cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Variance in within-pair reproductive success drives the opportunity for sexual selection annually and over the lifetimes of males in a multi-brooded songbird

In pair-bonding species, male reproductive success consists of "within-pair" offspring produced with their socially-paired mate(s), and "extra-pair" offspring produced with additional females throughout the population. Both reproductive pathways offer distinct opportunities for sexual selection to operate in wild populations, as each are composed of sub-components of mate attraction, female fecundity, and paternity allocation. Identifying key sources of variance and covariance among these components is a crucial step towards understanding the reproductive strategies that males use to maximize fitness both annually and over their lifetimes. We use 16 years of complete reproductive data from a population of black-throated blue warblers (Setophaga caerulescens) to decompose variance in male annual and lifetime reproductive success and thereby identify if the opportunity for sexual selection acts consistently over the lifetimes of individual males and what reproductive strategies likely favor maximum lifetime fitness. The majority of variance in male reproduction was attributable to within-pair sources of variance, but the specific effects of individual components of variance differed annually versus over the lifetimes of individual males. Positive lifetime covariance between within-pair and extra-pair success indicates that males able to maximize within-pair success likely achieve higher overall lifetime fitness via both the within-pair and extra-pair reproductive pathways.
Capillary Density Measured by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Glaucomatous Optic Disc Phenotypes.

Abstract Purpose To compare optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) measured capillary density of the optic disc among four glaucomatous optic disc phenotypes. Design Cross-sectional study. Methods Circumpapillary capillary density (cpCD) of four glaucomatous optic disc phenotypes in 193 eyes of 141 glaucoma patients and cpCD in 92 eyes of 55 healthy subjects from the Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma Study (DIGS) were compared. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC) were used to evaluate diagnostic accuracy among groups after adjusting for confounders. Results Four glaucoma phenotypes were assessed including focal ischemic (n=45), generalized cup enlargement (n=60), myopic glaucoma (n=38), and senile sclerotic (n=50). Sex, mean ocular perfusion pressure, intraocular pressure, MD, and the quality score did not differ among phenotypes. However, there were differences in age (p=0.050), race (p=0.039), axial length (p=0.033), and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (p Conclusions OCTA-measured vessel density differs among optic disc phenotypes. Clinicians should be aware that the performance of OCTA for glaucoma diagnosis may be influenced by the optic disc phenotype.
sn-spMF: matrix factorization informs tissue-specific genetic regulation of gene expression

Genetic regulation of gene expression, revealed by expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs), exhibits complex patterns of tissue-specific effects. Characterization of these patterns may allow us to better understand mechanisms of gene regulation and disease etiology. We develop a constrained matrix factorization model, sn-spMF, to learn patterns of tissue-sharing and apply it to 49 human tissues from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project. The learned factors reflect tissues with known biological similarity and identify transcription factors that may mediate tissue-specific effects. sn-spMF, available at https://github.com/heyuan7676/ts_eQTLs , can be applied to learn biologically interpretable patterns of eQTL tissue-specificity and generate testable mechanistic hypotheses.
Transient Receptor Potential Ankyrin-1 and Vanilloid-3 Differentially Regulate Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Cytotoxicity in Human Lung Epithelial Cells After Pneumotoxic Wood Smoke Particle Exposure

This study investigated the roles of transient receptor potential (TRP) ankyrin-1 (TRPA1) and TRP vanilloid-3 (TRPV3) in regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and cytotoxicity in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) treated with pneumotoxic wood smoke particulate matter (WSPM) and chemical agonists of each channel. Functions of TRPA1 and TRPV3 in pulmonary epithelial cells remain largely undefined. This study shows that TRPA1 activity localizes to the plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of cells, whereas TRPV3 resides primarily in the ER. Additionally, treatment of cells using moderately cytotoxic concentrations of pine WSPM, carvacrol, and other TRPA1 agonists caused ERS as a function of both TRPA1 and TRPV3 activities. Specifically, ERS and cytotoxicity were attenuated by TRPA1 inhibition, whereas inhibiting TRPV3 exacerbated ERS and cytotoxicity. Interestingly, after treatment with pine WSPM, TRPA1 transcription was suppressed, whereas TRPV3 was increased. TRPV3 overexpression in HBECs conferred resistance to ERS and an attenuation of ERS-associated cell cycle arrest caused by WSPM and multiple prototypical ERS-inducing agents. Alternatively, short hairpin RNA-mediated knockdown of TRPV3, like the TRPV3 antagonist, exacerbated ERS. This study reveals previously undocumented roles for TRPA1 in promoting pathologic ERS and cytotoxicity elicited by pneumotoxic WSPM and TRPA1 agonists, and a unique role for TRPV3 in fettering pathologic facets of the integrated ERS response. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: These findings provide new insights into how wood smoke particulate matter and other transient receptor potential ankyrin-1 (TRPA1) and transient receptor potential vanilloid-3 (TRPV3) agonists can affect human bronchial epithelial cells and highlight novel physiological and pathophysiological roles for TRPA1 and TRPV3 in these cells.
DOURS: A Heuristic for Discovering Research Questions

This short essay describes a heuristic device for developing research questions in legal communication and rhetoric. It is a case study: In Part I, I describe and apply the DOURS framework for developing research questions to a research project on which I have been working for a number of years. Though the example I give here relates to an empirical study, readers may adapt the same approach to developing questions in rhetorical studies of legal communication. In Part II, I suggest that researchers consider their dominant research paradigm when developing their research questions. Finally, Part III discusses issues of ethics surrounding this type of research project. Research questions and study designs do not burst full formed like Athena from Zeus’s forehead. Instead, a research question is often what David Kirsch would call an “ill-defined” problem, one where the “problem is largely being made up as it is being worked on.” My goal here is to describe a process that is a little messy but can result in valuable research.
The Birthday Present: Censorinus’ De die natali

This paper contextualises and interprets a text seldom addressed in Anglophone scholarship: De die natali (‘On the birthday’), written by Censorinus to celebrate his patron Caerellius’ birthday in 238 c.e. By exploring both gestation (natalis) and time measurement (dies), the work seeks to elucidate and isolate Caerellius’ birthday in time; it is the ultimate guide to his dies natalis. Despite a seemingly narrow focus, De die natali is best understood as part of a broad ‘spectrum’ of encyclopaedic texts, exemplifying the ‘totalising’ impetus of knowledge ordering in the Roman Empire, while simultaneously exposing the limits of such efforts. An interlocking set of tensions underlie the text, which resonate with other encyclopaedic projects — tensions between unity and plurality, centre and periphery, and the relationship between nature and culture. De die natali is both a product of, and commentary on, the conditions of human knowledge and the Empire's cultural diversity in the early third century.
Editorial: The Matters that Haunt Us

Complex personhood means that the stories people tell about themselves, about their troubles, about their social worlds, and about their society's problems are entangled and weave between what is immediately available as a story and what their imaginations are reaching toward Avery Gordon: Ghostly Matters, (p 4) The past several years have been riddled with what Avery Gordon describes as "hauntings", both on a personal level and on a collective level here in the United States, the country in which I live These are the specters that disturb our waking and sleeping lives and come to us in the form of what students, clients, and colleagues describe to me as "nightmares " [Extracted from the article] Copyright of Anthropology of Consciousness is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use This abstract may be abridged No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract (Copyright applies to all Abstracts )
Use of a non-invasive accelerometric method for diagnosing gastroesophageal reflux in premature infants.

To evaluate the clinical usefulness of a non-invasive accelerometric device to diagnose GER in preterm babies. An accelerometer was taped over the sub-xiphoid process in 110 preterm (GA 29.6 ± 3.3 wk) infants (133 studies). Low frequency, sub-audible signals were captured via digital recording (sampling rate 200 Hz), then re-sampled (rate = 60 Hz) to create a spectrogram (focused range 0–30 Hz). Mean amplitude in the focused range was calculated. Of 85 studies with simultaneous pH-metry and accelerometry, 18 had concurrent positive and 23 had concurrent negative scores, 42 had negative pH scores when accelerometry was positive (≥1 µV), consistent with non-acid reflux. Eleven infants at high risk of aspiration received surgical interventions. All but 1 had negative pH scores while 10/11 had positive accelerometry. The non-invasiveness of this accelerometric technique allows for GER screening and for repeated testing to assess efficacy of interventions.
A spatially explicit N-mixture model for the estimation of disease prevalence:

This article develops an approximate N-mixture model for infectious disease counts that accounts for under-reporting as well as spatial dependence induced by person-to-person spread of disease. We ...
Outcomes and prognostic contributors in patients with KRAS mutated non-small cell pulmonary adenocarcinomas: a single institution experience

Background KRAS is the most frequently encountered driver mutation in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). With targeted therapy for the most common KRAS mutation p.G12C on the horizon, the aim of this study is to retrospectively report outcomes in patients with KRAS mutated NSCLC. Methods This was a retrospective chart review of 7 hospitals in Texas with reflex biomarker testing in all lung adenocarcinomas. Patients were included if they had pathologically diagnosed adenocarcinoma of any stage originating in the lung with molecularly confirmed KRAS driver mutation of any genotypic subtype. Twelve-month survival was assessed and compared between KRAS p.G12C and all other detected KRAS mutations. Other outcomes including impact of age, sex, smoking status, and pack years smoked were assessed to determine if they had prognostic significance on mortality in KRAS mutated patients. Results There were 58 patients diagnosed with KRAS mutated NSCLC, 63.8% were at an advanced stage at diagnosis, 55.8% of patients were female, and 82.8% were white. The median age was 72 [52-88] years, and 93.1% were either current or prior smokers. KRAS p.G12C was the most common KRAS mutation (44.8%). At diagnosis, patients with KRAS p.G12C had poorer performance statuses compared to other KRAS mutations. A total of 32 (55.2%) patients died, 26 with advanced disease. In this study, current smoking status (P=0.1652), pack years smoked (P=0.6597), age (P=0.5092), sex (P=0.4309), and underlying KRAS codon mutation controlling for stage (P=0.2287) did not impact survival. However, KRAS p.G12C had a numerically lower 12 months overall survival (OS) compared to all other KRAS mutations in both early stage (56.3% vs. 90.9%) and advanced stage (25.0% vs. 47.6%) disease. Of note, 16 (27.6%) patients had prior, concurrent, or second malignancies, but these did not significantly impact OS (P=0.7696). Conclusions This study did not find a prognostic difference with sex, smoking history, age, or p.G12C mutation. The patients in this cohort with KRAS p.G12C had a numerically lower 12-month overall survival in both early and advanced stage disease compared to other mutations, and over one-quarter had a notable history of previous and second primary malignancies.
Development of a Scale to Measure Followers’ Satisfaction With Leaders Applicable in Cross-Cultural Studies

This study examined the cross-cultural performance of a new scale to measure followers' satisfaction with their leader. The scale was designed to give a generalizable measure of followers' response to their leader's behavior, one which is applicable across various leader-follower relationships and in different cultures. Using a diverse global sample of experienced followers who were familiar with their current leaders, the results supported the scale's utility. It performed well in all cultures, with good reliability and both convergent and discriminant validity. The scale offers a brief, widely applicable measure to advance the cross-cultural study of leadership.
Hydrodynamic and Foundation Interaction Effects in Earthquake Response of a Concrete Gravity Dam

The displacement and stress responses are presented for Pine Flat Dam to the S69E component of the Taft ground motion only, and to the S69E and vertical components acting simultaneously. For each of these excitations, the response of the dam is analyzed four times corresponding to the following four sets of assumptions: (1) Rigid foundation, hydrodynamic effects excluded; (2) rigid foundation, hydrodynamic effects included; (3) flexible foundation, hydrodynamic effects excluded; and (4) flexible foundation, hydrodynamic effects included. Based on these results, the separate effects of dam-water interaction and dam-foundation rock interaction, and the combined effects of the two sources of interaction, on earthquake response of dams are investigated.
Whispers on the Color Line: Rumor and Race in America.

Whispers on the Color Line: Rumor and Race in America. Gary Alan Fine and Patricia A. Turner. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2001. 270 pp.
Comparative Analysis of Whole-Genome Gene Expression Changes in Cultured Human Embryonic Stem Cells in Response to Low, Clinical Diagnostic Relevant, and High Doses of Ionizing Radiation Exposure

The biological effects of low-dose ionizing radiation (LDIR) exposure in humans are not comprehensively understood, generating a high degree of controversy in published literature. The earliest stages of human development are known to be among the most sensitive to stress exposures, especially genotoxic stresses. However, the risks stemming from exposure to LDIR, particularly within the clinical diagnostic relevant dose range, have not been directly evaluated in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Here, we describe the dynamics of the whole genome transcriptional responses of different hESC lines to both LDIR and, as a reference, high-dose IR (HDIR). We found that even doses as low as 0.05 Gy could trigger statistically significant transient changes in a rather limited subset of genes in all hESCs lines examined. Gene expression signatures of hESCs exposed to IR appear to be highly dose-, time-, and cell line-dependent. We identified 50 genes constituting consensus gene expression signature as an early response to HDIR across all lines of hESC examined. We observed substantial differences in biological pathways affected by either LDIR or HDIR in hESCs, suggesting that the molecular mechanisms underpinning the responses of hESC may fundamentally differ depending on radiation doses.
Electrocatalytic reactions in organized assemblies: Part III. Reduction of allyl halides by bipyridyl derivatives of cobalt in anionic and cationic micelles

Abstract Reduction of allyl halides to 1,5-hexadiene at glassy carbon electrodes was catalyzed by tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) cobalt(II) and tris(4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridyl)cobalt(II) in aqueous solutions of 0.1 M SDS or 0.1 M CTAB. An organocobalt(I) intermediate was observed by its separate voltammetric reduction peak in each system studied. This intermediate undergoes an internal redox reaction to form 1,5-hexadiene and Co(II). Small micellar enhancements of reaction rates found for tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) cobalt(II) in 0.1 M CTAB can be attributed to reactant compartmentalization in the micelles. Observed chemical rates followed the order CTAB > SDS = acetonitrile. For tris(4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bi-pyridyl) Co(II) in CTAB, catalysis was limited by adsorption of the Co(I) form at the electrode. Preliminary work with bis(2,2'-bipyridyl)-(4,4'-dihexadecyl-2,2'-bipyridyl)cobalt(II) showed that its catalytic utility in 0.1 M SDS was equivalent to that of the most efficient system studied, i.e. tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)Co(II) in 0.1 M CTAB.
Pharmacological, sensorimotor, and expectancy effects on tobacco withdrawal: a preliminary study.

Objective Research designs for parsing the mechanisms underlying tobacco withdrawal are scant. This study introduced a novel research design that simultaneously manipulated three tobacco withdrawal mechanisms: pharmacological (nicotine dissipation), sensorimotor (elimination of the smoking ritual), and expectancy (activation of beliefs regarding the effects of nicotine deprivation), permitting examination of the effects of each mechanism while holding the other two mechanisms constant. Methods Following overnight abstinence, 32 regular cigarette smokers were randomized in a 2 (expectancy: told patch contains nicotine versus told placebo patch) × 2 (drug: receive 21-mg transdermal nicotine patch versus receive placebo patch) × 2 (sensorimotor: smoke very low nicotine content cigarettes versus no smoking) full factorial between-subjects design. Participants repeatedly completed measures of craving, affect, and anticipated pleasure from and desire for rewarding experiences, followed by a smoking lapse analog task. Results Receiving nicotine (versus placebo) increased positive affect and anticipated pleasure from and desire for reward. Expecting nicotine (versus placebo) reduced negative affect and increased smoking delay. Sensorimotor stimulation from smoking (versus no smoking) reduced smoking urge and behavior. Conclusion Results provided initial validation of this novel three-mechanism design. This design can be used in the future to advance understanding and treatment of tobacco withdrawal. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Conformation and Glycosylation of a Megalin Fragment Correlate with Nephritogenicity in Heymann Nephritis

Active Heymann nephritis (AHN), a rat model of autoimmune glomerulonephritis, is induced by immunization with autologous megalin, a 600-kDa cell surface glycoprotein isolated from crude renal extracts. Recombinant proteins containing a 563-residue N-terminal sequence of megalin were obtained from Escherichia coli and baculovirus-insect cell expression systems. Rats immunized with the soluble, secreted protein encoded by a baculovirus construct elicited high titer anti-megalin autoantibodies and developed glomerular immune deposits and elevated proteinuria consistent with AHN. Rats treated with the bacterial or nonsecreted insect cell proteins produced a milder anti-megalin response and did not develop the disease. Nephritogenicity appeared to correlate with conformational or other structural features of native megalin. All three recombinant proteins were reactive in Western blots with rabbit anti-megalin antiserum, whereas the insect cell-derived proteins reacted preferentially in Western blot and ELISA with anti-megalin autoantibodies from rats with AHN induced by native megalin. Only the secreted insect cell product was stained in a lectin blot, suggesting its specific glycosylation. These observations provide evidence that a megalin N-terminal domain includes B and T cell epitopes sufficient for a pathogenic autoimmune response and that a native-like conformation and glycosylation are essential for the induction of disease. The importance of conformational B cell epitopes for pathogenic autoantibodies recapitulates observations made in other models of organ-specific autoimmune disease. Glycosidic modifications could influence the presentation of either B or T cell epitopes in AHN, consistent with emerging evidence of the role of post-translational modifications in pathogenic autoimmune responses.
Likert score 3 prostate lesions: Association between whole-lesion ADC metrics and pathologic findings at MRI/ultrasound fusion targeted biopsy.

Background To assess associations between whole-lesion apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) metrics and pathologic findings of Likert score 3 prostate lesions at MRI/ultrasound fusion targeted biopsy. Methods This retrospective Institutional Review Board-approved study received a waiver of consent. We identified patients receiving a highest lesion score of 3 on 3 Tesla multiparametric MRI reviewed by a single experienced radiologist using a 5-point Likert scale and who underwent fusion biopsy. A total of 188 score 3 lesions in 158 patients were included. Three-dimensional volumes-of-interest encompassing each lesion were traced on ADC maps. Logistic regression was used to predict biopsy results based on whole-lesion ADC metrics and patient biopsy history. Biopsy yield was compared between metrics. Results By lesion, targeted biopsy identified tumor in 22.3% and Gleason score (GS) > 6 tumor in 8.5%, although results varied by biopsy history: biopsy-naive (n = 80), 20.0%/8.8%; prior negative biopsy (n = 53), 9.4%/1.9%; prior positive biopsy (n = 55): 40.0%/14.5%. Biopsy history, whole-lesion mean ADC, whole-lesion ADC10–25, and whole-lesion ADC25–50 were each significantly associated with tumor or GS > 6 tumor at fusion biopsy (P ≤ 0.047). In men without prior negative prostate biopsy, whole-lesion ADC25–50 ≤ 1.04*10−3 mm2/s achieved 90.0% sensitivity and 50.0% specificity for GS > 6 tumor, which was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than specificity of PSA (17.5%) at identical sensitivity. Conclusion For score 3 lesions in patients without prior negative biopsy, whole-lesion ADC metrics help detect GS > 6 cancer while avoiding negative biopsies. However, deferral of fusion biopsy may be considered for score 3 lesions in patients with prior negative biopsy (without applying whole-lesion ADC metrics) given exceedingly low (∼ 2%) frequency of GS > 6 tumor in this group. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;43:325–332.
Developmental pattern of small intestinal enterokinase and disaccharidase activities in the human fetus

The concomitant appearance of enterokinase (EK) and trypsin activities in the human intestinal mucosa is indicative of the importance of EK as an activator of trypsinogen and therefore as the key enzyme in protein digestion. Enterokinase can be detected in fetal mucosa from the 26th week of gestation on, paralleling appearance of tryptic activity in meconium. The developmental pattern of EK activity increases with age. Between 26 to 30 weeks of gestation, the EK activity is only 6% and full term babies (40 weeks) 20% of that found in older children. In contrast, lactase studies during development show a lactase activity of only 30% in human fetuses between 26 to 34 weeks of gestation as compared to full term babies. During the same gestational period, sucrase and maltase activities reach 70% of the full term. In addition, the distributional pattern of EK differs from the disaccharidases, showing the highest activity in duodenum and the lowest in ileum, whereas disaccharidases are highest in jejunum with lower activity in duodenum and ileum. Differences in topographical distribution and time of appearance of EK and disaccharidases may be attributed to differences in origin as well as subcellular localization of these enzymes. It is conceivable that the premature infant, between 26 to 30 weeks of gestation, is better equipped to deal with hydrolysis of aglucosides than of lactose.
Averaging Our Perceptions of Highway Speed

Abstract We consider the effects of averaging drivers' perceptions of the average speed on a highway. This work builds on a previous model that considers a single driver's perception of the average speed on a highway.
Age-specific prevalence and significance of hepatitis B e antigen and antibody in chronic hepatitis B virus infection in taiwan: A comparison among asymptomatic carriers, Chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma

The age-specific prevalence of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and its antibody (anti-HBe) were studied by radioimmunoassay, and compared in a large series of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, including 268 asymptomatic carriers, 389 chronic hepatitis, 114 liver cirrhosis, and 278 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The prevalence of HBeAg/anti-HBe in asymptomatic carriers and patients with chronic hepatitis correlated closely with age as HBeAg prevalence decreased and anti-HBe prevalence increased with increasing age (P less than 0.0005), and is probably due to high infection rate at young age in Taiwan. The prevalence of HBeAg in patients with both cirrhosis and HCC are much significantly lower and had no correlation with age. Two peaks of age-specific prevalence of HBeAg and anti-HBe were observed in patients with HCC, implicating two patterns of HBV infection in these patients. The difference in the prevalence of HBeAg and anti-HBe might indicate that asymptomatic carriers, chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and HCC are sequential sequelae of HBV infection.
SU‐FF‐T‐160: DMLC IMRT to Moving Tissues — Towards 4D Therapy

Purpose. The goal of traditional approaches to IMRTdelivery to moving tisues (gating, target outline tracking, IMRTtumor tracking) is to irradiate patient body so that effects of tisuue motion are eliminated and IMRT therapies in the presence of tissue motion are delivered so that the IMRT dose distributions for moving bodies are equivalent to the dose distribution delivered to the static body geometry. In contrast the proposed solution for IMRTdelivery to moving tissues and organs aims at delivering treatments that are dosimetrically superior relative to any IMRT therapy possible for stationary body geometry. Methods. Treatment plans (3D) are derived for each phase of the (static) body geometry. This is done with existing planning software in comercial TPS and for body geometries defined by data scorred in 4D CT. Using the freedom of multiple solutions of DMLC IMRTdelivery of given intensity map to moving target the exploitation of leaf trajectories and dose rate intensities are investigated (for each phase plan) to find the optimized treatment deliveries that are more advantageous than 3D IMRT plans derived for each phase of the static body geometry. The best deliverable plan among all derived for each of the motion phase is chosen as the one to be realized. The resulting intensity delivered by these strategies, and resulting dose distributions, are calculated and compared to best plans derived for each phase plans. Results. The example of treatment derived for particular phase of body motion geometry has been investigated. The DMLC IMRTdelivery of given dose to target that simultaneously minimizes the dose delivered to organ at risk due to interaction between motion of leaves and motion of the target is calculated that shows the dosimetric advantage over 3D IMRT therapy.
Hydrogen-enhanced localization of plasticity in an austenitic stainless steel

Microscopic observations and the results of static strain aging, stress relaxation, and strain rate change tests on 310s stainless steel foils, with and without hydrogen, have been presented to complement the stress-strain curves in a previous article. The hydrogen-free specimens showed minute yield points during static strain aging, while the hydrogen-containing specimens demonstrated “preyield microstrain. ” Thermal activation analysis of the strain rate change and stress relaxation plots led to the conclusion that the activation area for dislocation motion is decreased by hydrogen. Microstructural examination with the scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed extensive strain localization, while transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies showed microtwinning and austenite faulting in hydrogenated specimens tested at room temperature. The relation of hydrogen-induced changes in plastic deformation to hydrogen embrittlement is discussed.
Carcinoma-in-situ occurring in a Zenker's diverticulum

(Editorial Comment: The authors call attention to the potential for carcinoma arising from the mucosa lining a Zenker’s diverticulum. Invasive carcinoma may be suspected based on radiographic findings of barium esophagram.) The pathophysiology of a pharyngoesophageal diverticulum was first discussed by Zenker and von Zeimssen in 1874.’ The pharyngeal outpouching occurs in a weakened area between the cricopharyngeal and thyropharyngeal portions of the inferior constrictor muscle known as “Killian’s dehiscence.” Lack of a coordinated relaxation of the cricopharyngeus muscle during swallowing results in a high-pressure zone opposite this area of weakness.* Negus suggested that with repeated incoordinate swallowing this muscular dehiscence widens, allowing mucosal protrusion through the defect3 Over time, the diverticulum enlarges, and then descends into the neck. Patients become symptomatic as the diverticulum fills with food causing esophageal compression and dysphagia. Squamous cell carcinoma occurring in a pharyngoesophageal diverticulum was first described in 1933.* Since that time, approximately 30 cases of invasive carcinoma in a diverticulum have been reported. Carcinomain-situ occurring in a pharyngoesophageal diverticulum is much rarer. Bullock and Snyder reported identifying the first such case in 19525; however two earlier articles described patients with invasive carcinomas in a Zenk
Role of Body Size in the Relation Between Muscle Strength and Movement Performance

JARIC, S. Role of body size in the relation between muscle strength and movement performance. Exerc. Sport Sci. Rev., Vol. 31, No. 1, pp. 8–12, 2003. Body size relates differently on the outcome of various tests of muscle strength and movement performance. Thus the estimation of functional performan
Combinatorial Assessment of the Activity-Composition Correlation for Several Alloy Nanoparticle Catalysts

The screening of catalysts with desired catalytic activity and selectivity for electrocatalytic fuel cell reactions is a time-consuming process. One approach to address this problem is to apply combinatorial analysis techniques. In this paper, we present the results of an investigation of the application of systematic statistical analysis techniques such as analysis of variance (ANOVA) analysis and regression modeling for the development of effective screening methods of bimetallic and trimetallic nanoparticle catalysts. Based on several sets of experimental data from the chosen catalysts, empirical models derived from statistical analysis techniques were first built to fit the experiment results for each of the electrocatalytic parameters such as catalytic peak current, peak potential, Tafel slope and mass activities. These parameters were expressed as a function of catalyst component proportion variables and process variables. The adequacy of the chosen models is verified with residual analysis. The cat...
Increased spontaneous apoptosis in T lymphocytes in DiGeorge anomaly

The aim of this study was to determine whether increased apoptosis in peripheral blood lymphocytes plays a role in T cell deficiency associated with DiGeorge anomaly. T cell subsets from a patient with DiGeorge anomaly were examined for the expression of Fas, FasL, Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL at the protein level with monoclonal antibodies, using dual-colour flow cytometry, and at the mRNA level in mononuclear cells by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. In vitro spontaneous apoptosis was examined by propidium iodide staining and DNA fragmentation, using flow cytometry and gel electrophoresis, respectively. Fas and FasL expression, both at the level of protein and of mRNA, was increased, whereas Bcl-2 expression was decreased both at the level of protein and of mRNA. However, no difference in Bcl-XL expression was observed between the patient and an age-matched control. A significant proportion of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from the patients underwent spontaneous apoptosis, whereas almost no spontaneous apoptosis was observed in the age-matched control. These data suggest that spontaneous apoptosis in T lymphocytes, at least in part, may be responsible for T cell deficiency in DiGeorge anomaly.
Using Biodynamic Models to Reconcile Differences Between Laboratory Toxicity Tests and Field Biomonitoring with Aquatic Insects

Aquatic insects often dominate lotic ecosystems, yet these organisms are under-represented in trace metal toxicity databases. Furthermore, toxicity data for aquatic insects do not appear to reflect their actual sensitivities to metals in nature, because the concentrations required to elicit toxicity in the laboratory are considerably higher than those found to impact insect communities in the field. New approaches are therefore needed to better understand how and why insects are differentially susceptible to metal exposures. Biodynamic modeling is a powerful tool for understanding interspecific differences in trace metal bioaccumulation. Because bioaccumulation alone does not necessarily correlate with toxicity, we combined biokinetic parameters associated with dissolved cadmium exposures with studies of the subcellular compartmentalization of accumulated Cd. This combination of physiological traits allowed us to make predictions of susceptibility differences to dissolved Cd in three aquatic insect taxa: ...
Fish oil has protective and therapeutic effects on proteinuria in passive Heymann nephritis

Passive Heymann nephritis (PHN) is a rat model of membranous nephropathy induced by injecting anti-Fx1A. The onset of proteinuria in PHN is caused by complement-mediated injury to glomerular epithelial cells (GEC) accompanied by enhanced glomerular eicosanoid production. In addition, sublethal injury by complement of rat GECs in culture leads to phospholipase activation, phospholipid hydrolysis and release of arachidonic acid and dienoic prostanoids. Based on these findings, we undertook to determine if substituting arachidonic acid (omega-6) in GEC membrane phospholipids with omega-3 fatty acids derived from fish oil would alter the development and course of proteinuria in PHN. We found that rats fed a diet containing 10% fish oil for four weeks prior to antibody injection developed 50 to 60% less proteinuria between two and six weeks after anti-Fx1A than rats fed an equivalent diet containing 10% safflower oil, and had substantial enrichment of glomerular phospholipids with omega-3 fatty acids and displacement of arachidonic acid. This outcome was associated with a 50% reduction in release of glomerular thromboxane B2 (stable metabolite of thromboxane A2) in the fish oil group. More importantly, when PHN rats with well established proteinuria while on regular chow were randomized to three dietary groups, those fed fish oil had a 25 to 50% decline in proteinuria as compared to those fed lard or safflower oil. This difference was evident within two weeks of randomization and persisted until the end of the study after eight weeks. In neither study could the differences in urine protein excretion be accounted for by protein or calorie deprivation, or by differences in blood pressure, renal function, immune response to sheep IgG, or glomerular deposition of IgG or complement. Thus, our results indicate that dietary fish oil has protective and therapeutic effects with regard to proteinuria in PHN. These benefits may relate to alterations in membrane phospholipid composition in favor of omega-3 fatty acids and release of less reactive trienoic eicosanoids.
A New Aluminum Honeycomb Constitutive Model for Impact Analyses

A new constitutive model for large deformation of aluminum honeycomb has been developed. This model has six yield surfaces that are coupled to account for the orthotropic behavior of the cellular honeycomb being crushed on-axis and off-axis. Model parameters have been identified to fit uniaxial and biaxial crush test data for high density (38 lb/ft3 ) aluminum honeycomb. The honeycomb model was implemented in the transient dynamic Presto finite element code for dynamic impact simulations. In order to extract useful constitutive-parameter information from crush tests, each test configuration and process is simulated with a Presto finite element model to analyze the non-uniform strain/crush behavior within the test samples. Results from the suite of honeycomb crush tests that were used to calibrate the new honeycomb model are shown. Also, the honeycomb model’s predictions are compared with test data and with the older Orthotropic Crush Model predictions.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Reliability Generalization of the Psychopathy Checklist Applied in Youthful Samples

This study examines the average reliability of Hare Psychopathy Checklists (PCLs) adapted for use in samples of youthful offenders (aged 12 to 21 years). Two forms of reli ability are examined: 18 α estimates of internal consistency and 18 intraclass correlation (two or more raters) estimates of interrater reliability. The results, an average internal consistency reliability estimate of .85 and an average interrater reliability estimate of .91, are both acceptable. The only study characteristic that accounts for a sizable amount of variance in both forms of reliability is the standard deviation of the PCL total score reported for a study. Total score variation and reliability estimate magnitudes are positively related.
Renal-retinal syndromes: Association of retinal anomalies and recessive nephronophthisis in patients with homozygous deletion of the NPH1 locus

Abstract Tapeto-retinal degeneration is frequent in patients with nephronophthisis. Association of the most severe forms of tapeto- retinal dystrophy with NPH identifies a syndrome described first by Senior et al and Loken et al. This syndrome is distinct on molecular grounds from pure renal nephronophthisis (NPH1), which has its gene locus mapped on chromosome 2q13. We describe three families with large homozygous deletion of the NPH1 locus in which mild to moderate ocular lesions due to tapeto-retinal degeneration coexisted and were correlated to renal defects. This new association of NPH1 with retinal dystrophy is characterized by focal lesions of retina and is pauci- symptomatic in clinical presentation. For this reason it may remain unrecognized in most NPH1 patients. (Am J Kidney Dis 1998 Dec;32(6):1059-62)
Virtual courseware for geoscience education: Virtual Earthquake and Virtual Dating

Virtual courseware developed for introductory-level, on-line geology labs is an interactive teaching/learning model that has an enormous pedagogical potential for making Web sites places where students learn by doing. Virtual Earthquake and Virtual Dating are modest examples of the `virtual courseware' paradigm. Virtual Earthquake helps students explore the techniques of how an earthquake's epicenter is located and how its Richter magnitude is determined. Virtual Dating models the theory and techniques of the radiometric age determination of rocks and minerals. Virtual courseware applications offer several advantages over traditional floppy disk or CD ROM-based courseware, the most significant being the ease of dissemination. The author's experience with bringing these two virtual applications on-line suggests that there is a need for interactive geology labs on-line and that the approach will be received with enthusiasm by the educational community. The widespread implementation and adoption of virtual courseware can bring meaningful educational content and interactivity for the geosciences that goes beyond multimedia on the World-Wide-Web.
Adult Social Bonds and Use of Internet Pornography

Objective. Sociological theories of deviant behavior have not been systematically applied to the problem of who uses and who does not use cyberpornography on the Internet. The present study contributes to the literature by providing the first systematic application of selected sociological theories of deviance to the problem of explaining use of cyberpornography. It tests a blended theoretical perspective, which includes measures from social control and opportunity theories of deviance, as well as measures of broader deviant lifestyles, as possible predictors of use of cyberporn. A key hypothesis is that persons with the strongest ties to conventional society will be less likely than others to use cyberporn. Methods. Complete data on 531 Internet users are taken from the General Social Surveys for 2000. Social bonds measures include religious, marital, and political ties. Measures of participation in sexual and drug-related deviant lifestyles, and demographic controls are included. Results. The results of a logistic regression analysis found that among the strongest predictors of use of cyberporn were weak ties to religion and lack of a happy marriage. However, past sexual deviance (e.g., involvement in paid sex) was also a strong predictor of cyberporn use. Overall the model explained 40 percent of the variance in porn use on the Internet. Conclusion. Traditional theoretical perspectives on deviance are apparently applicable to this new form of deviant behavior.
Pharmacological heterogeneity among calcium channels that subserve acetylcholine release in vertebrate forebrain.

Abstract Inhibition of calcium-evoked [3H]ACh release by different classes of calcium channel blockers was compared among calcium-naive synaptosomes from chick, frog and rat forebrain tissues. In all three species, [3H]ACh release was insensitive to nifedipine (0.03–3μM) but was completely inhibited by cadmium (IC50 range = 0.7–1.7μM) or cobalt (190–350μM). In contrast, the peptide ω-conotoxin revealed marked species heterogeneity in that [3H]ACh release was potently blocked in chick and rat synaptosomes (IC50 ∼- 1nM), whereas frog tissue was notably resistant (IC50 > 100nM). Together, these data provide functional evidence for pharmacological heterogeneity among presynaptic calcium channels that subserve [3H]ACh release.
Efficacy and safety of long-term amiodarone in treatment of cardiac arrhythmias: Dosage experience

Abstract The efficacy and safety of long-term oral amiodarone was assessed in 173 patients with symptomatic tachyarrhythmias: 96 with life-threatening ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation (VT-VF), of whom 40 had survived sudden cardiac death (SCD), and 77 with atrial tachyarrhythmias (AT), predominantly atrial fibrillation and flutter, that had been refractory to conventional antiarrhythmic agents in therapeutic dosages. Amiodarone administration consisted of a high-dose loading phase (800 to 1600 mg/day in divided doses) for 8 days to 4 weeks, followed by a low-dose maintenance phase (200 to 400 mg once a day). The regulation of the maintenance dose was aided by frequent monitoring of serum amiodarone concentrations, clinical response, and development of side effects. Amiodarone had long-term effectiveness (mean follow-up 10.1 months; range 1.5 to 62 months) in 139 of 173 patients (79%). It was effective in 82 of 96 patients (83%) with symptomatic VT-VF (35 of 40 survivors [86%] of SCD), whose mean follow-up was 10.3 months. In the 77 AT patients there were 57 long-term responders (74%; mean follow-up 9.1 months; range 1.5 to 60 months). The maintenance (apparent steady-state) serum amiodarone concentrations ranged from 0.6 to 2.8 μg/ml (mean 1.6 μg/ml) in 139 of the 173 responders and were lower than those in the nonresponders (mean 1.9 μg/ml). These differences were not significant. There was a wide intersubject variation of serum levels for a given dose of amiodarone. Arrhythmia relapses occurred in nine patients when their serum concentrations fell to ≤1.0 μg/ml. In eight of these patients, reinstitution of higher amiodarone dosages and elevation of serum amiodarone concentrations restored control of their tachycardia. Side effects occurred in 44 of 173 patients (25%) but precluded long-term use in only 18 patients (10%). Although side effects were generally more common when serum amiodarone concentrations exceeded 2.5 μg/ml, even serious ones occurred over a wide range (0.6 to 4.4 μg/ml) of serum drug concentrations. Important drug interactions occurred with warfarin and class I antiarrhythmic agents.
World Englishes in TESOL programs: an infusion model of curricular innovation

: It has been recognized (e.g. Kachru, 1988) that it is time for a paradigm shift which takes into account the changing roles and functions of English around the world to occur in linguistic research and language pedagogy. Possible explanations for the relatively slow infusion of this paradigm into TESOL preparatory programs are presented. This paper also explores structural impediments to curriculum design and teaching practices which incorporate a World Englishes perspective. These impediments include student background schemata; text availability and level of difficulty; supporting material availability; e.g. library journal and audio-visual holdings; and availability of workshops and short-term coursework for individuals who have not taught a World Englishes course before. Eight recommendations are made to promote the incorporation of a World Englishes perspective within TESOL Methods courses and within the broader language education community.
Reporting Iraqi civilian fatalities in a time of war

In February, 2007, the Associated Press (AP) conducted a poll of 1,002 adults in the United States about their attitudes towards the war in Iraq. Respondents were remarkably accurate estimating the current death toll of US soldiers, yet were grossly inaccurate in estimating the current death toll of Iraqi civilians. We conducted a search of newspapers reports to determine the extent of the discrepancy between reporting Coalition and Iraqi civilian deaths, hypothesizing that there would be an over-representation of Coalition deaths compared to Iraqi civilian deaths. We examined 11 U.S. newspapers and 5 non-U.S. newspapers using electronic databases or newspaper web-archives, to record any reports between March 2003 and March 2008 of Coalition and Iraqi deaths that included a numeric indicator. Reports were described as "events" where they described a specific occurrence involving fatalities and "tallies" when they mentioned the number of deaths over a period of time. We recorded the number of events and tallies related to Coalition deaths, Iraqi civilian deaths, and Iraqi combatant deaths U.S. newspapers report more events and tallies related to Coalition deaths than Iraqi civilian deaths, although there are substantially different proportions amongst the different U.S. newspapers. In four of the five non-US newspapers, the pattern was reversed. This difference in reporting trends may partly explain the discrepancy in how well people are informed about U.S. and Iraqi civilian fatalities in Iraq. Furthermore, this calls into question the role of the media in reporting and sustaining armed conflict, and the extent to which newspaper and other media reports can be used as data to assess fatalities or trends in the time of war.