney cancers, are commercially sold and rely on readily available antibodies. In prostate cancer, prognostic testing for low to intermediate (Gleason 3 + 4 = 7) cancers is gaining momentum. Diagnostic tests for prostate cancer are available that have responded to the low sensitivity of the serum PSA test by measuring other molecules in the serum or urine. For urinary bladder cancer, fluorescent in situ hybridization, using urine or bladder washing specimens, is the mainstay of molecular tests to supplement diagnostic accuracy. However, other tests such as the BTA Stat test, NMP22, and FGFR3 mutation tests, are gaining a role in patient management. In testicular cancer, the main role of molecular diagnostics is through immunostaining, although cytogenetics can play a role in rare cases. In kidney cancer, analysis for VHL mutation may be ordered in selected cases; and an abundance of new tumor types has been recently characterized, each bearing characteristic genetic alterations.
Congestive heart failure patients angiotension converting enzyme inhibitor treatment for MMP-9,TIMP-1 and the influence of BNP

Objective To investigate angiotension converting enzyme inhibitor(ACEI) in the treatment of congestive heart failure in children when children matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9),the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1(TIMP-1) and B- type natriuretic peptide(BNP) influence.Methods 54 cases of the children with congestive heart failure is divided into control group and observation group of each 27 cases,observation group in the conventional treatment on the basis of add a benzene that profit of 0.2 mg/kg oral,one/d,treatment 3 months,observed before and after treatment echocardiography related indicators and plasma MMP-9,TIMP-1 and BNP change.Results The control group after treatment LVDd,LVDs,LVEDV,LVESV all were down(P0.05),the observation group after treatmentLVDd,LVDs,LVEDV,LVESV all were down(P0.05),the LVEF increased(P0.05),the observation group compared with the control group the change more evident(P0.05); MMP- 9,and the two groups after treatment of BNP was decreased(P0.05),the higher TIMP- 1(P0.05),the observation group after treatment change is more apparent than in the controls(P0.05).Conclusion To congestive heart failure patients using ACEI treatment,children can obviously decrease the plasma MMP-9,BNP,improve TIMP-1,improve cardiac function.
Design and Implementation of Simulation Engine for AADL Model Based Testing

The non-properties of safety-critical system,such as real time,reliability and safety,are becoming a key constraint of dependency of system behavior,and they are effect software quality for the large-scale system.It is a key research task to find a solution to analyze the dependency property in system design phases for the purpose that designers can optical system architecture,rebuild software components and hardware components to meet system quality specification.An AADL model-based test Engine was designed and implemented in this paper to solve question above.The simulation engine was developed on System C and POSIX techniques,and its core function includes task encapsulation,task scheduler,time management,interrupt management and signal control.It can execute AADL instance dynamic,and carry out model-based testing for verification real time property of embedded system.At last,it gave a case study for Automaton control system,which is model with AADL,and can execute testing over AMSE.Some time properties were tested,such as AADL flow latency,thread execution time and cache hit rate.This simulation engine is useful to verification AADL model.
Optimum and Robust Design of Electromagnet for the Brake of Vehicle Based on Integrated Design Environment

According to the former research achievements of electromagnet for the brake of vehicle and through the analysis of the work mechanism of the brake and the force situation of the electromagnet,the algorithm flow of optimal design of the electromagnet based on the integrated design platform is established.This guarantee the designed electromagnet to have the characteristics of anti-overturn and even wear,so the computer-aided design of the electromagnet with new unsymmetrical structure is realized.Through analyzing the test data of the electromagnet,the controlled factor and the noise factor can be divided by the different influence on the output features.The robust design method based on the response surface model is introduced in the electromagnet design and the second-order response surface models of its suction and the suction' signal to noise ratio are founded with regressive method.Combining traditional robust design methods with modern optimal methods by using MATLAB optimization function of Fmincon,the robust point and output characteristics of the electromagnet are obtained.Meanwhile the robust design method founded on the integrated design platform is realized.
Fetal deaths and malformations associated with the use of coumarin derivatives in pregnancy. A critical review.

The literature which relates the use of oral anticoagulants during pregnancy to fetal wastage and malformation has been reviewed. Fatal fetal or neonatal hemorrhage has occurred only in instances where the limits of the therapeutic range were seriously exceeded or where the coumarin drug was not discontinued sufficiently prior to labor. The evidence for coumarin drugs causing nonhemorrhagic intrauterine death is not convincing and may be due to the bias of selective reporting. A possibility exists that warfarin sodium may be teratogenic.
Ion channelopathies in functional GI disorders

In the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, abnormalities in secretion, absorption, motility, and sensation have been implicated in functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). Ion channels play importan...
Obesity in pregnancy as a model to identify women at risk for later metabolic syndrome.

The aim of our study is to identify - in a cohort of obese women - cardiovascular and clinical risk factors in women with previous complicated pregnancies and protective factors in women with previous physiological pregnancies. A total of 135 nonpregnant obese women referring to Policlinico Gemelli in Rome were prospectively collected in 2009-2010. Thirty-two women matched inclusion criteria: 16 reported a previous physiological pregnancy and 16 reported previous obstetric complications. A clinical, instrumental and laboratory evaluation has been performed for each patient. Statistical analysis was performed using StatView Software. Values are expressed as mean ± standard error (SEM). All tests were two-tailed with a confidence level of 95% (p < .05). Statistically significant reduced flow-mediated dilatation (p = .0338), increased serum values of vascular cell adhesion molecule (p = .0154) and higher systolic blood pressure values (p = .0427) have been detected in obese women with previous complicated pregnancies due to gestational diabetes and/or hypertension. In conclusion, obese patients with previous complicated pregnancies develop signs of endothelial dysfunction in the postpartum period. Future research should focus on the early identification of possible molecular mechanisms implicated in the development of glyco-metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in obese patients, since they are at higher risk of metabolic syndrome.
Family Counseling With High-Conflict Separated Parents: Challenges and Strategies

When parents separate and divorce, they and their children often suffer dire emotional consequences, especially when the parents have a “high-conflict” relationship. When the parents are able to have a more collaborative relationship, however, outcomes are more positive. Family counseling can be an excellent resource for these parents, but the literature in this area is sparse. This article reviews a framework of understanding high conflict in the context of separated parents. After establishing this base of understanding, common challenges in working with high-conflict separated parents are presented, along with nonmodel-dependent strategies for meeting these challenges. Case examples are provided to illustrate both the challenges counselors may face and the strategies that are suggested for meeting those challenges.
CAUSES OF EARLY POST CAROTID ENDARTECTOMY STROKE IN A RECENT SERIES: THE INCREASING IMPORTANCE OF HYPERPERFUSION SYNDROME

Objective: Early stroke occurs in 0.9% to 7% of patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA). These have been thought to be mostly due to embolization. However, in our recent clinical experienc...
Single Facility Location Problem With Non-Traditional Cost Function

The traditional problem of location theory is to seek the location which yields the minimum total transportation costs with fixed demands and known market locations; see Louveaux et al. [1]. For the case of a network Hakimi [2] shows that it is possible to reduce the infinite number of alternatives (any point on the network) to a finite number (nodes of the network). We refer the reader to a recent survey paper by Tansel et al. [3] and the location theory text by Handler and Mirchandani [4] for a review of location problems on networks. For the location problem on the plane we are unaware of a recent survey paper. We refer the reader to the location theory text by Francis and White [5], Hansen et al. [6] and a recent paper by Larson and Sadiq [7].
Global Internet Censorship

Of all of the innumerable myths that swarm around cyberspace, one of the most insidious is that the internet is an inherently emancipatory tool, a device that necessarily and inevitably promotes democracy by giving voice to those who lack political power, and in so doing undermines authoritarian and repressive governments.
Skeletal Class II Case Presentation: Utilization of the AdvanSync 2 Appliance

The Herbst appliance has been used routinely in the specialty of orthodontics for nearly 40 years. Over this time, many design variations have been utilized. One of the recent designs is the AdvanSync 2 appliance, manufactured by Ormco. The AdvanSync 2 appliance is smaller than the conventional Herbst appliances and allows the clinician to place braces on all the permanent teeth forward of the first molars. In the case presented, the patient presented with a skeletal Class II, division 2 malocclusion. Facially, it was determined that mandibular advancement would be advantageous for ideal facial esthetics. The result of treatment utilizing the Damon System braces and the AdvanSync 2 Class II corrector was an excellent outcome both dentally and in regard to facial esthetics.
Recovery of Kidney Dysfunction After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (from the Northern New England Cardiovascular Disease Study Group)

Acute Kidney Recovery (AKR) is a potential benefit of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). We determined the incidence and predictors of AKR in a multicenter prospective registry of TAVI. After excluding patients on dialysis or who died within 48 hours postprocedure, we reviewed 1,502 consecutive patients underwent TAVI in Northern New England from 2012 to 2017. Patients were categorized into 3 groups based on the change in postprocedure estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR): Acute Kidney Injury (AKI, decrease in eGFR >25%), AKR (increase in eGFR >25%) or no change in kidney function on discharge creatinine following TAVI. We then focused in patients with baseline chronic kidney disease (CKD defined as eGFR ≤60 ml/min; n = 755) and developed multivariate predictor models to determine the clinical and procedural variables associated with AKR. For the TAVI cohort (n = 1,502), the overall incidence of AKR was 17.8%. AKR was threefold higher in patients with eGFR ≤60 ml/min as compared to those with eGFR >60 ml/min (26.6% vs 8.9%, p 6.1 were less likely to develop AKR. In conclusion, AKR occurred in 1 of 4 of all TAVI patients with baseline CKD and was a more frequent phenomena than AKI. Patients with decreased lung function, previous aortic valve surgery and worse baseline renal function were more likely to demonstrate AKR, whereas patients with diabetes mellitus, baseline anemia, and higher Society of thoracic risk scores were less likely to see improvements in renal function after TAVI.
Environmental Law from the Inside: Local Perspective, Local Potential

We live and learn in an allusion to nature, subject to a bit of mediation by cultural priorities to direct what we are experiencing. The thrust of this observation is that perception and experience are important both to understanding the relevance and effectiveness of how we relate to and regulate our natural surroundings. Referred to in this article as "insider" environmental law, the term is intended to distinguish local environmental governance capacity on grounds of how the environment is experienced. This article suggests that local needs should serve more of a driving role in the formulation of environmental law and policy. To accomplish this task, this article is intended to identify the footings and lay the foundation for local ecosystem governance based on the way communities regulate their environments locally as insiders to ecosystems. First, this article introduces the insider environmental perspective by observing the ways that the environment is experienced. This discussion helps in grasping how a perception of nature derives from experiences with it. This discussion also facilitates an understanding of why ecosystems are regulated differently by different levels of government. Second, this article distinguishes the value of insider environmental law from the more traditional understanding of local ecosystem governance as local protectionism. The act of being in an ecosystem prioritizes the notion that ecosystem governance is coextensive with local governance, where community identity, economy, equity and human well-being are fundamentally linked to the location and ecological place of community. Third, this article introduces ecosystem services to grasp the manner in which local perspective can be motivated by an open and honest consideration of the costs of environmental governance. The ecological economics of ecosystem services posits that where ecosystems fail, humans, and particularly humans as situated in communities, suffer real, calculable harm. Insider environmental law is, to its credit and confusion, concerned with the difficulties of identifying an objective description of environmental quality that is consistent with a real and felt sense of place.
Using machine learning to cope with imbalanced classes in natural speech: Evidence from sentence boundary and disfluency detection

We investigate machine learning techniques for coping with highly skewed class distributions in two spontaneous speech processing tasks. Both tasks, sentence boundary and disfluency detection, provide important structural information for downstream language processing modules. We examine the effect of data set size, task, sampling method (no sampling, downsampling, oversampling, and ensemble sampling), and learning method (bagging, ensemble bagging, and boosting) for a decision tree prosody model. Results show that (1) bagging benefits both tasks, but to different degrees, (2) the benefit from ensemble bagging decreases as data size increases, and (3) boosting can outperform bagging under certain conditions.
Variation in anthocyanin profiles of 27 genotypes of red cabbage over two growing seasons

Acylated anthocyanins, such as those found in red cabbage, are more heat-, light-, and alkaline pH-stable than non-acylated anthocyanins, making them attractive for a variety of commercial applications. A UPLC-DAD-MSE method with an optimized chromatographic strategy was used to identify 29 red cabbage anthocyanins, predominantly acylated and glucosylated cyanidin derivatives. Anthocyanin profiles of 27 red cabbage genotypes harvested in consecutive growing seasons were measured and assessed for variation. Three unique anthocyanin profile fingerprints were identified through hierarchical clustering analysis. PCA analysis identified anthocyanin accumulation traits and genotypes with high diversity which can be utilized in future investigations into the genetic and molecular basis for anthocyanin production, acylation, and diversity.
Teaching Advanced Communication Skills to Trainees Caring for the Critically Injured

Trauma or injury is a sudden, unexpected event that often impacts previously healthy individuals, resulting in disability or death. Families and patients need support as they cope with this life-altering event. Physical or psychological impairments post-trauma may not improve despite the best treatment. Patients and families need ongoing effective and empathetic communication. Current training in trauma care is centered on life-saving clinical skills, with little attention to development of the empathic communication skills that are needed in this area of medicine. We can attempt to bridge this gap by designing a curriculum addressing trainee’s communication skills in trauma.
Course‐based prefaculty training program introduces instructional methods, increases instructor self‐efficacy, and promotes professional development

Graduate student and postdoctoral teaching assistants receive highly variable preparation for instructional methods because providing such training is often expensive. Therefore, we conducted an intensive, pedagogical boot camp followed by classroom observations, structured professional development discussions about leveraging the experience on the job market, individual exit interviews, and a letter of recommendation. Our data show the participants implemented new pedagogical techniques in their classrooms, showed increased self-efficacy, and reported appreciation for the training experience. Using a clustering analysis of instructional methods, most participants' classrooms were characterized as peer-led collaborative work as opposed to more traditional instructor-led pedagogies. We believe that this low-cost, prefaculty training leads to demonstrable short-term outcomes and is a viable option for institutions with limited resources or personnel.
Material Characterization of Additively Manufactured Ti-6Al-4V Parts for an Environmental Control and Life Support System in Space Flight Hardware

Additive manufacturing has been added to the repertoire of production processes for components in the environmental control and life support system of space-faring habitable modules. In addition to cost savings over conventional machining, additive manufacturing expands the design space to enable more compact hardware configurations, resulting in reduced hardware volume and weight. Volume and weight reductions are coveted attributes of any spaceflight hardware in orbit or transit. The reliability of environmental control and life support systems is of paramount importance. Failure of these systems can result in catastrophic consequences. As part of an effort to implement additively manufactured parts in mission critical hardware, development hardware will be operated on the International Space Station in parallel with the existing qualified hardware. In order to support strength and durability assessment of the development hardware, a limited material characterization plan was developed. The derived data, describing some of the mechanical and metallurgical characteristics of a Ti-6Al-4V component built with a selective laser-melting additive manufacturing process, are presented. The number of test samples in the characterization are limited to one or two samples of each test type, precluding a statistical assessment of the properties, but a wide range of properties (including cross sectional metallography, Poisson’s ratio, tensile strength, fracture toughness, crack growth rate, and high cycle fatigue) are discussed.
Nearly Perfect Fluidity: From Cold Atomic Gases to Hot Quark Gluon Plasmas

Shear viscosity is a measure of the amount of dissipation in a simple fluid. In kinetic theory shear viscosity is related to the rate of momentum transport by quasi-particles, and the uncertainty relation suggests that the ratio of shear viscosity eta to entropy density s in units of hbar/k_B is bounded by a constant. Here, hbar is Planck's constant and k_B is Boltzmann's constant. A specific bound has been proposed on the basis of string theory where, for a large class of theories, one can show that eta/s is greater or equal to hbar/(4 pi k_B). We will refer to a fluid that saturates the string theory bound as a perfect fluid. In this review we summarize theoretical and experimental information on the properties of the three main classes of quantum fluids that are known to have values of eta/s that are smaller than hbar/k_B. These fluids are strongly coupled Bose fluids, in particular liquid helium, strongly correlated ultracold Fermi gases, and the quark gluon plasma. We discuss the main theoretical approaches to transport properties of these fluids: kinetic theory, numerical simulations based on linear response theory, and holographic dualities. We also summarize the experimental situation, in particular with regard to the observation of hydrodynamic behavior in ultracold Fermi gases and the quark gluon plasma.
Technology and social media use by oncology patients with limited english proficiency at a safety net hospital.

e18533Background: Prior studies have shown that when patients with cancer engage with social media, they have positive outcomes, including clinical trial participation, volunteerism and advocacy, a...
Parameter optimization and yield prediction of cathode coating separation process for direct recycling of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries

Fast adoption of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) for electric vehicles requires an effective LIB recycling process to recover the valuable battery components and alleviate the concerns over the disposal of hazardous waste. The retrieval efficiency of cathode materials in direct recycling of end-of-life (EOL) lithium-ion batteries is systematically studied using the Taguchi Design of Experiment (DoE) method for the first time. A mathematical regression model is also developed to predict the yield and guide the parameter selection.
Commutation principles for optimization problems on spectral sets in Euclidean Jordan algebras

The commutation principle of Ramirez et al. (SIAM J Optim 23:687–694, 2013) proved in the setting of Euclidean Jordan algebras says that when the sum of a real valued function h and a spectral function $$\Phi $$ is minimized/maximized over a spectral set E, any local optimizer a at which h is Frechet differentiable operator commutes with the derivative $$h^{\prime }(a)$$ . In this note, we describe some analogs of the above result by assuming the existence of a subgradient in place of the derivative (of h) and obtaining strong operator commutativity relations. We show, for example: if a solves the problem $$\underset{E}{\max }\,(h+\Phi )$$ , then a strongly operator commutes with every element in the subdifferential of h at a; If E and h are convex and a solves the problem $$\underset{E}{\min }\,h$$ , then a strongly operator commutes with the negative of some element in the subdifferential of h at a. These results improve known operator commutativity relations for linear h and for solutions of variational inequality problems. We establish these results via a geometric commutation principle that is valid not only in Euclidean Jordan algebras, but also in a broader setting.
Transhumanism, Utopia, and the Problem of the Real in Ready Player One

Ann Taves’s argument about “special things” permits religion scholars to analyze secular texts fruitfully. Notably, Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One speculates about humanity’s possible future and h...
Ridesourcing and urban inequality in Chicago: Connecting mobility disparities to unequal development, gentrification, and displacement

Ridesourcing advocates and companies promise many benefits to cities, such as increased accessibility, a solution to the last-mile transit problem, and even reduced need for automobiles. However, a...
Fundamental Oscillations of Coils and Windings [includes discussion]

Knowledge of the wave shapes and frequencies of the normal functions (or standing waves) of air and iron-core coils, transformer windings, and generator windings is of fundamental importance for the study of the response of these structures to impulse voltages and switching surges. In this paper the normal functions are determined for the cases of grounded and isolated neutral for the fundamental oscillations only. The mutual inductance between all turns of the winding is taken into account, by solving an integral equation, wherein the kernel depends upon the mutual inductance function. Examples are given for air and iron-core coils, and transformer windings, both uniform and non-uniform. Computed wave shapes and frequencies compare satisfactorily with measurements.
Regulating Sex Work: Assimilationism, Erotic Exceptionalism and the Challenge of Intimate Labor

Most commentators on sex markets focus on the debate between abolitionists and those who defend and support professional sex work. This paper, instead, looks at debates within the pro-sex work camp, uncovering some unattended tensions and contradictions. It shows that, within this camp, some stress the labor aspect, urging that sex markets perpetuate a “vulnerable population” of workers, similar to others who perform highly risky and/or exploited labor, and should be regulated accordingly. In this view, sex work would be assimilated into other labor. Others, though, take a more anti-regulatory stance. They exceptionalize this form of labor, arguing that because it is sexual it should be exempt from state scrutiny and interference, claims which can quickly sound libertarian. In sum, while both camps agree that professional sex work should be decriminalized, when one turns from the criminal to the regulatory perspective, the paper shows how erotic exceptionalists and assimilationists could not be more opposed. The paper contends that neither of these views is satisfactory. Sex work could very well be legalized and regulated — if we have the political and moral will to do so. The paper explores a regulatory structure that might govern sex markets. Doing so requires a break with both assimilationism and erotic exceptionalism.This paper attempts two interventions into the sex work debate. The first move is a conceptual one, shifting the focus from disputes between abolitionists and sex work advocates to uncovering contradictions and ambivalences within the pro-sex work camp. It gives significant attention to these latent tensions, as I anticipate some readers steeped in feminist theory may dispute this as an issue. The second is a governance move, comparing sex work to other types of work to consider to what extent various risks and injuries of sex work, physical and otherwise, could be ameliorated by legalization — that is by appropriate state regulation. It pairs two regulatory claims. One contends that risk reduction is best served by correlating regulation to institutional form, or what I call sexual geography, which I do not anticipate will be that controversial. Another, which tackles discrimination from the demand side, that is, through the erotic preferences that comprise sex markets, should be provocative to many. In the end, my goal is to launch a conversation about whether the sex workplace really is like the factory floor.
Relaxation kinetics of Helix pomatia α-hemocyanin: Whole-half molecule reaction at pH 5.7 in 0.4 m NaCl

Abstract Two independent relaxation kinetics methods were used to study samples of α-hemocyanin kindly furnished to us by members of the Biochemical Laboratory of the University of Groningen. A Durrum-Gibson stopped-flow apparatus was used to obtain concentration-jump data in the light-scattering mode. A recently developed pressurejump light-scattering apparatus was used to obtain completely independent data. The studies were made in 0.1 m acetate buffer at pH 5.7 containing 0.4 m NaCl, conditions under which equilibrium light-scattering studies had been reported by Engelborghs and Lontie (1973, J. Mol. Biol. , 77 , 577–587) . In the companion paper (Kegeles, 1977, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. , 180 , 530–536) , a model is proposed, consisting of a system containing a mixture of reactive and unreactive whole molecules, from which data are derived for the formation constant of whole molecules from halves and the fraction of material which is capable of undergoing reaction. The present study uses this estimate of this fraction of reactive material to permit the evaluation of overall rate constants and equilibrium constants. When the estimate of 65% of reactive material derived without making nonideality corrections is applied to the kinetics data, very satisfactory agreement is obtained between the equilibrium constant acquired from equilibrium data and the equilibrium constants derived from the kinetics data.
The M3 muscarinic receptor i3 domain confers oxidative stress protection on calcium regulation in transfected COS-7 cells.

Summary Evidence suggests that muscarinic receptors (MAChRs) are involved in various aspects of neuronal and vascular functioning, and that there is selective oxidative stress sensitivity (OSS) among MAChR subtypes. COS-7 cells transfected with M1, M2 and M4 subtypes show greater OSS than the M1 and M3 subtypes, as seen by the decreased ability of cells to extrude or sequester calcium (Ca 2+ ) following exposure to dopamine (DA) or Aβ 25–35, and depolarization by oxotremorine. We sought to determine which receptor domain may be responsible for the differential vulnerability to OS between ‘OS-sensitive’ (M1) and ‘non-sensitive’ (M3) subtypes. Comparison of the amino acid sequences of each receptor has shown that the third cytoplasmic loop (i3 loop) is the domain with the most variability between the two subtypes. Therefore, mutations were made by either deleting or exchanging the i3 loop of M1 and M3 receptors. Experiments revealed that deletions of the i3 loop increased DA sensitivity (a lower percentage of cells showing recovery of [Ca 2+ ] i following depolarization) in both receptors. Chimerics of M1 in which the i3 loop of the M3 was exchanged with the i3 loop of the M1 (M1M3i3) showed that DA sensitivity was reduced (a greater percentage of cells showing increases in calcium clearance) following depolarization. The M3 chimerics containing the M1 i3 loop (M3M1i3) offered no protection against DA-induced decrements in calcium buffering. Results suggest that the longer i3 loop of the M3 may decrease OSS, possibly playing a role in targeting antioxidants to specific receptor sites that impart OSS.
Offstage Sounds: The Permeable Playhouse of Charles Charles

Provincetown Playhouse manifests a complex thematic interplay of Sameness and Difference, which is rooted in the commonplace misrepresentation of male homosexual desire as a narcissistic formation unable to embrace Difference. Normand Chaurette makes use of this popular prejudice while moving beyond it. The drama not only critiques the inability of a homophobic society to accept alterity, but also critiques a gay identification with a masculinist ideology that perpetuates racism and sexism. Charles Charles's play, "The Sacrificial Slaying of Beauty," is a violent attempt at purging a male society of the feminine. In Charles's comic failure to suppress alterity during the performance of his play, Chaurette gives a model of the many unsuccessful attempts to eradicate Difference throughout Provincetown Playhouse . Provincetown Playhouse montre l'interaction thematique complexe entre l'Identite et l'Alterite, interaction qui est enracinee dans la representation erronee et banale du desir homosexuel masculin en tant que formation narcissique incapable d'inclure l'Alterite. Normand Chaurette se sert de ce prejuge tres repandu tout en le depassant. La piece ne critique pas seulement l'incapacite d'une societe homophobe d'accepter l'alterite mais aussi une identification gay avec une ideologie phallocrate qui perpetue le racisme et le sexisme. La piece de Charles Charles,"LeTheâtre de l'immolation de la beaute", s'efforce violemment de purger une societe masculine du feminin. En nous montrant l'echec comique de Charles d'y parvenir dans la representation de sa piece, Chaurette nous donne, tout au long de Provincetown Playhouse , un modele de beaucoup d'autres vains efforts pour supprimer l'Alterite.
Predicting structure in nonsymmetric sparse matrix factorizations

Many computations on sparse matrices have a phase that predicts the nonzero structure of the output, followed by a phase that actually performs the numerical computation. We study structure prediction for computations that involve nonsymmetric row and column permutations and nonsymmetric or non-square matrices. Our tools are bipartite graphs, matchings, and alternating paths.
Fear of and susceptibility to prostate cancer as predictors of prostate cancer screening among Haitian-American men

Survey data were collected from 143 consenting Haitian-American men to (1) examine if perceived susceptibility to prostate cancer was congruent with the objectively measured disease risk, (2) test the relationship of perceived susceptibility and fear, and (3) examine these constructs for their predictive relationships to screening behavior. Perceived susceptibility was highly correlated (p < 0.05) to fear and screening behavior. Perception of risk was much lower than actual risk. Fear was not predictive of either ever having been screened (p = 0.81) or planning to be screened (p = 0.85).
On the characterization and analysis of system of systems architectures

A goal of an agile organization is the ability to adapt its structure to constantly changing operating environments so it can provide the multiple capabilities that enable mission accomplishment. A challenge for the system of systems (SOS) engineer is that while the SOS is being developed, the operating environment it was designed for changes. This situation causes significant uncertainty as to whether the SOS will meet the needs of the organization when finally deployed. To mitigate this uncertainty, SOS architectures should by assessed for their ability to deploy in more than one configuration. Past architecture assessments and performance characteristics are primarily system focused and do not address the dynamics of the interacting constituent systems of the SOS. This dissertation provides two measures, Adaptability and Agility, for assessing and comparing SOS architectures for their ability to adapt to the current operating environment and their ability to provide multiple capabilities concurrently. A SOS is defined as being composed of individual Elements that can be organized into Nodes. Each Element belongs to one and only one Node. Cohesion is a measure of the relatedness of the Elements within a Node. Coupling is a measure of the interdependence among the Nodes. Adaptability is defined as the ability of a SOS to respond to changes in the allocation of Elements to Nodes; it is computed using the concepts of Coupling and Cohesion. The Degree of Reuse measures the extent to which Elements support multiple capabilities. Agility measures the ability of the SOS to execute multiple processes concurrently and adapt to changing situations. Agility is a function of Adaptability and Degree of Reuse. The methodology provides the information required to assess the Adaptability and Agility of a proposed or actual SOS architecture. The process begins by identifying from the operational view of the architecture the capabilities that must be realized by the SOS alternatives. The SOS architecture describes how a particular subset of Elements organized into Nodes will realize the capabilities; it is the system view of the architecture. The SOS is transformed automatically into an executable model using Colored Petri Nets; invariant analysis and simulation are used to compute Coupling and Cohesion, while the Degree of Reuse is computed directly for each SOS. These three measures are then used to compute the Adaptability and Agility measures. Alternative architecture patterns are then compared in terms of their adaptability and agility. One advantage of the approach is that it can be applied early in the systems engineering process to help select preferred architecture alternatives. A case study is presented to illustrate the application of the assessment methodology and that different architecture types or patterns yield distinct values for the Adaptability and Agility measures that are consistent with the qualitative differences in the tested architectures.
Influence of sodium intake on vascular and adrenal angiotensin II receptors.

The restriction of sodium intake reduces the sensitivity of vascular smooth muscle to angiotensin II, but enhances its influence on the adrenal glomerulosa cell. A competitive antagonist to angiotensin II, the Sar1, Ala8 derivative (PI13), which shows affinity for the same receptor as angiotensin II, was used to examine the role of receptor affinity in the effect of sodium intake on these two systems in vitro. A threshold P113 concentration reduced the response to angiotensin of aortas derived from rabbits on a high, but not on a low, salt intake. Similarly, a threshold PI13 concentration inhibited aldosterone response to angiotensin in glomerulosa cells obtained from sodium-loaded, but not sodium-restricted, rats. Large doses of P113 reduced the response to angiotensin in both preparations on either diet. The competitive antagonist presumably shares affinity for the same receptor on the basis of structural similarities; thus, the results suggest that sodium restriction blunts the vasoactive effects of an...
A sterol methyltransferase from bean rust uredospores, Uromyces phaseoli

Abstract A methyltransferase(s) that catalyzes the transfer of the methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine to a sterol acceptor was solubilized with Triton X-100 and partially purified from bean rust uredospores ( Uromyces phaseoli ). Zymosterol was the most active substrate tested while desmosterol and lanosterol exhibited good activity. The products were sterols with either a methylene or ethylidene group at the C-24 position. Direct evidence for the synthesis of the ethylidene group was obtained by using 24-methylenecholesterol as a substrate.
In situ localization of actin mRNA in Dictyostelium discoideum aggregates

By in situ hybridization of a labeled cloned DNA to cellular RNA, we have studied the distribution of actin mRNA in differentiating Dictyostelium discoideum aggregates. In migrating pseudoplasmodia, the mRNA is distributed uniformly. However, in culminating aggregates (sorogens) actin mRNA is enriched in stalk cells and in the cells at the anterior tip. Thus, the preferential synthesis of actin in prestalk and stalk cells, previously reported, is due at least partially to increased levels of actin mRNA.
Distributions of hydrogen and strains in LaNi5 and LaNi4.75Sn0.25

Abstract Hydrogen distributions and internal strains that accompany hydriding of binary LaNi5 were compared to those of the ternary alloy LaNi4.75Sn0.25, which is known to have a cycle life superior to that of LaNi5 in electrochemical cells and in gas storage applications. X-ray diffractometry shows that the unit cell volume of the hydride phase changes more continuously with hydrogen concentration in LaNi4.75Sn0.25 than in binary LaNi5. Gas-phase isotherms show that the Sn atoms make significant changes to the local chemical potential of hydrogen atoms. Using generic hydrogen–solute interactions in Monte Carlo simulations and physical arguments, it is shown that normal coarsening of hydride zones will be altered, or even arrested, by hydrogen–solute interactions. Small-angle neutron scattering shows that the distribution of deuterium in partially-deuterated LaNi4.75Sn0.25 is more homogeneous than in partially-deuterated LaNi5, at least on the spatial scales around 100 A. It is suggested that the more homogeneous deuterium distribution in LaNi4.75Sn0.25 suppresses the strain gradients that cause decrepitation of the metal hydride.
Restoring environmental flows through adaptive reservoir management: planning, science, and implementation through the Sustainable Rivers Project

AbstractRiver managers worldwide are increasingly addressing flow needs for ecosystem processes and services in their management plans for dams and reservoirs. However, while planning and scientific assessments have advanced substantially, successful re-operation of infrastructure to achieve environmental benefits has been more limited. The Sustainable Rivers Project (SRP) was formalized in 2002, as a national partnership between the United States Army Corps of Engineers and The Nature Conservancy to define and implement environmental flows through adaptive reservoir management. The project has focused on eight demonstration basins containing 36 Corps dams, but is designed to direct the collective experience from these sites to help guide agency-wide operational changes for as many as 600 dams to benefit up to 80 000 river kilometres and tens of thousands of hectares of related floodplain and estuarine habitat. This article summarizes the progress to date on defining and implementing environmental flows t...
Polyakov spin factors and Laplacians on homogeneous spaces

Abstract We derive the Laplacian Δ(A) associated with parallel transport of spin on the bundle SN ← E+. This Laplacian, previously used to construct the generalization of the Polyakov spin factor to an arbitrary number of dimensions N + 1, involves a nonabelian SO(N) monopole connection A. Using methods of differential geometry and harmonic analysis on homogeneous spaces, we prove that Δ(A) is given by the difference of two quadratic Casimir operators associated with Spin(N + 1) and Spin(N), respectively. We then employ the Gel'fand-Zetlin method to characterize the spectrum and eigenfunctions of −Δ(A). In particular, we prove the previously conjectured degeneracy of the ground state.
Cytochrome-b haplotypes suggest an undescribed Peromyscus species from the Yukon

Peromyscus maniculatus (Wagner, 1845) and Peromyscus keeni Merriam, 1897 are two species of deer mouse currently recognized in the Yukon. Phylogenetic analyses (Kimura two-parameter and maximum par...
Enzyme activities and ethanol preference in mice

Alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase, the two principal enzymes of alcohol metabolism, were assayed in the livers of the inbred mouse strains C57BL/6J and DBA/2J. Previous work has shown that animals of various C57BL substrains prefer a 10% ethanol solution to water in a two-bottle preference test, and that animals of various DBA/2 substrains avoid alcohol. In the present study, C57BL/6J mice were found to have 300% more aldehyde dehydrogenase activity than DBA/2J mice and 30% more alcohol dehydrogenase activity. The F1 generation is intermediate to the parents in preference for the 10% alcohol solution and is also found to possess intermediate levels of alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase activity. These experiments suggest a systematic relationship between the behavioral trait of ethanol preference and the activity of aldehyde dehydrogenase and a similar but much less pronounced relationship with alcohol dehydrogenase.
What have we learned over the past 20 years about appendicitis in the elderly

Abstract Background This study evaluates appendicitis in the elderly, comparing our findings to those previously published a decade earlier. Methods Comparison of appendicitis in the elderly (aged 60 years and older) from 1978 to 1988 with the following 10 years, 1988 to 1998. Results Overall (1978–1998) 26% of patients presented typically, one third delayed seeking care, with only half diagnosed correctly on admission. Computed tomograhy (CT) use increased (44% versus rarely in the previous decade). Perforation rates declined (72% first group versus 51% second group) with a concomitant drop in complications from 32% to 21% respectively. Overall, three fourths of complications occurred in patients with perforated appendicitis. Mortality rates remained constant. Conclusions Appendicitis in the elderly is a difficult problem with delays in medical care, nontypical presentation resulting in incorrect diagnosis, relatively high rates of perforation often with associated postoperative complications and mortality. A higher index of suspicion with liberal early utilization of CT in uncertain cases may result in more appropriate management.
Along for the ride: Reflections on the past, present, and future of semiconductor electronics

Semiconductor electronics has been on a remarkable ride, and it is far from over. Since Gordon Moore formulated his famous law in 1965, progress in semiconductor technology has continued unabated, and the result has transformed the modern world. Microelectronics has become nanoelectonics, and the transistor has become the most ubiquitous device on the planet. This talk has two objectives. The first is to discuss the device that made microelectronics possible, the transistor, and the second is to peer into the future. I'll present a simple, physical, and non-mathematical view of the transistor. Transistor scaling is the engine that drives Moore's Law. When I began my career as a process engineer, the critical dimensions of transistors were 5-micrometers (5000 nanometers). In the not so distant future, we hope to be manufacturing transistors with 5 nanometer dimensions. Pushing MOSFET scaling to its limit and exploring new switching devices are essential, but today we can see the end of the downscaling paradigm. Students, faculty, and our colleagues in industry are asking: “What comes next?” No one has a crystal ball, but it seems certain that the next 50 years will be just as interesting and significant as the past 50, just different. I'll reflect on what the continued progress in electronics and the current convergence of knowledge and technologies from different disciplines means for the future of electronics and what it mean for the way we educate students and keep practicing engineers current.
Impact of bottled water storage duration and location on bacteriological quality

An investigation studying the effects of storage duration and location on the persistence of heterotrophic microorganisms in oligotrophic bottled water environments has been completed. One-gallon high-density polyethylene water containers stored for up to 16 weeks at temperatures ranging from 2°C to >49°C in a refrigerator, indoor cabinet, covered porch, and car trunk were evaluated for microbiological quality. Heterotrophic plate counts (HPCs) of up to 4 × 103 cfu/mL were detected in containers stored on a porch and car trunk; whereas, HPCs were found not to exceed 400 cfu/mL and 100 cfu/mL for bottles stored in indoor cabinets and refrigerators, respectively. Containers stored on an enclosed porch for up to seven years contained HPC of up to 4 × 104 cfu/mL. Logistic and Gompertz growth models predicted microbial growth rates for bottled water stored on a protected porch environment for long (R 2 0.99) and short-term (R 20.86) durations.