cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transitioning from Idiopathic to Explainable Autoimmune Hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis lacks an identifiable cause, and its diagnosis requires the exclusion of etiologically defined diseases that resemble it. Insights into its pathogenesis are moving autoimmune hepatitis from an idiopathic to explainable disease, and the goal of this review is to describe the insights that are hastening this transition. Two types of autoimmune hepatitis are justified by serological markers, but they also have distinctive genetic associations (DRB1 and DQB1 genes) and autoantigens. DRB1 alleles are the principal susceptibility factors in white adults, and a six amino acid sequence encoded in the antigen-binding groove of class II molecules of the major histocompatibility complex can influence the selection of autoantigens. Polymorphisms, including variants of SH2B3 and CARD10 genes, may affect immune reactivity and disease severity. The cytochrome mono-oxygenase, CYP2D6, is the autoantigen associated with type 2 autoimmune hepatitis, and it shares homologies with multiple viruses that might promote self-intolerance by molecular mimicry. Chemokines, especially CXCL9 and CXCL10, orchestrate the migration of effector cells to sites of injury and are associated with disease severity. Cells of the innate and adaptive immune responses promote tissue damage, and possible deficiencies in the number and function of regulatory T cells may facilitate the injurious process. Receptor-mediated apoptosis is the principal mechanism of hepatocyte loss, and cell-mediated and antibody-dependent mechanisms of cytotoxicity also contribute. Insights that explain autoimmune hepatitis will allow triggering exogenous antigens to be characterized, risk management to be improved, prognostic indices to be refined, and site-specific therapeutic interventions to emerge.
Minimally invasive approach to the lumbosacral junction with a single position, 360° fusion

Degenerative lumbar pathologies are commonly encountered at the lumbosacral junction. The transition from the mobile lumbar spine to the stiff sacroiliac segment results in high biomechanical stresses and can lead to disc degeneration, ligamentum flavum hypertrophy, neural foraminal stenosis, and other causes of pain or neurologic deficit. Surgical intervention at the lumbosacral junction must be tailored to maximize pain relief and relieve neural compression and reverse neurologic deficit while preserving the spine's natural biomechanical strength and flexibility and preventing the slow march of adjacent segment degeneration cranially into the thoracolumbar spine. It is our practice to offer combined anterior and posterior minimally invasive options when appropriate to maximize neural decompression and pain relief while ensuring proper segmental alignment and maximizing fusion rates through a minimally disruptive approach. In this article we detail a common presentation of lumbosacral pathology and the approach and considerations for a single position, minimally invasive anterior and posterior approach at the L5/S1 segment.
Preparation of crown ethers with isoxazolyl-lariats : homologation of isoxazole aldehydes, and a critical comparison of lariat functional moieties for lanthanide extraction

A critical comparison of several lariat ether functional moieties is presented. The synthesis of two isoxazolyl-lariat ethers is described. The lariat ether (2, n=1) undergoes β-fragmentation on electron transfer reductive ring-opening with samarium diiodide. The isoxazole moiety was then homologated to overcome this problem, and isoxazole lariat ether (2, n=3) was obtained. The isoxazole (2, n=3) and β-diketone (3, n=3) crowns were evaluated in lanthanide shift studies and liquid-liquid extraction studies
Determinants of Long-acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) Initial and Continued Use among Adolescents in the United States.

Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) has gained attention as a promising strategy for preventing unintended adolescent pregnancies in the US. However, LARC use among adolescents at risk for unintended pregnancy remains low compared to women in their 20s. The purpose of the current study was to synthesize the empirical literature published between 2010 and 2018 identifying the facilitators of and barriers to adolescents’ (< age 20) LARC use in the US. Thirty quantitative and qualitative studies were included in the current systematic review. The facilitators of and barriers to adolescent LARC use fell within five themes: LARC method characteristics, individual characteristics, social networks, healthcare systems, and historical time and geographical region. Barriers to adolescent LARC use largely echoed those identified in previous research noting the barriers to LARC use among young adult women (e.g., navigation of healthcare system logistics, common adverse side effects associated with some LARC methods). However, qualitative studies identified adolescents’ mothers as central figures in helping adolescents successfully obtain the LARC methods they desired. Conversely, adolescents’ partners seemed to only play a minor role in adolescents’ contraceptive decisions. The findings also suggested some subpopulations of adolescents may be experiencing pressure to initiate LARC use or have less ability to have their LARC device removed if they wish to discontinue use. Adolescent health practitioners and clinicians should consider the unique social–environmental influences of adolescents’ contraceptive access and behaviors to best meet adolescents’ contraceptive needs and desires.
Intelligent Bugs Mapping and Wiping (iBMW): An Affordable Robot-Driven Robot for Farmers

Navel orangeworm (NOW) is a common pest of almonds in California. According to research results, California almond harvests is worth of more than five billion dollars before processing. The NOW can cause about 30 percent product loss in almonds from direct consumption. For those who had 20 percent total damage, the loss can be as high as $1742.50 per acre, which is 24 percent of the total profit $7200 per acre. Therefore, NOW is economically and ecologically important in California. Each year in California, eradication of pests is not always available, due to either the pest’s fast expanding distribution or constraints regarding the tools available to attempt eradication. Traditionally, people use pheromone traps to monitor the flights of NOW, but it needs labors counting the number of moths at least once a week and to track the data, which is time consuming and needs a lot of labor effort. In this paper, it proposed an intelligent bugs mapping and wiping (iBMW) robot concept to perform pest population spatial and temporal distribution and surgical precision spraying for pest wipeout. The iBMW is an affordable (less than $1000) robot-driven robot, which has a Turtlebot 3 worked as the robot’s brain and an unmanned ground vehicle serviced as the work platform. According to the design, the robot will be capable to recognize and classify the NOW by using deep learning neural networks. And, several iBMWs can also work in the field together in swarming mode day and night, so that it can realize temporal and spatial bugs mapping. Then, based on the mapping results, the iBMWs can determine which areas are at the greatest risk and whether wiping treatment is needed in those areas.
Carbon Nanotube Fabric-Based Composites for Development of Multifunctional Structures

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess impressive properties along with low density. Integration of CNTs in the form of fabrics or other preformed assemblies simplifies their handling and allows for the higher CNT content needed to better leverage their properties in multifunctional structures. Here we describe production of non-woven CNT-polyurethane fabrics made from industrial-grade CNTs via a one-step filtration method. Individual sheets were scaled to 30 cm x 30 cm size and subsequently used to fabricate thicker composites, including via lamination with itself to produce simple panels and with other materials to further tailor the nanocomposite properties and address several example applications including electrical heating, fire resistance, electromagnetic shielding, and a skin for stretchable morphing structures.
Identify Each Variable to Treat Complex Health Conditions

Medical care for complex health conditions requires medical professionals to identify each variable and determine the cause and effect of each variable. This is necessary to protect the patient from deadly treatments that conflict with complex health conditions like Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). This article uses Patient X to demonstrate the need for medical professionals to identify variables and the cause and effect of each variable before treating any of the variables. A complex health condition requires research before treatment to avoid life-threatening outcomes for the patient.
Spectroscopic and theoretical studies of UN and UN.

The low-energy electronic states of UN and UN+ have been examined using high-level electronic structure calculations and two-color photoionization techniques. The experimental measurements provided an accurate ionization energy for UN (IE = 50 802 ± 5 cm−1). Spectra for UN+ yielded ro-vibrational constants and established that the ground state has the electronic angular momentum projection Ω = 4. Ab initio calculations were carried out using the spin–orbit state interacting approach with the complete active space second-order perturbation theory method. A series of correlation consistent basis sets were used in conjunction with small-core relativistic pseudopotentials on U to extrapolate to the complete basis set limits. The results for UN correctly obtained an Ω = 3.5 ground state and demonstrated a high density of configurationally related excited states with closely similar ro-vibrational constants. Similar results were obtained for UN+, with reduced complexity owing to the smaller number of outer-shell electrons. The calculated IE for UN was in excellent agreement with the measured value. Improved values for the dissociation energies of UN and UN+, as well as their heats of formation, were obtained using the Feller–Peterson–Dixon composite thermochemistry method, including corrections up through coupled cluster singles, doubles, triples and quadruples. An analysis of the ab initio results from the perspective of the ligand field theory shows that the patterns of electronic states for both UN and UN+ can be understood in terms of the underlying energy level structure of the atomic metal ion.
Exploring nonvoting and electoral integrity in the 2016 presidential election

While voter turnout has been a subject of research for decades, comparatively little attention has been paid to nonvoters. Just as voters can be mobilized by demographic and contextual factors, we ...
Introduction to dental medicine: Analysis of a massive open online course in dentistry.

Objectives This study aims to: (1) assess learner demographics of Introduction to Dental Medicine (IDM), an early Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) developed for the Coursera platform and (2) analyze course enrollment to determine worldwide interest in accessible, high-quality dental education. Methods The authors review the development and organization of IDM and present learner statistics to critically evaluate learner traits and course engagement for IDM. Results IDM has been available since June 15, 2015, and as of March 1, 2020, gained 90,374 visitors, of whom 16,739 have enrolled and demonstrate continued monthly and daily engagement. Learners represent all age groups and genders and include participants of all educational and employment backgrounds, reflecting broad interest in dental knowledge. They originate from 6 continents with the largest percentages of learners from countries including the United States, Egypt, India, and the United Kingdom. IDM learners have provided positive feedback, rating the course 4.8/5 stars and often providing individual accounts of the benefit of their experiences. Conclusions IDM presented an opportunity to learn general dental concepts. The course served to increase familiarity in the field for all learners, including health professionals, patients, and anyone with an interest in the subject. It also served as preparation for or to expand education in dental, medical, and allied health professions. High learner engagement with wide global distribution demonstrated interest in dental education worldwide.
Sociology Departments and Program Review: Chair Perspectives on Process and Outcomes:

Sociology faculty are accountable to multiple stakeholders to demonstrate that our academic programs are effective and that students are learning. Despite the ubiquity of mandated program review pr...
Federal Policies, State Responses, and Community College Outcomes: Testing an Augmented Bennett Hypothesis.

Abstract We estimate the impact of increases in Federal student aid and higher education funding, such as the recently proposed American Graduation Initiative (AGI), on the outcomes of community colleges, including enrollments, list and average tuitions, and educational quality. We develop a reduced form model of state-level education policy in which state policy makers, who have objectives that differ from those of Federal policy makers, respond to changes in Federal policies. Our empirical specification treats state and institutional variables as endogenous; we interpret the coefficients as measuring the responses of state and institution officials to changes in Federal policies. We simulate the effects of AGI and find little evidence that states recapture Federal education resources. AGI would have a significant effect on educational quality but a limited effect on enrollments. An equivalent increase in Federal student aid would have greater impact on access and enrollments, but decrease educational quality.
Making a Case for the Right to a Healthy Environment for the Protection of Vulnerable Communities: A Case of Coal-Ash Disaster in Puerto Rico

The connection between the environment and human rights is not a surprising one. The enjoyment of human rights depends on a person’s ability to live free from interference and to have his or her rights protected. The interdependence of human rights and the protection of the environment is manifested in the full and effective enjoyment of the right to a healthy environment. This article argues that in order to protect vulnerable persons and communities facing environmental harm, a human rights framework—specifically the right to a healthy environment—must be applied. A human rights approach complements environmental justice work, recognizing that individuals and communities affected by environmental harm are rights-holders entitled to protection. Such communities are left out of important decisions about their environment and the effect of environmental harm in their lives. Individuals most vulnerable to environmental harm are often members of poor, rural, and disenfranchised communities. The destruction of the environment disproportionately affects these communities, preventing them from accessing basic natural resources, clean water and sanitation, adequate housing, food security, and access to health and medical assistance. Additionally, intersecting forms of discrimination exacerbate exclusion and marginalization. A human rights approach to environmental justice emphasizes the need to protect affected communities and holds the State responsible for recognizing their vulnerability and providing heightened protection. This article seeks to show that while the human right to a healthy environment has not been widely recognized, a robust juridical framework enables environmental justice advocates and affected communities to vindicate the rights of vulnerable communities. The case study of coal-ash contamination in Puerto Rico and the harms suffered by affected communities there anchors the argument for why advocates should use a human rights framework to protect the rights of the most vulnerable. The case of Puerto Rico is illustrative of so many poor, disenfranchised, and vulnerable communities around the world, affected by environmental harm and in need of a human rights-based framework.
Leveraging Virtual Experiences for International Professional Development Opportunities during the Pandemic and Beyond

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all spheres of life, including the world of education. Within no time, once-bustling university classrooms were compelled to move online, leaving educators to rely on virtual engagement tools. This in turn heightened the impact of virtual professional development in higher education, not just nationally but also internationally. As we look toward finding means to engage students in effective classroom instruction, there remain parts of the globe that are making this transition to online instruction without cutting-edge technologies. This article highlights the importance of engaging educators in virtual professional development activities as part of international outreach and details one author's experience using the Avida-ED platform for a novel international teaching partnership. Traditionally, international outreach activities have been pursued through distinct platforms, like Fulbright programs, sabbaticals, and other international collaborations. The ongoing pandemic presents a unique opportunity to propagate professional development activities on a virtual platform by emphasizing scientific teaching practices as they relate to the STEM fields. If undertaken, these endeavors ultimately benefit educators across the globe by not only equipping them with various pedagogical tools and resources for their online instruction but also by establishing international partnerships and collaborations.
Pitfalls in Study Interpretation

Background: The goal of a randomized or observational study is to develop an unbiased and reliable answer to a therapeutic question. However, there are multiple pitfalls in the reporting and interp...
Outcomes After Selective Fasciotomy for Revascularization of Nontraumatic Acute Lower Limb Ischemia.

Objectives: Limited data support the use of fasciotomies in acute limb ischemia (ALI) in patients with isolated arterial occlusion. This study describes an experience in which fasciotomies are not regularly performed post-revascularization. Methods: Using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth and Tenth Edition codes, patients presenting to the University of California Davis Medical Center between January 2003 and July 2018 with ALI, excluding those with traumatic injuries were identified. The primary outcome was major amputation, and the secondary outcome was foot drop. Additionally, the characteristics of those patients in each category of ischemic severity excluding those with grade 3 ischemia were summarized. Results: Of the 253 patients identified, revascularization was successful in 230 patients with 11 total fasciotomies performed. One hundred thirty-five patients were Rutherford Class 1/2A and 95 were 2B. In those with 1/2A ischemia, 134 (102 had >6 hours of symptoms) did not undergo fasciotomy with only one amputation occurring in this group. In those with 2B ischemia, 65 had >6 hours of symptoms; 58 did not undergo fasciotomy with 4 major amputations. In the 30 patients with ≤6 hours of ischemic symptoms, 27 did not undergo fasciotomy with 1 major amputation occurring in this group. There were no amputations in those patients who underwent fasciotomies. Additionally, there were 14 patients with a foot drop, of which 11 were in patients with 2B ischemia without fasciotomy. Conclusions: The data suggest that regardless of ischemic duration, 1/2A patients may not need fasciotomies, while those patients with 2B ischemia may benefit.
A 16-kb Antifuse One-Time-Programmable Memory in 5-nm High-K Metal-Gate FinFET CMOS Featuring Bootstrap High-Voltage Scheme, Read Endpoint Detection, and Pseudodifferential Sensing

This letter presents a 16-kb antifuse macro in a 5-nm high-K, metal-gate FinFET CMOS for the first time. Bootstrap high-voltage scheme (BHVS), read endpoint detection (REPD), and pseudodifferential sensing (PDS) are proposed to lower intrinsic bit error rate (BER) below 1 ppm for in-field programming and achieve ten years of data retention at 125 °C.
Developing air pollution concentration fields for health studies using multiple methods: Cross-comparison and evaluation

Past air pollution epidemiological studies have used a wide range of methods to develop concentration fields for health analyses. The fields developed differ considerably among these methods. The reasons for these differences and comparisons of their strengths, as well as the limitations for estimating exposures, remains under-investigated. Here, we applied nine methods to develop fields of eight pollutants (carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and three speciated PM2.5 constituents including elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), and sulfate (SO4)) for the metropolitan Atlanta region for five years. The nine methods are Central Monitor (CM), Site Average (SA), Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW), Kriging (KRIG), Land Use Regression (LUR), satellite Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), CMAQ model, CMAQ with kriging adjustment (CMAQ-KRIG), and CMAQ based data fusion (CMAQ-DF). Additionally, we applied an increasingly popular method, Random Forest (RF), and compared its results for NO2 and PM2.5 with other methods. For statistical evaluation, we focused our discussion on the temporal coefficient of determination, although other metrics are also calculated. Raw output from the CMAQ model contains modeling biases and errors, which are partially mitigated by fusing observational data in the CMAQ-KRIG and CMAQ-DF methods. Based on analyses that simulated model responses to more limited input data, the RF model is more robust and outperforms LUR for PM2.5. These results suggest RF may have potential in air pollution health studies, especially when limited measurement data are available. The RF method has several important weaknesses, including a relatively poor performance for NO2, diagnostic challenges, and computational intensiveness. The results of this study will help to improve our understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of different methods for estimating air pollutant exposures in epidemiological studies.
Understanding Religious Variations in Sexuality and Sexual Health

In this chapter, we provide an overview and critical examination of published research concerning the impact of religious involvement on the outcomes of sexuality and sexual health across the life course. We take a broad approach, focusing on a variety of important topics, including sexual behavior, sexual health education, abortion attitudes and behavior, HIV/AIDS, attitudes toward gays and lesbians, and the lived experiences of sexual minorities. In the future, researchers should (1) employ more comprehensive measures of religious involvement, (2) investigate understudied outcomes related to sexuality and sexual health, (3) explore mechanisms linking religion, sexuality, and sexual health, (4) establish subgroup variations in the impact of religious involvement, and (5) formally test alternative explanations like personality selection and social desirability. Research along these lines would certainly contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of religious variations in sexuality and sexual health across the life course.
From Paper and Pencil to Tablet and Stylus: Automating the Sneakers and Spokes Environmental Audit

Walkability and bikeability of communities affects fitness and health. The paper/pencil Sneakers & Spokes Audit (SSA) evaluates the safety, quality, and comfort of walking and biking paths. Scores range 0-100, with scores 蠅85 indicating Excellent, 70 to <85 Satisfactory, and <70 Unsatisfactory support of biking and walking. This study determined the feasibility of automating the SSA via an interactive website (app) platform, conducted formative beta testing at 2 universities, and refined the SSA. Researchers and key community members at each university collaboratively selected the most commonly used paths to be audited. A quarter of identified paths were assessed at night and a subset (n=6 paths, 4 day, 2 night) were assessed by all evaluators independently to determine interrater reliability via IntraClass Correlations (ICC). Paths were drawn using OpenStreetMap/Leaflet app; audits were performed using tablets and mobile phones. Audit results were downloaded in csv/Excel format. Paths may be downloaded a...
Is the Use of Patents Promoting the Creationof New Types of Securities

Has there been a change in the level of innovation of financial methods subsequent to the State Street decision that allowed the award of patents to protect such methods? Ten years following the issuance of State Street, the patentability of business methods is still so controversial that the Federal Circuit has recently considered overruling its own precedent by rehearing In re Bilski en banc. The goal of the patent system is to promote innovation. If an increase in the level of innovation of financial methods is not present, the adoption of this form of intellectual property to protect creativity in the industry is unjustified and, potentially, even harmful. Indeed, it is important to ascertain the correct balance between encouraging innovation on the one hand, and leaving enough “raw material” upon which individuals can build new ideas on the other. A first step in accomplishing this objective is to understand whether the patent system is “doing its job” or, in other words, whether the provided protection is actually inducing innovation in a specific industry. In this article, the author presents an empirical study of innovative types of securities that have emerged over the past 25 years. The author also investigates the patent practice of the financial industry and identifies the patent applications submitted and the patents issued on different types of securities. Finally, the author discusses her findings and concludes that, recently, creators of new types of securities have shown less interest in the patent system. Nevertheless, the rate of innovation in this field has remained constant. At this time, the available data are not sufficient to reach an entirely conclusive determination with respect to whether the patent system has affected the design of new types of securities. However, the results are still of great significance and cast doubts on the soundness of the State Street decision, at least to the extent that it involves the financial industry. By deciding In re Bilski, the Federal Circuit now has the opportunity to readdress the issue of the patentability of this subject matter in a way that more closely reflects the goal of the patent system as it is described in the Constitution.
SPECIFIC READING DISABILITY: FOLLOW-UP STUDIES.

Twenty-four children with specific reading disability, originally studied and treated at the Bellevue Hospital Mental Hygiene Clinic between 1949 and 1951, were reexamined as young adults between 1961 and 1962 with the battery of tests given to them ten to 12 years before. Their specific perceptual problems and evidence of lack of clear- out cerebral dominance persists, although in less severe form. Those patients who as children had neurological signs in addition to the specific reading disability showed less improvement than those who had none.
Decentralized sliding mode control in inertial navigation systems

The decentralized de-coupling sliding mode control strategy has been developed and applied for the design of the stabilization system of the three-axis inertial platform. The local nonlinear conventional and dynamic sliding manifolds have been designed to provide the desired linear decoupled output tracking (stabilization) in each axis of the inertial platform stabilization system. The system with the dynamic sliding mode controller obtained the joint features of the system with a conventional sliding mode controller (insensitivity to matched disturbances) and a conventional dynamic compensator (accommodation to unmatched disturbances).
Quantile Filtering and Learning

Quantile and least-absolute deviations (LAD) methods are popular robust statistical methods but have not generally been applied to state filtering and sequential parameter learning. This paper introduces robust state space models whose error structure coincides with quantile estimation criterion, with LAD a special case. We develop an efficient particle based method for sequential state and parameter inference. Existing approaches focus solely on the problem of state filtering, conditional on parameter values. Our approach allows for sequential hypothesis testing and model monitoring by computing marginal likelihoods and Bayes factors sequentially through time. We illustrate our approach with a number of applications with real and simulated data. In all cases we compare our results with existing algorithms where possible and document the efficiency of our methodology.
Landscape patterns of nitrogen mineralization and nitrification in southern Ohio hardwood forests

This study quantified nitrogen mineralization and nitrification potentials in soils of hardwood forests of southern Ohio at three spatial scales: (1) the regional scale, represented by four study areas of 90–120 ha separated by 3–65 km, (2) the local scale, represented by three contiguous watersheds within each study area, and (3) the topographic scale, represented by xeric, intermediate, and mesic sites within each watershed, as defined by a GIS-generated Integrated Moisture Index (IMI). Organic C, NO3 pool size, net N mineralization, proportional nitrification, and net nitrification potentials all varied among study sites (i.e. at the regional scale). Using path analysis, we were able to construct scale-independent causal models explaining 30–35% of the variance in organic C and potential net N mineralization and ≥70% of the variance in potential net NO3 production. Site- and scale-specific differences in geology and/or land use history among study sites were likely responsible for the variation not explained by the path analysis. At the local scale, there were significant variations in organic C and inorganic N pool sizes among watersheds within a study site in two of the four study sites. In addition, most parameters we measured varied significantly along the topographic gradient (i.e. with long-term soil moisture availability/IMI). Based on our results, scaling up models of nitrification from plot scale to the regional scale should be straightforward, whereas scaling up organic C storage and N mineralization will require incorporation of independent scaling paradigms at three (or more) spatial scales.
Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law in the Asia-Pacific Region

Madame President, Mr. Provost, members of the faculty, students: first I would like to thank you very much for the kind invitation you have extended to me. And I want to thank you too, very much, for coming out this evening, knowing how the weather is. I have to confess, in your place I would not venture to go listen to anyone. So you are better people than I. Before I start I would like to do a sort of ideo-political tour d'horizon to place the East Timor issue in its proper historical-political context. Not that I would focus only on the issue of East Timor, but East Timor is a fairly impor tant case study?a telling example from which we can draw many lessons. Lessons of international hypocrisy, lessons about the tragic consequences when government actions are dictated only by pragmatism and realpolitik, lessons of endurance and survival and the hope of small nations, lessons of the eternal conflict between human rights and national interests?but national interests as the policy makers define them. Often we hear of "national interests" and "strategic interests." But who defines them? Who would say that the United States' interests were at stake in Guatemala during the Cold War and so would lead the U.S. to support one of the most brutal dictatorships in Latin America, enabling a civil war to go on for thirty years, resulting in the death of at least 150,000 people? What kind of national interest is that? And what are the strategic interests that would compel a country?the U.S., the British, the French, the Germans?in the late 1970s to support Iraqi intervention in Iran? Following the fall of the Shah, there was an Islamic revolution led by the Ayatollah Khomeini. Saddam Hussein, seizing on all the internal instabil ity and chaos that is natural in a post-empire situation, tried to recover certain lost territory to Iran, and in the ensuing war more than a million people were killed in the course of eight to ten years. Chemical and biological weapons
H beta 58, an insertional mutation affecting early postimplantation development of the mouse embryo.

The generation and analysis of insertional mutations affecting mouse embryogenesis provides a powerful method to identify new genes that function in early development. In this paper, we describe an insertional mutation that interferes with postimplantation mouse development beginning at the time of gastrulation. Embryos homozygous for the H beta 58 transgenic insertion developed normally through the early postimplantation, egg cylinder stage (day 6.5 of development). At the primitive streak stage (day 7.5), however, they began to display characteristic abnormalities, including a retardation in the growth of the embryonic ectoderm (the earliest identifiable defect), and in some cases abnormalities of the amnion and chorion. Homozygotes continued to develop for 2–3 more days, reaching the size of a normal 8.5 day embryo, and formed tissues representative of all three germ layers, including several differentiated cell types. The site of insertion was mapped, by a combination of cytogenetic and genetic methods, to chromosome 10, and it appeared to define a new genetic locus. The inserted transgene provided a probe to clone and characterize the mutant locus, as well as the corresponding wild-type locus. In addition to an insertion of 10–20 copies of the transgene, the mutant locus contained a deletion of 2–3 kb of DNA found at the wild-type locus, and possibly an insertion of mouse repetitive DNA. However, genomic sequences on both sides of the insertion site remained co-linear in the wild-type and mutant genomes, and no chromosomal abnormalities could be detected. Five single copy DNA probes spanning the insertion site were tested for their ability to hybridize to RNA from 8.5 day embryos; one of the probes (located within the region deleted from the mutant chromosome) hybridized to a 2.7 kb mRNA encoded at the H beta 58 locus, thus identifying a gene whose disruption appears to be responsible for the mutant phenotype.
Forest valuation under the generalized Faustmann formula

This paper attempts to address the question of how the value of the forest, the land, and the standing timber should be determined under the generalized Faustmann formula when the beginning and ending value of the land may be different. First, the formulas to determine the value of the forest and the land under such a situation were derived. These formulas were then used to separate the value of the trees from that of the forest. A comparison of the correctly determined valuations of the land against those obtained through a frequently used approximation method showed that at interest rates commonly used, the approximation method overestimates the land value and underestimates the value of the standing timber. Sensitivity analyses showed that higher future land value tends to affect the value of the land less at the beginning of the rotation and more at the end. Its impact on the value of the standing timber may or may not be affected, depending on whether the optimal harvest age is affected or not. Highe...
Primary systemic therapy in operable breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Laboratory studies suggest that primary systemic therapy (PST) could improve control of micrometastatic disease and impact on overall survival (OS). This article examines the rationale for and preclinical and clinical data of PST in operable breast cancer and the potential role of intermediate biomarkers as predictive and/or prognostic factors for response and survival. DESIGN AND METHOD: We conducted an extensive literative review (including MEDLINE) on preclinical studies, single-arm feasibility studies, large randomized single- and multi-institutional trials, and laboratory correlate studies of PST in breast cancer. RESULTS: Small trials in locally advanced disease showed high initial rates of response and local control. Six randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of PST for palpable, operable breast cancer have been reported since 1991 (from 204 to 1,523 patients each). These data clearly show a small but significant (less than 10%) absolute increase in the use of breast-conservation treatment (BCT...
Writing to persuade

Technical communication may be chiefly informational in intent, but there are persuasive elements in almost all communications. Sometimes, even in technical matters, persuasive communication skills are very important. The author provides arguments for improving these skills, discusses a number of mini-strategies that can be used to persuade the recipients of written communication, and touches on the ethics of using persuasion tools.
A Synthetic Strategy for the Construction of Zeolite-Entrapped Organized Molecular Assemblies. Preparation and Photophysical Characterization of Interacting Adjacent Cage Dyads Comprised of Two Polypyridine Complexes of Ru(II)

A novel synthetic strategy for the preparation of organized molecular assemblies entrapped within the supercage network of Y-zeolite is described. A molecular assembly composed of two Ru(II)−polypyridine complexes, Ru(bpy)2bpz2+ and Ru(mmb)32+ (where bpy = 2,2‘-bipyridine, bpz = 2,2‘-bipyrazine, and mmb = 5-methyl-2,2‘-bipyridine), entrapped in adjacent supercages, has been prepared and characterized by diffuse reflectance, resonance Raman and electronic emission spectroscopy, and excited-state lifetime measurements. A dramatic (∼2.5−4-fold) decrease in the emission intensity of the adjacent cage assembly, compared to a sample in which the two complexes are distributed randomly (RM) or in separate particles (MM), indicates strong interaction between the adjacent complexes. The results of the excited-state lifetime measurements are consistent with this observation. Thus, in the emission decay profile of the assembly, a new short-lived component (∼30 ns), attributable to the emission from the interacting dy...
History of external skeletal fixation.

The concept of external skeletal fixation was introduced in 1840, and the first readily available external fixator, the Parkhill clamp, appeared in 1897. Important advancements were developing triangular half-pin units in the 1920s and anchoring the bone pin in both cortices in 1934. The popularity of external skeletal fixation declined in the 1950s because of poor results that may have been caused by errors of application. Improvements in fixator configurations and the skill and judgment of surgeons led to renewed enthusiasm for the method in the 1970s.
Determinants of pain in needle electromyography.

Abstract Objectives : Although previous literature has attempted to characterize patients' pain during electromyography (EMG) based on the size and type of needle used, none have assessed the relationship between the needle insertion technique and pain. Methods : The effects of needle type and needle movement within muscle on the immediate and residual pain during needle EMG were measured in a double-blind study of 48 patients with diverse clinical problems but no sensory loss. Results : The results demonstrate that when using a standard insertion technique characterized by large needle movement, the monopolar needles were less painful than concentric needle electrodes. However, when using small needle movements (1 mm or less), pain associated with concentric needles was significantly reduced with no difference between the needle types. Examiner experience, gender, previous EMG, reported pain tolerance, pain on nerve conduction studies and other factors did not predict the amount of pain. The type of needle and type of needle movement did not effect the sensitivity of identifying abnormalities. Conclusions : These findings would support the hypothesis that although a monopolar needle electrode is less painful when using a standard technique, the needle-handling technique, specifically small needle movements, plays a large role in determining pain when using concentric needle electrodes.
Does It Exist? Studying Citizens’ Attitudes of Racial Profiling:

A controversial issue in policing is the alleged use of racial profiling by police to stop, search, question, or frisk citizens. Currently, only a small amount of empirical research exists concerning the practice of racial profiling. The empirical evidence that does exist has shown substantial minority over-representation in both police stops and searches. Moreover, almost all studies to date have focused on empirical study of police practices, thus leaving out one crucial element—the perspective of citizens. In this study, the authors use data from a random sample of New York City residents to study their perceptions of—and experiences with—racial profiling. In particular, factors are examined that relate to the perception that racial profiling is widespread, justified, and the extent of direct experience that citizens have had with racial profiling.
X-Ray Structure of Acid-Sensing Ion Channel 1–Snake Toxin Complex Reveals Open State of a Na+-Selective Channel

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) detect extracellular protons produced during inflammation or ischemic injury and belong to the superfamily of degenerin/epithelial sodium channels. Here, we determine the cocrystal structure of chicken ASIC1a with MitTx, a pain-inducing toxin from the Texas coral snake, to define the structure of the open state of ASIC1a. In the MitTx-bound open state and in the previously determined low-pH desensitized state, TM2 is a discontinuous α helix in which the Gly-Ala-Ser selectivity filter adopts an extended, belt-like conformation, swapping the cytoplasmic one-third of TM2 with an adjacent subunit. Gly 443 residues of the selectivity filter provide a ring of three carbonyl oxygen atoms with a radius of ∼3.6 A, presenting an energetic barrier for hydrated ions. The ASIC1a-MitTx complex illuminates the mechanism of MitTx action, defines the structure of the selectivity filter of voltage-independent, sodium-selective ion channels, and captures the open state of an ASIC.
Myocardial damage due to imipramine intoxication

A previously healthy child, intoxicated with 1,000 mg. of imipramine hydrochloride, developed severe diffuse myocardial damage and gross neurological disturbances. He recovered with symptomatic and supportive therapy including use of an intravenous cardiac pacemaker.
On the coset ring and strong Ditkin sets

We present a complete description of the closed sets in the coset ring «^(G) of an abelian topological group G. Using this result we show that every such set in a separable, metrizable, locally compact, abelian group Γ is a strong Ditkin set in the sense of Wik, yielding the converse of a theorem of Rosenthal and thus completing the characterization of the strong Ditkin sets with void interior for certain choices of Γ. These two results were first obtained by J. E. Gilbert. Our development of the former rests on the following theorem, which seems to be of independent interest: If φ:G~> G* is a homomorphism and Ae&(G), then <p(A)e&(G*).
2013-2014 Updates in Peyronie’s Disease Management

The number of patients presenting with Peyronie’s disease (PD) appears to be on the rise. This review provides an analysis of pertinent recent updates in the management of PD, focusing on data published within the past year. Objective benefit from injectable agents has been reported for years in mostly noncontrolled trials. The safety and efficacy of injectable collagenase clostridium histolyticum is now supported by data from a large-scale phase III randomized controlled trial. Other important advances have also been made in the surgical management of Peyronie’s disease, including new modifications to proven surgical techniques and a variety of approaches that can help enhance and restore penile length.
On diffusive creep and viscous flow

Abstract The relation between viscous and diffusive deformations is discussed, and their nonequivalence is emphasized. Molecular theories relating self diffusivity to viscosity, as well as the macroscopic behavior of materials deforming by diffusive creep and by viscous flow, are reviewed. It is concluded that while molecular theories can properly relate viscosity to diffusivity, viscous flow and diffusive creep are not macroscopically equivalent. A “viscosity” obtained by equating a diffusive creep flow to a viscous flow will in general depend upon the state of stress and will therefore not be a material property. The differences between the flow types are illustrated with two examples, the spheroidization of a nearly spherical particle, and the effective viscosity of a suspension of particles in viscous liquid.
Solution-grown zinc oxide nanowires.

We review two strategies for growing ZnO nanowires from zinc salts in aqueous and organic solvents. Wire arrays with diameters in the nanoscale regime can be grown in an aqueous solution of zinc nitrate and hexamethylenetetramine. With the addition of poly(ethylenimine), the lengths of the wires have been increased to 25 μm with aspect ratios over 125. Additionally, these arrays were made vertical by nucleating the wires from oriented ZnO nanocrystals. ZnO nanowire bundles have been produced by decomposing zinc acetate in trioctylamine. By the addition of a metal salt to the solution, the ZnO wires can be doped with a range of transition metals. Specifically, ZnO nanowires were homogeneously doped with cobalt and showed a marked deviation from paramagnetic behavior. We conclude by highlighting the use of these solution-grown nanowire arrays in dye-sensitized solar cells. The nanowire cells showed an improvement in the charge collection efficiency over traditional nanoparticle cells.
Two-Dimensional Electronic Correlation and Relaxation Spectra: Theory and Model Calculations

Hybl et al. demonstrated a technique for recording two-dimensional Fourier transform electronic correlation and relaxation spectra based on detecting phase modulation of the signal electric field in a noncollinear femtosecond four-wave mixing experiment. A theoretical analysis of 2D correlation and relaxation experiments is presented for a system consisting of two electronic states each having two or more sublevels. The separation between absorption and dispersion mode 2D spectra in these experiments is investigated in detail for nonzero pulse duration and compared to related 2D NMR experiments based on a nonlinear optical definition of coherence order. Phase-twisted peaks, which mix absorption and dispersion line shapes, can occur under some circumstances. A 1D projection of the complex 2D spectrum is shown to equal the transient grating signal field, and the real part of this projection is related to the spectrally resolved pump−probe signal. Calculated 2D spectra for a two-level Bloch model, an underda...