cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predicting length of stay for trauma and emergency general surgery patients.

Abstract Background Predicting length of stay (LOS) is difficult for trauma and emergency general surgery (TEGS) patients. Our aim was to determine the accuracy of LOS predictions by TEGS team members and the NSQIP Risk Calculator and the patient factors associated with inaccurate predictions. Methods LOS for 200 TEGS patients were predicted. Full-model univariate and multivariable linear regressions were used to determine associations between patient characteristics and inaccurate predictions. Results There were 1,518 predictions of LOS. LOS predictions were rarely correct (TEGS team: 30.7% all patients, 35.6% surgical; NSQIP: 33.0% surgical). No individual group nor NSQIP was significantly better at predicting LOS. Inaccurate predictions were associated with female patients, longer LOS, trauma, frailty, higher comorbidity and injury severity scores, and lesser disposition. Conclusion Both the TEGS team and NSQIP are poor at predicting LOS for TEGS patients. Further work helping to guide LOS predictions for TEGS patients is warranted.
Scientific World Conception on Stage: The Prague Meeting of the German Physicists and Mathematicians

In September 1929, the biennial meeting of German-speaking physicists and mathematicians took place at the German University of Prague. Its opening session featured papers by Philipp Frank, Richard von Mises, and Arnold Sommerfeld that centered on the consequences of the new quantum mechanics for causality and on the role of statistical laws within contemporary physics. Frank and von Mises advocated, more broadly, for a new philosophy that applied scientific methods to philosophical problems and was based on the same empiricist outlook as the sciences themselves. Sommerfeld, instead, rejected any concessions to positivism or pragmatism that implied a less demanding notion of natural law. In contrast to Frank and von Mises, he did not reject traditional metaphysical problems, among them teleology or dualism, as unanswerable pseudo-questions. Looking at the background of the 1929 opening session and some reactions to it, I argue that it provides important insights into how the quest for a scientific world conception fared within the German-speaking scientific community and how it was related to the traditional debates among physicist-philosophers that had found their expression in a plethora of academic addresses.
A Smartphone Crowdsensing System Enabling Environmental Crowdsourcing for Municipality Resource Allocation with LSTM Stochastic Prediction.

Resource allocation of the availability of certain departments for dealing with emergency recovery is of high importance in municipalities. Efficient planning for facing possible disasters in the coverage area of a municipality provides reassurance for citizens. Citizens can assist with such malfunctions by acting as human sensors at the edge of an infrastructure to provide instant feedback to the appropriate departments fixing the problems. However, municipalities have limited department resources to handle upcoming emergency events. In this study, we propose a smartphone crowdsensing system that is based on citizens’ reactions as human sensors at the edge of a municipality infrastructure to supplement malfunctions exploiting environmental crowdsourcing location-allocation capabilities. A long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network is incorporated to learn the occurrence of such emergencies. The LSTM is able to stochastically predict future emergency situations, acting as an early warning component of the system. Such a mechanism may be used to provide adequate department resource allocation to treat future emergencies.
cGMP Production of 68Ga-DOTATOC in various radio synthesizers for imaging NETs

405 Objectives: Gallium-68 labeled DOTATOC is a promising clinical PET radiotracer for detection of neuroendocrine tumors that express somatostatin receptors. For regulatory and clinical trial protocol compliance, it is important the radiopharmaceutical produced with different radionuclide sources and synthesizers should meet the quality control and release criteria as per USP or 21 CFR part 212. Here, we report for the first time in U.S., the utility of 68Ga sourced from Galli Eo® generator and production of clinical grade 68Ga-DOTATOC using two different synthesizers. Methods: 68Ga-DOTATOC was synthesized using Galli Eo® 68Ge/68Ga generator (IRE-ELiT) coupled with a GRP 3V (Scintomics) or Modular-Lab PharmTracer (Eckert & Ziegler) synthesis module. The GMP grade precursor and appropriate DOTATOC reagent kits or cassettes are obtained commercially. Ascorbic acid solution is added to the reactor prior to synthesis in order to reduce radiolysis byproducts. The 68Ga-DOTATOC is purified by in-line solid phase extraction, followed by reformulation and filtration through a 0.22-μm sterilizing filter. The phosphate buffered saline from the Scintomics kit is replaced with normal saline so that it matches the final product formulation of the Eckert & Ziegler synthesis module. Quality control parameters including radiochemical purity, radionuclide identity, pH, endotoxin content and sterility were performed by standard techniques. Results: 68Ga-DOTATOC is obtained in < 30 minutes from generator elution to final product. In both synthesizers the radiochemical yields were 83 ± 5%, radiochemical purity 99 ± 1% and the final product consists of <10% ethanol in saline. The average molar activity based on starting DOTATOC mass was found to be 18 GBq/micromole. Conclusions: We successfully implemented a simple and reliable radiosynthesis of 68Ga-DOTATOC using a novel generator with two different synthesizers. Despite variances with synthesizer work flow and their respective DOTATOC reagent kit/cassette, the final product was produced in
Ethnomethodological Misreading of Aron Gurwitsch on the Phenomenal Field

During the 1992–1993 academic year, Harold Garfinkel (1917–2011) offered a graduate seminar on Ethnomethodology in the Sociology Department at the University of California, Los Angeles. One topic that was given extensive coverage in the seminar has not been discussed at much length in Garfinkel’s published works to date: Aron Gurwitsch’s treatment of Gestalt theory, and particularly the themes of “phenomenal field” and “praxeological description”. The edited transcript of Garfinkel’s seminar shows why he recommended that “for the serious initiatives of ethnomethodological investigations […] Gurwitsch is a theorist we can’t do without”. Garfinkel’s ethnomethodological “misreading” is not a mistaken reading, but is more a matter of taking Gurwitsch’s phenomenological demonstrations of Gestalt contextures in phenomenal fields and transposing them for making detailed, concrete observations and descriptions of organizationally achieved social phenomena. Where Gurwitsch addresses the organization of perception as an autochthonous achievement, inherent to the stream and field of individual consciousness, Garfinkel extends and elaborates this field into the social world of enacted practices. The April 1993 seminar also is rich with brief asides and digressions in which Garfinkel comments about his use of Alfred Schutz, his attitude toward publishing, his relationship with Erving Goffman, and many other matters.
Virilization Secondary to an Ovarian Leydig Cell Tumor

A 60-year-old female presented with a three-year history of virilizing symptoms including facial hirsutism and deepening of voice. Her medical history was significant for renal transplantation with immunosuppressive therapy consisting of mycophenolate, cyclosporine, and low-dose prednisone. She was noted to have temporal balding and darkly pigmented terminal hair on the upper lip, cheeks, chin, shoulders, and sternum. Pelvic examination revealed clitoromegaly. Menarche occurred at age 12 with regular menstrual cycles until menopause which occurred at age 50. She had two pregnancies: a miscarriage followed by a successful pregnancy. Labs revealed an elevated total testosterone of 530 ng/dL (< 60 ng/dL), free testosterone 14.8 ng/dL (<0.87 ng/dL), androstenedione 2140 ng/dL (<200 ng/dL), and 17-hydroxyprogesterone 704 ng/dL (<285 ng/dL). LH, FSH, and estradiol were inappropriately normal in this post-menopausal female. Prolactin, TSH, DHEA-S, IGF-1 were within normal limits. Transvaginal ultrasound found a 2 cm hypoechoic right ovarian mass which was confirmed on MRI. MRI also revealed a 5 mm right adrenal nodule. Tumor markers including CA-125, Inhibin A, Inhibin B, HCG, and AFP were within normal limits. Dexamethasone suppression testing did not lower the testosterone level. 17-hydroxyprogesterone level after cosyntropin stimulation testing was 704 ng/dL (<1000 ng/dL). The patient underwent laparoscopic bilateral oophorectomy and salpingectomy, pelvic washout and omental biopsy. Pathology was consistent with a benign Leydig cell tumor. Following oophorectomy there was complete normalization of the total testosterone level (15 ng/dL, n< 60 ng/dL). A thorough history and physical exam is vital in determining the cause of hirsutism. Medications, including over-the-counter and herbal formulations should be carefully reviewed. Although cyclosporine has been associated with hirsutism, patients typically present with vellus hair formation in the affected areas rather than darkly pigmented terminal hair. In this case, hirsutism progressively worsened following menopause and physical examination was significant for virilization. Hirsutism in a combination with virilization is typically neoplastic in nature. Endogenous androgen production can originate from either the adrenal glands or ovaries. In our patient, with workup showing both ovarian and adrenal as potential sources of endogenous androgen production, an adrenal cause was excluded due to a normal DHEA-S level at baseline and a lack of suppression of testosterone after dexamethasone suppression testing. As a result, the source was localized to the ovary. While excessive androgen production resulting in virilization is seen with ovarian tumors, Leydig stromal cell tumors are extremely rare and account for less than 0.1% of all ovarian tumors.
Transformations of nitrogen

Abstract The nitrogen cycle is both fascinating and frustrating in its complexity. A thorough knowledge of the cycle is fundamental, though, if one wishes to understand the functioning of natural ecosystems, to manage agricultural ecosystems for productivity and sustainability, and to ameliorate environmental problems. In this chapter, you will be exposed to the basic workings of the nitrogen cycle and the groups of microbes that carry out the major transformations of nitrogen in soil.
A multi-group analysis of convenience samples: free, cheap, friendly, and fancy sources

Convenience sampling dominates social science research. But there is a paucity of studies comparing the impact of sample source type based on composite-based theoretical model relationships. This s...
Why Gaussian quadrature in the complex plane

This paper synthesizes formally orthogonal polynomials, Gaussian quadrature in the complex plane and the bi-conjugate gradient method together with an application. Classical Gaussian quadrature approximates an integral over (a region of) the real line. We present an extension of Gaussian quadrature over an arc in the complex plane, which we call complex Gaussian quadrature. Since there has not been any particular interest in the numerical evaluation of integrals over the long history of complex function theory, complex Gaussian quadrature is in need of motivation. Gaussian quadrature in the complex plane yields approximations of certain sums connected with the bi-conjugate gradient method. The scattering amplitudec T A 1 b is an example whereA is a discretization of a differential‐integral operator corresponding to the scattering problem and b and c are given vectors. The usual method to estimate this is to use c T x .k/ . A result of Warnick is that this is identically equal to the complex Gaussian quadrature estimate of 1=. Complex Gaussian quadrature thereby replaces this particular inner product in the estimate of the scattering amplitude.
Regulation of growth hormone messenger RNA synthesis by dexamethasone and triiodothyronine: Transcriptional rate and mRNA stability changes in pituitary tumor cells

Abstract We have characterized the process by which the growth hormone (GH) gene is stimulated in rat pituitary tumor cells (GC or GH 3 ) by the steroid hormone dexamethasone (Dex) and the thyroid hormone, l -triiodothyronine (T3). A primary transcriptional response is detected within 60 minutes of addition of T3 or Dex + T3 to GH-producing cells (GC or GH 3 ). A fivefold transcriptional stimulation of GH nuclear RNA occurs in cells cultured with serum substitute medium and induced with Dex + T3, while T3 alone induces a modest two- to threefold stimulation. The absence of fetal calf serum from the cell culture medium does not decrease the level of transcriptional activity of the GH gene during hormone stimulation. Twenty-four hours after addition of Dex + T3 the cytoplasmic GH mRNA shows a 50-fold increase, as measured by S 1 nuclease analysis. This large accumulation of cytoplasmic GH mRNA in contrast to the relatively small changes in GH gene activity is inconsistent with solely a transcriptional mechanism of hormone induction. We suggest that a change in specific GH mRNA stability also takes place in response to Dex + T3. In contrast to other reports, transcriptional stimulation of the GH gene by Dex is insignificant except in the presence of T3.
Estimating the Implied Risk Neutral Density

The market's risk neutral probability distribution for the value of an asset on a future date can be extracted from the prices of a set of options that mature on that date, but two key technical problems arise. In order to obtain a full well-behaved density, the option market prices must be smoothed and interpolated, and some way must be found to complete the tails beyond the range spanned by the available options. This paper develops an approach that solves both problems, with a combination of smoothing techniques from the literature modified to take account of the market's bid-ask spread, and a new method of completing the density with tails drawn from a Generalized Extreme Value distribution. We extract twelve years of daily risk neutral densities from S&P 500 index options and find that they are quite different from the lognormal densities assumed in the Black-Scholes framework, and that their shapes change in a regular way as the underlying index moves. Our approach is quite general and has the potential to reveal valuable insights about how information and risk preferences are incorporated into prices in many financial markets.
Waiting time and explant pathology in transplant recipients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a novel study using national data.

Risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after liver transplantation have been well described. It has been surmised that longer time on the waitlist may select for tumors with a lower-risk of recurrence posttransplant, as patients with unfavorable tumor characteristics would be delisted due to tumor progression. Utilizing national explant pathology records from transplant recipients waitlisted with T2 HCC exception points, this study explored the correlation between waiting time and the development of pathologic HCC features associated with increased risk of tumor recurrence. Of 1976 explant pathology reports submitted nationally between April 8, 2012 and June 30, 2013, 1453 (73.5%) were from recipients with automatic T2 HCC exception points. There was no association between pretransplant waiting time and the proportion of HCC explants with either: (i) a poorly differentiated tumor; (ii) macrovascular invasion; (iii) HCC beyond Milan or University of California San Francisco criteria; (iv) HCC beyond the “up-to-seven” criteria; or (v) extra-hepatic or lymph node involvement. Though there was a statistically significant increase in microvascular invasion in recipients with pretransplant waiting 6–12 months, this association was not seen when adjusted for United Network for Organ Sharing region. These findings suggest that waiting time alone may not select for tumors with more favorable characteristics.
Proofreading Tile Sets: Error Correction for Algorithmic Self-Assembly

For robust molecular implementation of tile-based algorithmic self-assembly, methods for reducing errors must be developed. Previous studies suggested that by control of physical conditions, such as temperature and the concentration of tiles, errors (e) can be reduced to an arbitrarily low rate – but at the cost of reduced speed (r) for the self-assembly process. For tile sets directly implementing blocked cellular automata, it was shown that r ≈ βe 2 was optimal. Here, we show that an improved construction, which we refer to as proofreading tile sets, can in principle exploit the cooperativity of tile assembly reactions to dramatically improve the scaling behavior to r ≈ βe and better. This suggests that existing DNA-based molecular tile approaches may be improved to produce macroscopic algorithmic crystals with few errors. Generalizations and limitations of the proofreading tile set construction are discussed.
Hybrid MPI/Pthread implementation of 1-D FFT on SMP

SMP (shared memory multiprocessors) can support two programming models: message passing and shared address space. Shard address space offers easy programming, particularly for irregularly structured computations, but suffers from performance limitation due to the protocol overhead and poor spatial locality (false sharing). On the other hand, it has been shown that there are performance advantages in integrating message passing in cache coherent multiprocessors. In this paper, we propose the hybrid MPI/Pthread implementation of 1-D FFT on SMP. We compare the results of hybrid MPI/Pthread implementation with pure MPI implementation. The results show that MPI/Pthread implementation perform better than pure MPI implementation for large data sizes.
Activation of survival signals in melanoma cells in response to glucose deprivation (766.9)

Cancer’s use of alternate cellular pathways is necessary in order to proliferate and expand so aggressively but may make it possible to target using certain cancer therapies. We studied the effects...
Proteolytic activation of Rim1p, a positive regulator of yeast sporulation and invasive growth.

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, rim1, 8, 9, or 13 mutations cause four phenotypes: poor growth at low temperature, altered colony morphology, inefficient sporulation due to reduced expression of the meiotic activator IME1, and, as shown here, defective invasive growth. In this report, we have determined the relationship between RIM1 and the other genes, RIM8, 9, and 13, in this group. We have analyzed production of epitope-tagged Rim1p derivatives with HA epitopes at the N-terminus or in the middle of the protein. These Rim1p derivatives exist primarily as a small form (90 kD for Rim1-HA2p) in wild-type cells and as a large form (98 kD for Rim1-HA2p) in rim8, 9, and 13 mutants. We have also analyzed production of β-galactosidase in strains that express a RIM1-lacZ fusion gene. β-galactosidase exists primarily as a ~130 kD form in wild-type cells and as a ~190 kD form in rim9 mutants. These results indicate that Rim1p undergoes C-terminal proteolytic cleavage, and that rim8, 9, and 13 mutations block cleavage. Expression of a Rim1p C-terminal deletion derivative suppresses rim8, 9, and 13 mutations. Thus the phenotypes of rim8, 9, and 13 mutants arise from the defect in Rim1p C-terminal cleavage. Cleavage of Rim1p, like that of its Aspergillus nidulans homologue PacC, is stimulated under alkaline growth conditions. Therefore, Rim1p, PacC and their respective processing pathways may represent a conserved signal transduction pathway.
Influence of wettability and permeability heterogeneity on miscible CO2 flooding efficiency

Abstract CO 2 flooding is a proven enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technique and is also considered as a potential method for CO 2 sequestration. Despite having successful field trials on CO 2 EOR, the effects of reservoir wettability and permeability heterogeneity on the efficiency of miscible CO 2 flooding are not well understood. In this work, laboratory investigations have been carried out to evaluate the influence of these properties on the miscible CO 2 EOR performance. The wettability of hydrophilic Berea core samples was altered to be oil-wet by vacuum saturation of the clean and dry core samples with n-hexadecane. The permeability heterogeneity was obtained by combining two half pieces of axially split water-wet core samples of different permeabilities. Core flooding experiments were conducted for n-hexadecane – synthetic brine – CO 2 systems at 1400 psig backpressure to achieve minimum miscibility pressure (MMP) of CO 2 in n-hexadecane at the test temperature (24 ± 1 °C). It was found that wettability strongly influences CO 2 EOR. For the alternate cases of previously brine flooded (to remaining oil saturation) oil-wet and water-wet core samples, five pore volumes (PVs) of CO 2 recovered 100% and only 43% of remaining oil in place (ROIP) respectively. Three PVs of CO 2 could recover only about 0–5% ROIP from the split core samples. The mechanisms underlying these results are discussed. This study sheds light on the significant influence of reservoir wettability and permeability heterogeneity on the performance of miscible CO 2 EOR.
Greater emotional eating scores associated with reduced frontolimbic activation to palatable taste in adolescents.

Objective This study examined the relation between self-reported emotional eating scores and frontolimbic brain response to palatable taste in adolescents. Methods Participants included 162 adolescents (mean BMI percentile = 52.7, range 3-90). Participants completed a self-report survey assessing emotional eating and underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while viewing pictures signaling subsequent delivery of a chocolate milkshake or a control taste and receiving the corresponding taste. Results Results revealed no significant relation between emotional eating scores and brain response to anticipation of receipt of milkshake. In response to milkshake taste receipt, emotional eating scores were negatively related to activation in the right thalamus, the left insula and orbitofrontal cortex, and bilateral putamen and caudate. These findings remained significant after controlling for body mass index and body fat percentage. Conclusions The current results are discussed in the context of findings of reduced reward activation to palatable taste receipt in obese adults and adolescents.
Effects of cohesion on the structural and mechanical evolution of fold and thrust belts and contractional wedges: Discrete element simulations

Particle-based numerical simulations of cohesive contractional wedges can yield important perspectives on the formation and evolution of fold and thrust belts, offering particular insights into the mechanical evolution of the systems. Results of several discrete element method simulations are presented here, demonstrating the stress and strain evolution of systems with different initial cohesive strengths. Particle assemblages consolidated under gravity, and bonded to impart cohesion, are pushed from the left at a constant velocity above a weak, unbonded decollement surface. Internal thrusting causes horizontal shortening and vertical thickening, forming wedge geometries. The mean wedge taper is similar for all simulations, consistent with their similar residual and basal sliding friction values. In all examples presented here, both forethrusts and back thrusts occur, but forethrusts accommodate most of the shortening. Fault spacing and offset increase with increasing cohesion. Significant tectonic volume strain also occurs, with the greatest incremental volume strain occurring just outboard of the deformation front. This diffuse shortening serves to strengthen the unfaulted domain in front of the deformed wedge, preconditioning these materials for brittle (dilative) failure. The reach of this volumetric strain and extent of decollement slip increase with cohesive strength, defining the extent of stress transmission. Stress paths for elements tracked through the simulations demonstrate systematic variations in shear stress in response to episodes of both decollement slip and thrust fault activity, providing a direct explanation for stress fluctuations during convergence.
Online Security in the Middle East and North Africa: A Survey of Perceptions, Knowledge and Practice

Digital communication has become a more perilous activity, particularly for activists, political dissidents, and independent media. The recent surge in digital activism that has helped to shape the Arab spring has been met with stiff resistance by governments in the region intent on reducing the impact of digital organizing and independent media. No longer content with Internet filtering, many governments in the Middle East and around the world are using a variety of technological and offline strategies to go after online media and digital activists.In this report we describe the results of a survey of 98 bloggers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) carried out in May 2011 in order to study bloggers’ perceptions of online risk and the actions they take to address digital communications security, including both Internet and cell phone use. The survey was implemented in the wake of the Arab spring and documents a proliferation of online security problems among the respondents. In the survey, we address the respondents’ perceptions of online risk, their knowledge of digital security practices, and their reported online security practices. The survey results indicate that there is much room for improving online security practices, even among this sample of respondents who are likely to have relatively high technical knowledge and experience.
Estrogen and "exercise" have a synergistic effect in preventing bone loss in the lumbar vertebra and femoral neck of the ovariectomized rat.

This study was designed to study the individual or combined effects of estrogen and bipedal stance "exercise" on the lumbar vertebral body (LVB) and femoral neck (FN). At 6 months of age, six rats were sacrificed as baseline controls and all the others were either bilateral sham-ovariectomized or ovariectomized (OVX). Groups of OVX rats were housed in normal height cage (NC, 28 cm) or raised height cages (RC, 33 cm) and received biweekly s.c. injections of 10 mg/kg 17b estradiol (E2) or vehicle for 4 and 8 weeks. Histomorphometric measurements were performed on the undecalcified mid-transverse sections of the 4th LVB and FN. Ovariectomy alone induced cancellous bone loss by 21% and 39% in the LVB and FN, respectively; intracortical porosity area of the FN increased by 108% while total bone area did not change significantly because of the periosteal expansion following OVX. E2 alone partially prevented cancellous bone loss in the LVB and FN and prevented increased intracortical porosity area in the FN by reducing eroded surface and activation frequency. RC alone partially prevented the decrease of cancellous bone in the LVB and FN by reducing the bone-eroded surface but increased wall width. E2 plus RC completely preserved cancellous bone by having an additive effect on reducing eroded surface and activation frequency. RC helped to partially prevent decreased periosteal bone formation after estrogen administration. In conclusion, apart from inducing cancellous bone loss in the LVB and FN, OVX also increased intracortical remodeling in the FN. Estrogen prevented the overall activation of remodeling space induced by OVX. Apart from having similar effects as estrogen on remodeling space, RC induced positive bone balance within each remodeling unit. Combination treatment increased total bone mass beyond that of sham-control level by having an additive effect on lowering bone remodeling and increasing wall in both the LVB and FN.
Screening for multiple weight loss and related drugs in dietary supplement materials by flow injection tandem mass spectrometry and their confirmation by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract A new method has been developed using flow injection tandem mass spectrometry to semi-quantitatively screen for weight loss drugs, including sibutramine, N-desmethylsibutramine, N-didesmethylsibutramine, and phenolphthalein in dietary supplements. Positive identification of these drugs in samples was further confirmed and quantified by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The degradation products of sibutramine were observed and identified by LC–MS/MS which include N-desmethylsibutramine, N-didesmethylsibutramine, N-formyldesmethylsibutramine, and N-formyldidesmethylsibutramine.
Sub-doppler nuclear detection of laser-induced orientation of 85Rbm.

Using laser-induced nuclear-orientation and optical-saturation techniques, we have produced sub-Doppler changes in the anisotropy of the angular distribution of the 514-keV {gamma} rays from the 1-{mu}s isomer {sup 85}Rb{sup {ital m}}. This permits high-resolution measurements of {ital D}1 and {ital D}2 hyperfine transitions of atoms of the isomer, which give the isomer's nuclear electric quadrupole moment, {minus}0.73{plus minus}0.17 b, and its nuclear magnetic dipole moment, (6.043{plus minus}0.005){mu}{sub {ital N}}. The isomer shift, {minus}113{plus minus}8 MHz relative to the ground state of {sup 85}Rb, corresponds to a change in the mean-square charge radius of +0.174{plus minus}0.008 fm{sup 2}.
Erratum for “On the Extrinsic Topology of Lagrangian Submanifolds”

In this erratum, I explain a mistake in my article [1] and describe its impact on the application therein. This also entails one change to my article [2] but without influencing any applications.
NOTES ON THE STABILITY OF ALUMINIUM OXIDE IN IRON, NICKEL, AND COBALT*

AbstractAlloys of iron, nickel, and cobalt containing 10 wt.-% alumina have been produced by the technique of mixing fine oxides of iron, nickel, and cobaIt (0·1μ particle dia.) with α-alumina (0·2μ particle dia.). The resultant mixtures were reduced in pure, dry hydrogen at f∼ 500°C. After reduction, the powders were quenched in liquid nitrogen to render them non-pyrophoric. The powders were then ball-milled, pressed into slugs, canned, and hot extruded into rod at between 700 and 800°C.Homogeneous dispersions of essentially unchanged alumina were produced within the metal matrices. The coarsening of the alumina with increasing temperature and time was then followed by hardness measurements and by metallographic means, utilizing both optical and electron microscopy. The kinetics of coarsening was most easily followed in the iron-alumina alloy and so this system was studied in greater detail than the nickel-alumina or cobalt-alumina alloys.The coarsening of the alumina particles in iron follows a (time) g...
Failure to find a behavioral role for anomalous sympathetic innervation of the hippocampus in male rats

Abstract The possible behavioral significance of anomalous sympathetic innervation (ASI) was investigated in rats with restricted antero-dorsal lesions of the hippocampus. The lesions initiate the development of the ASI. The behavior of animals with this growth was compared with the behavior of rats with similar lesions in which ASI was prevented by prior bilateral superior cervical ganglionectomy. Both spontaneous alternation and spatial maze learning capacities were investigated over a 10 month postoperative period. No behavioral effects were seen which could be attributed to the development of the ASI. Attempts to influence spontaneous neural activity in the hippocampus of rats with ASI by electrical stimulation of the ipsilateral superior cervical ganglia were not successful.
Hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetes.

Iatrogenic hypoglycemia is the limiting factor in the glycemic management of diabetes. It can be caused by sulfonylureas or other insulin secretagogues, and perhaps by metformin, as well as by insulin. Hypoglycemia is less frequent overall in type 2 diabetes (T2DM), compared with type 1 diabetes (T1DM). However, it becomes a progressively more frequent problem, ultimately approaching that in T1DM, in advanced (i.e., insulin deficient) T2DM because of compromised glucose counterregulation – the syndromes of defective glucose counterregulation and hypoglycemia unawareness, the components of hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure – analogous to that which develops early in the course of T1DM. Clearly, prevention of hypoglycemia is preferable to its treatment. By practicing hypoglycemia risk reduction – addressing the issue, applying the principles of aggressive glycemic therapy and considering both the conventional risk factors and those indicative of compromised glucose counterregulation – the therapeutic goal is to reduce mean glycemia as much as can be accomplished safely in a given patient at a given stage of T2DM. Particularly in view of the growing array of glucose-lowering drugs that can be used to optimize therapy, hypoglycemia should not be used as an excuse for poor glycemic control. Nonetheless, better methods, such as those that would provide plasma glucose regulated insulin secretion or replacement, are needed for people with T2DM, as well as those with T1DM, if euglycemia is to be maintained over a lifetime of diabetes.
Ethnic differences in thermal pain responses.

OBJECTIVE Although numerous studies have reported ethnic differences in the prevalence and severity of clinical pain, little is known about how these differences affect the perception of experimental pain. The present experiment examined the effects of ethnicity (African American vs. white) on thermal pain responses in a healthy undergraduate population. METHODS Thirty white subjects (16 women and 14 men) and 18 African Americans (10 women and 8 men) participated in the study. Thermal testing included evaluation of the following: warmth thresholds, thermal pain thresholds, thermal pain tolerances, and magnitude estimates of both the intensity and unpleasantness of thermal pain (at 46 degrees, 47 degrees, 48 degrees, and 49 degrees C). RESULTS Although no group differences emerged for warmth thresholds, thermal pain thresholds, or pain intensity ratings, African Americans demonstrated lower thermal pain tolerances than whites. In addition, African Americans had smaller slopes and larger intercepts than whites for ratings of pain unpleasantness. Additional analyses suggested that these findings were a consequence of group differences in thermal pain unpleasantness ratings at the lowest temperatures assessed (46 degrees and 47 degrees C); at these temperatures, African Americans rated the stimuli as more unpleasant than whites. Finally, group differences in thermal pain tolerance and thermal pain unpleasantness ratings seemed to partially account for greater self-reported daily pain symptoms among African Americans. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, these findings seem to suggest ethnic differences in the perception of the affective-motivational dimension of thermal pain.
Effectiveness of 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate on preterm birth prevention in women with history-indicated cerclage.

Objective To determine whether 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17P) reduces the incidence of preterm birth in women with a history-indicated cerclage. Study Design Retrospective cohort study of women who received a cerclage for a prior preterm birth, analyzed based on exposure to 17P. The primary outcome variable was delivery Results Fourteen women received 17P and 80 did not. Baseline characteristics did not differ between these two groups. Preterm delivery at Conclusion 17P does not appear to have an effect on preterm birth
Dietary Calcium, DDT Source and Age of Hen on the Reproductive Performance of Caged White Leghorns Fed DDT

Abstract In Experiment 1 eight groups of 20 caged White Leghorn pullets each were fed 0, 10 or 50 p.p.m. technical grade DDT from two different manufacturers (#1 or #2), 10 or 50 p.p.m. combination of pure DDT isomers, or 50 p.p.m. p,p′-DDT in a 3.5% calcium breeder diet, and eight counterpart groups were fed the same pesticides in a 1.5% calcium diet for 40 weeks. The traits studied were body weight gains, egg production, livability, feed intake, fertility and hatchability. Significant effects included calcium level for body weight gains, egg production, livability and feed intake, in favor of 3.5% calcium, irrespective of DDT, and calcium × diet for body weight changes, in which some of the pesticide-supplemented groups were significantly different from one another but none were superior to the control group on each calcium level. In Experiment 2 four groups of 20 pullets each were fed 0, 10 or 50 p.p.m. technical grade DDT #1 or 50 p.p.m. p,p′-DDT in a diet containing 3.5% calcium for 20 weeks, 3.0% the next 12 weeks and 1.0% the final 8 weeks. The data showed no basic differences due to DDT among pullets fed periodic decreases of calcium, as compared with the controls. Experiment 3 consisted of six groups of yearling hens fed 0, 10 or 50 p.p.m. technical grade DDT #1 or #2 or 50 p.p.m. p,p′-DDT in a 3.5% calcium diet. The 28-week data indicated that yearling hens significantly gained less and laid fewer eggs than their counterpart pullet groups fed 3.5% calcium in Experiment 1, irrespective of DDT. DDT effects were nonsignificant between hens and pullets for all traits studied.
A TEST OF THE PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS OF LOCUS OF CONTROL AND TASK ORIENTATION IN THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT SECTOR

The effects of locus of control and task orientation on performance were examined for 29 Southern Baptist ministers. The Leadership Style Questionnaire and Rotter's scale measured task orientation and locus of control, respectively. Multiple-regression analysis indicated that the pastors with internal locus of control and high task orientation were more likely to have growing parishes.
Inhibition by propylthiouracil of the peripheral metabolism of radiothyroxine.

ABSTRACT Treatment with propylthiouracil of euthyroid, hyperthyroid or hypothyroid patients previously given radiothyroxine (and, in one instance, thyroid extract) resulted in a diminution in the rate of disappearance of body radioactivity and serum protein-bound radioiodine. The findings suggest that propylthiouracil interferes with the extrathyroidal metabolism of thyroxine.
Chemical Durability Studies of Perfluorinated Sulfonic Acid Polymers and Model Compounds under Mimic Fuel Cell Conditions

Peroxide radical treatments of a perfluorinated ionomer used in polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells and its small molecule analogues were carried out, along with analysis of the resultant products. Molecules containing terminal carboxylic acids degraded at least 1 order of magnitude faster than noncarboxylate materials; all of the systems did show peroxide-initiated degradation nonetheless. Product analysis suggests that terminal carboxylic acids react according to a sequential chain shortening, consistent with previous studies. Cleavage of side chains from both polymer and model compounds was also observed to be important and in fact may be the dominate pathway in low carboxyl content commercial PEM membranes, based on the following comparison of reactivity and concentration. The relative reactivities of carboxylic chain ends and ether linkages is approximately 500, as calculated using model compounds fluoride generation rates. Commercial perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) products contain minimal c...
Effect of simulated micrometeoroid exposure on performance of N/P silicon solar cells.

Possible degradation effects produced in uncovered and covered N/P silicon solar cells by simulated micrometeoroid exposure
STAMP alters the growth of transformed and ovarian cancer cells

Steroid receptors play major roles in the development, differentiation, and homeostasis of normal and malignant tissue. STAMP is a novel coregulator that not only enhances the ability of p160 coactivator family members TIF2 and SRC-1 to increase gene induction by many of the classical steroid receptors but also modulates the potency (or EC50) of agonists and the partial agonist activity of antisteroids. These modulatory activities of STAMP are not limited to gene induction but are also observed for receptor-mediated gene repression. However, a physiological role for STAMP remains unclear. The growth rate of HEK293 cells stably transfected with STAMP plasmid and overexpressing STAMP protein is found to be decreased. We therefore asked whether different STAMP levels might also contribute to the abnormal growth rates of cancer cells. Panels of different stage human cancers were screened for altered levels of STAMP mRNA. Those cancers with the greatest apparent changes in STAMP mRNA were pursued in cultured cancer cell lines. Higher levels of STAMP are shown to have the physiologically relevant function of reducing the growth of HEK293 cells but, unexpectedly, in a steroid-independent manner. STAMP expression was examined in eight human cancer panels. More extensive studies of ovarian cancers suggested the presence of higher levels of STAMP mRNA. Lowering STAMP mRNA levels with siRNAs alters the proliferation of several ovarian cancer tissue culture lines in a cell line-specific manner. This cell line-specific effect of STAMP is not unique and is also seen for the conventional effects of STAMP on glucocorticoid receptor-regulated gene transactivation. This study indicates that a physiological function of STAMP in several settings is to modify cell growth rates in a manner that can be independent of steroid hormones. Studies with eleven tissue culture cell lines of ovarian cancer revealed a cell line-dependent effect of reduced STAMP mRNA on cell growth rates. This cell-line dependency is also seen for STAMP effects on glucocorticoid receptor-mediated transactivation. These preliminary findings suggest that further studies of STAMP in ovarian cancer may yield insight into ovarian cancer proliferation and may be useful in the development of biomarker panels.
Biological activity of recombinant human myelin basic protein.

Abstract Using an inducible expression vector in Escherichia coli, we have expressed, purified, and biologically characterized recombinant human myelin basic protein (r-MBP). The recombinant protein binds in cation-exchange chromatography with similar affinity to purified, human MBP, and elutes as single, 18.5-kDa species as judged by SDS-PAGE. The recombinant protein exhibits similar conformation to native MBP, as demonstrated by ELISA reactivity with a panel of six monoclonal antibodies directed against at least three different epitopes on human MBP. Additionally, recombinant MBP can trigger the proliferation of human T cell clones recognizing MBP, can induce experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in the SJL mouse, and is capable of suppressing EAE following tolerization via oral administration. Most important, by using a novel method of purification, the recombinant protein preparation contains no detectable proteolytically derived fragments of MBP, a significant advantage over MBP purifed from protease-rich central nervous system tissue. Purified recombinant MBP produced in e. coli will be useful as a biological reagent where highly purified protein devoid of degradation products is needed. Relevance to the study of antigen processing, interactions between MHC and the TCR, as well as for investigation of antigen-driven immune tolerance are discussed.
A prospective study of pediatric loss of control eating and psychological outcomes.

Loss of control (LOC) eating in youth is associated cross-sectionally with eating-related and psychosocial distress, and is predictive of excessive weight gain. However, few longitudinal studies have examined the psychological impact and persistence of pediatric LOC eating. We administered the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) and self-reported measures of depressive and anxiety symptoms to 195 boys and girls (M = 10.4, SD = 1.5 y) at baseline and again 4.7 (SD = 1.2) y later to 118 of these youth. Missing data were imputed. Baseline report of LOC was associated with the development of partial or full-syndrome binge eating disorder (p=.03), even after accounting for the contribution of sex, race, baseline characteristics (age, disordered eating attitudes and mood symptoms), body mass index growth between baseline and follow-up, and years in study. Half (52.2%, CI=1.15–6.22) of children who endorsed experiencing LOC at baseline reported persistence of LOC at follow-up (p=.02). Compared to children who never reported LOC eating or reported LOC only at baseline, those with persistent LOC experienced significantly greater increases in disordered eating attitudes (ps<.001) and depressive symptoms (p=.027) over time. These data suggest that LOC eating in children is a problematic behavior that frequently persists into adolescence and that persistent LOC eating is associated with worsening of emotional distress.
Stability analysis of a binary culture chemostat experiencing biofilm formation

Time-dependent biofilm formation effects on continuous fermenter operation are modelled here for a binary culture of microorganisms growing on a single substrate. Dynamic computer solutions are detailed for a mixed culture of one microbe a having a higher growth rate than a second microbe b for two hypothetical scenarios of microbe b having different magnitudes of cellular deposition rate. A stability analysis of the resultant steady-states is also provided. Biofilm effects on the estimation of kinetic and stoichiometric parameters in a chemostat plus the impact of biofilms on mixed culture dynamics are discussed.
A blackboard model of reasoning in product liability claims evaluation

The “SKADE 2” is a blackboard system that evaluates product liability claims and makes settlement decisions. The system has three knowledge sources, namely, Legal, Insurance Adjuster, and Manager. The combined expertise from each of these is required to analyze a product liability claim. A control component coordinates the communication between the various knowledge sources on the blackboard. Based on the latest changes to the data or in the hypotheses, it selects and executes the next knowledge source. The model described here reproduces the domain's decision makers' reasoning processes. The results of validation and analysis of a hypothetical case through a series of experiments with the system confirm that the blackboard is an appropriate model for development of expert systems in the product liability domain. The initial success with the SKADE 2 system suggests that further work needs to be done to see whether more complex models can be built to incorporate a broader range of determinants of product liability claims evaluation.
A study of the effect of isoflurane anaesthesia on equine skeletal muscle perfusion

Summary The effects of 1.1, 1.5 and 1.8 MAC (minimum alveolar concentration) isoflurane-02 anaesthesia on skeletal muscle blood flow, 02 delivery and vascular resistance were studied in the non-dependent region of seven healthy normothermic, isocapnoeic ponies. Muscle blood flow was determined with 15 um diameter radionuclide labelled microspheres that were injected into the left ventricle. Muscle blood flow during anaesthesia was compared to unanaesthetised (control) measurements. Isoflurane administration caused a dose dependent decrease in mean aortic pressure, and skeletal muscle (temporalis, triceps brachii, longissimus dorsi, gluteus medius, biceps femoris, vastus lateralis) blood flow. However, in the masseter, triceps brachii at 1.1 and 1.5 MAC, and longissimus dorsi lumborum at 1.1 MAC anaesthesia, blood flow values were not different from the control value. Vascular resistance did not change significantly in any of the muscles with any concentration of isoflurane. With the exception of the masseter muscle, isoflurane anaesthesia also decreased skeletal muscle 02 delivery. There were no significant differences in the muscle parameters studied between the three concentrations of isoflurane. Because skeletal muscle vascular resistance was unchanged throughout the study, it is possible that there may be an interference of ‘autoregulation’ in the skeletal muscle vascular beds of isocapnoeic ponies during isoflurane-02 anaesthesia.