cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
HER-2/neu is overexpressed infrequently in patients with prostate carcinoma. Results from the California Cancer Consortium Screening Trial.

BACKGROUND The overexpression of HER-2/neu is found in 20–30% of patients with breast carcinoma and is an adverse prognostic factor. HER-2 overexpression also has been reported in up to 60% of patients with hormone-refractory prostate carcinoma (HRPC) and was correlated with shortened survival. Trastuzumab (Herceptin®) is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to the HER-2 receptor and has antitumor activity in patients with HER-2-overexpressing breast carcinoma. The authors report the results of HER-2 screening from a Phase II trial of chemotherapy with trastuzumab and docetaxel in patients with HER-2-overexpressing prostate carcinoma. METHODS Archival paraffin embedded tumor tissue was obtained from potentially eligible patients and was screened for HER-2 expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using a specialized test kit. Shed HER-2 antigen in serum also was determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). HER-2 gene amplification was assessed by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Patients with IHC scores of 2+ or 3+ were considered to have HER-2 overexpression and were eligible for the trial. To date, 62 patients with HRPC have been screened. RESULTS The median patient age was 72 years, and Gleason scores were 7 in 23 patients, and not specified in 14 patients. IHC HER-2 expression was 0 in 28 patients, 1+ in 14 patients, 2+ in 4 patients, and 3+ in 1 patient. Fifteen patients had either suboptimal tissue (13 patients) for interpretation or had pending results (2 patients). Therefore, 8% of all patients screened (5 of 62 patients) had HER-2 overexpression by IHC. Quantitative ELISA for shed HER-2 was available in 32 patients; this level was elevated (> 15 ng/mL) in only 2 patients, and neither had HER-2 expression by IHC. Of the 5 patients with 2+ or 3+ HER-2 expression by IHC, none had elevated shed HER-2 antigen levels by ELISA. FISH for HER-2 amplification was performed on 12 specimens; 5 of these specimens were uninterpretable due to specimen artifact, and none of the remaining 7 specimens had HER-2 amplification, defined as a ratio > 1. Patient age and Gleason score were not correlated with HER-2 status. CONCLUSIONS Unlike breast carcinoma and contrary to prior reports, HER-2 overexpression by IHC in archival prostate tissue from patients who eventually developed hormone- refractory disease was infrequent. There did not appear to be any correlation between HER-2 overexpression by IHC and shed HER-2 antigen levels in serum by ELISA in this tumor type. Whether trastuzumab possesses single-agent activity or modulates chemotherapy response in tumor types other than breast carcinoma remains to be determined. Cancer 2002;94:2584–9. © 2002 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.10526
Ethyl propionate is more effective and less cytotoxic than methyl tert- butyl ether for topical gallstone dissolution

Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS: Ethyl propionate and isopropyl acetate were identified as gallstone solvents with more favorable physicochemical properties than the currently used solvent methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). In this study, their efficacy and toxicity were compared. METHODS: To compare efficacy, matched stones from 33 patients were subjected to dissolution with each solvent. To evaluate cytotoxicity, jejunal segments of the anesthetized rat were exposed to each solvent or saline; the segments were then perfused with markers for active absorption and passive permeability. RESULTS: For 23 gallstone sets that dissolved completely with all three solvents, the average dissolution time was shorter with ethyl propionate (38 +/- 8 minutes) than with MTBE (60 +/- 13 minutes) (P = 0.03) or isopropyl acetate (55 +/- 12 minutes) (P CONCLUSIONS: Ethyl propionate and isopropyl acetate are less toxic to the intestinal mucosa than MTBE, and ethyl propionate is more effective for gallstone dissolution. (Gastroenterology 1997 Jul;113(1):232-7)
State Child Labor Laws and the Decline of Child Labor

Between 1880 and 1930, the occupation rate of children age 10 to 15 fell by over 75%. This paper examines whether state laws restricting the employment of child labor contributed to this decline. Using data from the 1880, 1900, and 1910 federal censuses, I test whether minimum age limits for manufacturing employment enacted during this period constrained the occupational choices of children. I use a “difference-in-differences-in-differences” procedure to isolate the effects of the laws from the effects of other forces influencing the demand and supply of child labor. I find that minimum age limits had relatively little effect on the occupation choices of children at the turn of the century and conclude that these restrictions contributed little to the long run decline in child labor.
Interaction of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase with DNA in an elongation complex arrested at a specific psoralen crosslink site.

We have probed the interaction of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase with DNA in an elongation complex arrested by a site-specifically placed psoralen crosslink using DNase I footprinting techniques. The psoralen derivative 4′-hydroxymethyl-4,5′,8-trimethylpsoralen was first placed at a specific site in the middle of a chemically synthesized double-stranded DNA fragment containing an E. coli RNA polymerase promoter at one end. The psoralen molecule was photochemically attached to two adjacent thymidine residues on opposite strands as a diadduct. Using this crosslinked DNA as the template for transcription, we found that the E. coli RNA polymerase was blocked at the psoralen diadduct, yielding a transcript 29 nucleotides long. The arrested elongation complex inhibited DNase I digestion of both the coding strand and the non-coding strand from about 22 nucleotides upstream to 15 nucleotides downstream from the diadduct. These results, which suggest that the unwindase and the catalytic sites of the polymerase are very close to each other, have been incorporated into a model of the transcription elongation complex.
On locally invertible rate-1/n convolutional encoders

A locally invertible convolutional encoder has a local inverse defined as a full rank w/spl times/w matrix that specifies a one-to-one mapping between equal-length blocks of information and encoded bits. In this correspondence, it is shown that a rate-1/n convolutional encoder is nondegenerate and noncatastrophic if and only if it is locally invertible. Local invertibility is used to obtain upper and lower bounds on the number of consecutive zero-weight branches in a convolutional codeword. Further, existence of a local inverse can be used as an alternate test for noncatastrophicity instead of the usual approach involving computation of the greatest common divisor of n polynomials.
Moment of Inertia of Dy 158 from Excitation of the Ground-State Band to Spin 22

The behavior of the moment of inertia for high-spin states in ${\mathrm{Dy}}^{158}$ has been studied by populating the ground-state band up to spin 22 through the reaction ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{150}({\mathrm{C}}^{13}, 5N){\mathrm{Dy}}^{158}$ at bombarding energies of up to 72 MeV. The rate of increase of the moment of inertia $\mathcal{I}$ with rotational frequency rises abruptly in the region from spin 14 to 18. In the region of spin 22, $\mathcal{I}$ tends toward a more constant value.
Size and shape dependence of the surface plasmon frequencies for supported metal particle systems

Abstract The effect of the size and shape of small particles on plasmon excitations has been investigated, as possible indicators for the physical properties of supported metal catalyst particles. The plasmon frequencies of a small metal sphere, which is covered with an oxide shell and is half embedded in some kind of support, are calculated using hydrodynamic theory as functions of the radius of the particles. The presence of the support introduces new plasmon frequencies. In addition to frequencies close to those for isolated particles, there are three more frequencies if the support is of the same metal as the particle, and one frequency is added if the support is an insulator. All the surface plasmon frequencies show the same type of increase for particle sizes smaller than about 4 nm, but the magnitude of the increase varies considerably. Classical dielectric theory has been used to calculate the surface plasmon excitation frequencies for the supported hemispheres. A general formula has been derived and applied to some cases of special geometry. It has been shown theoretically that only the two neighboring even and odd modes are coupled in the supported hemisphere system. A shift of 3 eV for the surface plasmon for the supported hemisphere metal particle (11 eV) with respect to that in the supported metal sphere particle (8 eV) has been predicted and observed in the specimen Al AlF 3 .
On the information content of ratings: an analysis of the origin of Moody's stock and bond ratings

John Moody published his first railroad security analysis and ratings manual in April 1909. This study analyzes several current issues by looking back at Moody's original intentions for constructing a ratings system. The study analyzes whether Moody intended his ratings to reflect his private information, or rather, to serve some alternative role, as with monitoring conflicts of interests or realizing informational economies of scale. The study uses an ordinal regression approach to evaluate a set of explanatory variables, constructed from both the manual itself and the panic months of 1907, to test the potential information content of Moody's ratings. At the time of Moody's first rating system, the illiquidity of the US Treasury market forced investors to seek alternative ‘high-quality’ securities. Indeed, Moody rated 38.94 percent of railroad bonds as Aaa, and rated 85.25 percent of railroad bonds as A, Aa or Aaa in his universe of railroad bonds rated. To further test the informational content of Moody's ratings, the study pursues a structural default analysis during the panic year of 1907, which yields results that indicate that the default risk of railroad securities was quite low at the time. These results provide justification for the high overall ratings that Moody assigned to railroad securities, and thus their role as near risk-free securities. Therefore, railroad securities, and Moody's ratings, played a particularly important role in the financial system at the time.
Global Policy Studies: A Skeptical View*

As a counterpoint to the other articles in this special issue, this final paper presents a skeptical view of the global policy perspective, especially as it has been presented in the writings of the guest editor. The author argues that the perspective is conceptually muddled and that such key terms as 'global' and 'policy' have yet to be given clear, precise, or analytically penetrating definitions. A case is made that the very idea of global (as opposed to international) policy seriously misrepresents the nature of contemporary international regulations. It concludes by suggesting that the policy perspective, even if the conceptual problems can be worked out, promises to provide little additional descriptive, analytic, or heuristic leverage for students of international relations. 1. A New Perspective? 'Global public policy analysis' or 'global policy studies', the subject of this special issue, has recently been advanced as a new perspective from which to study international politics. Consider, for example, the concluding sentences from Marvin Soroos's Beyond Sovereignty: The Challenge of Global Policy, the most extensive effort yet at outlining and defending a global policy approach:
Growth of Rat-mouse hybridomas in nude mice and nude rats

Athymic (nude) mice and rats were inoculated intraperitoneally with rat-mouse hybridoma cells secreting monoclonal antibodies to rat MHC class I antigens in order to improve the yield of antibodies. Pristane priming and subsequent intraperitoneal injection of the hybridoma cells in to nude mice yielded ascites which contained antibody in high concentration (10-15 mg/ml). Complete Freund's adjuvant, mineral oil, pristane or antibody-antigen complexes were used to induce ascites in nude rats, but only pristane priming did so consistently. The hybridoma cells in the ascitic fluid failed to secrete antibody, although they contained intracellular antibody. However, when the pristane-primed nude rats received 250-500 rads of total body radiation prior to injection with the hybridoma cells, they produced large amounts of antibody. When the nude rats were splenectomized and injected with the hybridoma cells, they also produced antibody in high titers. There was no in vitro inhibition of antibody formation by the hybridoma cells cultured in medium containing 15% serum from nude rats, but co-culture of the hybridoma cells with splenic lymphocytes from normal or nude rats markedly inhibited antibody production. These results indicate that the defect in antibody secretion by the hybridoma cells in the ascites of nude rats is due to the presence of radiation-sensitive suppressor cells in the spleen.
Tangible Media Approaches to Introductory Computer Science

Computing is an increasingly important component of many jobs and demand for computing skills is far outpacing the number of computationally literate workers available. Non-majors, adult learners, and other non-traditional students can potentially fill some of these positions. However, traditional CS education pathways do not currently address the unique needs of these students. New approaches to CS education that fit with the goals and lifestyles of non-traditional CS students are needed. In line with Computational Media approaches known to be successful with non-majors, we designed and implemented two graduate- level courses, one using a Pixelsense and the other using Arduino, to teach computational thinking, programming, and design skills. We compare findings from these two courses with specific focus on non-major graduate students, but including topics relevant for traditional CS educators, such as, the importance of choice of platform, structure of assignments, maintaining student motivation, and the impact of self-guided final projects.
Partial splenic embolization in a child with Gaucher disease, massive splenomegaly and severe thrombocytopenia

A 13-month-old boy with Gaucher disease presented with severe thrombocytopenia, anemia and massive splenomegaly. In addition he had significant respiratory compromise caused by abdominal compartment syndrome, requiring mechanical ventilation. Because of the degree of respiratory compromise and his existing bone marrow suppression, splenic artery embolization was chosen as an alternative to splenectomy. Splenic artery embolization was performed using 355–500-µm polyvinyl alcohol particles, with 70% ablation achieved. Within 24 h of the procedure the platelet count had risen to greater than 70,000/mm3 and to more than 170,000/mm3 on postoperative day 4. At the 8-month follow-up the splenic size had decreased from 18 cm to 8 cm, with a platelet count of 578,000/mm3. Partial splenic embolization provides a minimally invasive alternative to splenectomy in patients with Gaucher disease with massive splenomegaly and bone marrow suppression.
Interpretation Of High-Resolution X-Ray Scattering Measurements

This paper discusses the interpretation of arc-second x-ray scattering of mirror surfaces in terms of the power spectral densities of their topographic roughness. Such scattering depends on surface spatial wave-lengths of the order of mm to cm; much longer than those involved in conventional visible-light scattering and profile measurements. Key features are: 1) Expressions are developed for analyzing smooth-surface scattering in the Fresnel regime at angles comparable with the point-spread function of the measuring apparatus. 2) A sampling-theorem representation is used to describe the scattering in terms of a discrete rather than a continuous convolution with the system point-spread function. 3) Corrections are included to account for finite-record-length effects. And 4), results are illustrated for simple power-law power spectra.© (1981) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Type D (delta) hepatitis.

SELECTED CASE A 40-YEAR-OLD New York man presented with complaints of fatigue. Five years previously he had an episode of acute hepatitis B from which he recovered symptomatically. In followup, however, he had persistently elevated serum alanine aminotransferase levels and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). A year previously he had a recurrence of symptoms of hepatitis with jaundice, anorexia, and malaise, after which he had persistent fatigue and intermittent abdominal discomfort. His medical history was unremarkable. He was born in Germany of Italian heritage. He was a sexually active, male homosexual but denied drug abuse, alcoholism, blood transfusions, and medications. Physical examination revealed mild hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and spider angiomata over the upper part of the chest. Laboratory test results included serum bilirubin level, 17 μmol/L; alanine aminotransferase level, 269 U/L (normal,
Effect of Solvation on Chemical Reactions, I. Addition of a Single Water Molecule to the H− + H2O OH− + H2 Reaction

The gas phase chemical reaction, H− + H2O H2 + OH, and the effect of an additional water molecule on the reaction, H−(H2O) + H2O H2 + OH(H2O), have been investigated. The optimal structures and energies of the reactants, products, two stable intermediates, and the transition state connecting the two intermediates have been determined. The additional water molecule does not affect the potential surface congruently: it destabilizes the H(H2O) minimum, but stabilizes the H2 OH minimum and the transition state connecting the two intermediates. However, it stabilizes the products more than the H2 OH− minimum. Finally, in line with the reduction in the barrier height, the transition state for the H(H20) to H2 OH− isomerization moves further along the reaction path.
Plasmon-resonant field enhancement metallic tip-substrate systems

Optical field enhancement (~70times) for light incident on a nanoscopic Au probe tip suspended over a Au substrate is investigated numerically. The spectral response and effect of system geometry are examined using 3D-FDTD.
Mating Patterns of Red-Eyed Treefrogs, Agalychnis callidryas and A. moreletii

Deviations from random mating in frogs are often explained by two different size-based patterns. The large-male mating advantage predicts that males found in amplexus with females will be larger on average than non-amplectant males, whereas size-assortative mating predicts that males and females found in amplexus will maintain an optimal size ratio. Both these pairing patterns are consistent with a female mating preference for larger males, or for males of a given size relative to the choosy female. I examined pairing patterns of two species of Neotropical hylids, Agalychnis callidryas and A. moreletii for three consecutive breeding seasons in Belize, Central America to evaluate whether mating behavior was influenced by either a large-male mating advantage or size-assortative mating. For each species, I compared size traits between amplectant and non-amplectant males, and within amplectant pairs, and I quantified fertilization success for each amplectant pair. For both species I found evidence of deviations from random mating by size, but the nature of the deviations varied between species and among years. The proportion of eggs fertilized was consistently high among years for both species and there was no relationship between fertilization success and the size ratio of amplectant pairs. These data are consistent with female mate preference, but a role for male–male competition cannot be excluded. My findings suggest that mating patterns may be densitydependent and that the nature and intensity of sexual selection may be increased by extreme environmental conditions.
The Subcutaneous Implantable Defibrillator A New Technology That Raises an Existential Question for the Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator

This is the fourth decade that the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) has been in clinical use for the prevention of sudden cardiac death in high-risk patients.1–5 As initially envisioned, the purpose of the ICD was to prevent death by delivering a direct current shock to the heart within seconds after onset of a sustained ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) event. Continuous hardware and software innovations have transformed the identity, meaning, purpose and value of the device.6 Article see p 944 In its first decade of clinical life, the ICD was a minimally featured and, by current standards, bulky device, used exclusively in patients that survived VT/VF, and ≈40 000 devices were implanted yearly in the United States.5,7 Clinical trials of transvenous ICD systems that provided the evidence base to justify the widespread use of the ICD for primary prevention of sudden death in heart failure patients on optimal background neurohormonal blocking drug therapies used devices that had 20 and 30 years of advances.2–5 The ICDs used in the primary prevention trials were able to sense and terminate VT/VF within seconds, defibrillate VF with 70% of ICD recipients.10 Expanded ICD indications and global reimbursement for the device resulted in exponential increases in ICD use, exceeding 350 000 yearly worldwide implants by 2008 and >12 000 devices implanted monthly in the …
Technology and Values: Getting beyond the "Device Paradigm" Impasse

Albert Borgmann's notion of the "device paradigm" can be used to explain a widely experienced frustration encountered in attempts to put people's values into practice in a technological world: Technologies increasingly embraced as a means of disburdening them from social and bodily engagement also increasingly constrain their efforts to express their values through action. Expressive elements of their actions are effectively (if unthinkingly) fixed by, and incorporated in, the devices they adopt. Ethnographic investigation of the "home power" movement in the United States, however, provides evidence of a successful break from the device paradigm. In the process of installing more expensive and less convenient renewable electric power systems in their homes, participants in this movement have achieved a uniquely creative reassertion of alterna tive environmental, community, and work-related values. The resonance between Borgmann's theoretical framework and the home power experience affords both practi cal ...
Biodegradation of chlorinated aliphatics and aromatic compounds in total-recycle expanded-bed biofilm reactors.

Ground-water contamination by chlorinated aliphatic compounds is a major cause for concern because of their toxicity. This study examined the biodegradation of trichloroethylene and aromatic compounds by microbial consortia enriched from contaminated subsurface sediments. The consortia were capable of utilizing methane and propane as sources of carbon and energy. Two continuously recycled expanded-bed bioreactors were inoculated with (1) the subsurface consortium, and (2)P. fluorescence, P. putida (strains pRB1401 and pWWO), andM. trichosporium OB3b. An uninoculated reactor containing 0.2% sodium azide and 0.5% formalin served as the control. Methane (5% v/v) and propane (3% v/v) were maintained by batch feeding through the course of the experiment. Greater than 97% degradation of trichloroethylene was observed over a period of 12 d. More than 99% of benzene, toluene, and xylene were degraded within the first 7 d. Dissolved oxygen levels were measured and found to be in the range 4.9–6.5 mg/L throughout the experiments.
Additive and non-additive genetic variance in odontometric traits in crosses of seven inbred lines of house mice.

A least-squares diallel analysis of the offspring of crosses of seven inbred lines of house mice was performed for the mean widths of the second (M 2 ) and third (M 3 ) mandibular molars. Significant differences among lines, as well as between inbreds and hybrids (positive heterosis) were found for these characters. Estimates of the heritabilities (from general combining ability variances) were high for both teeth as were estimates of maternal effects. Specific combining ability and reciprocal effects were significant only for the M 3 . Additionally, X-irradiation reduced the mean number of individuals per litter, and thereby indirectly influenced the widths of both molars.
Subject: `Off topic: Oh my God, US terrorism!' Roswell fans respond to 11 September

This article explores the discourse in online Roswell fan communities after the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington on 11 September. Roswell fans drew on pre-existing online fan forums and on repertoires from Roswell fandom to mourn, to cope, to give support, to debate, to question and to organize community social action. Fan artists drew from fan techniques of collage and fan avenues for sharing artistic work to create memorial art and to participate in a complex communal process of coping and rebuilding.
Channel adjustments of the lower Trinity River, Texas, downstream of Livingston Dam

Channel cross-sectional changes since construction of Livingston Dam and Lake Livingston in 1968 were studied in the lower Trinity River, Texas, to test theoretical models of channel adjustment, and to determine controls on the spatial extent of channel response. High and average flows were not significantly modified by the dam, but sediment transport is greatly reduced. The study is treated as an opportunistic experiment to examine the effects of a reduction in sediment supply when discharge regime is unchanged. Channel scour is evident for about 60 km downstream, and the general phenomena of incision, widening, coarsening of channel sediment and a decrease in channel slope are successfully predicted, in a qualitative sense, by standard models of channel response. However, there is no consistent channel response within this reach, as various qualitatively different combinations of increases, decreases or no change in width, depth, slope and roughness occur. These multiple modes of adjustment are predicted by the unstable hydraulic geometry model. Between about 60 km and the Trinity delta 175 km downstream of the dam, no morphological response to the dam is observed. Rather than a diminution of the dam's effects on fluvial processes, this is due to a fundamental change in controls of the fluvial system. The downstream end of the scour zone corresponds to the upstream extent of channel response to Holocene sea level rise. Beyond 60 km downstream, the Trinity River is characterized by extensive sediment storage and reduced conveyance capacity, so that even after dam construction sediment supply still exceeds transport capacity. The channel bed of much of this reach is near or below sea level, so that sea level rise and backwater effects from the estuary are more important controls on the fluvial system than upstream inputs. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Democratic enclaves in authoritarian regimes

This article introduces a new concept to the literature on authoritarian regimes – the ‘democratic enclave’ – and contrasts it to the well-known concept of the ‘authoritarian enclave’. The meaning and description of democratic enclaves is given. A causal theory of democratic enclaves is outlined and their consequences considered. Theoretical and policy implications follow.
Methodology and framework for predicting rolling element helicopter bearing failure

The enhanced ability to predict the remaining useful life of helicopter drive train components offers potential improvement with regards to safety, maintainability, and reliability of a helicopter fleet. Current existing helicopter health and usage monitoring systems provide diagnostic information that indicates when the condition of a drive train component is degraded; however, prediction techniques are not currently used. Although various algorithms exist for providing remaining life predictions, considering the limited number of run-to-failure data sets, the maturation of the prognostic techniques has not been achieved. This particular study addresses remaining useful life predictions for the helicopter oil-cooler bearing. The paper proposes a general methodology of how to perform rolling element bearing prognostics and presents the results using a robust regression curve fitting approach. The proposed methodology includes a series of processing steps prior to the prediction routine, including feature extraction, feature selection, and health assessment. This provides a framework for including prediction algorithms into existing health and usage monitoring systems. An oil-cooler bearing test-rig constructed by Impact Technologies LLC is used to facilitate the development of the remaining life prediction techniques. Two data sets are used in this study, in which both bearings experienced an inner race spall that progressed until the test was stopped due to an unsafe vibration level. The robust regression curve fitting results are promising in that the actual and predicted remaining life estimates converge for the run-to-failure oil-cooler bearing data sets a few hours prior to the stopping of the test. Future work would consider using the same methodology but comparing the accuracy of this prediction method with Bayesian filtering techniques, usage based methods, and other time series prediction methods.
The Intimate Politics of Ornithology in Colonial Africa

A tendency in studies of science in colonial Africa is to focus on the “big politics” of resource extraction, environmental control, and the governmentality of subject bodies. As a result, we now recognize that colonial science was a highly political enterprise in which the pursuit of knowledge was infused with the dynamics of starkly exclusionary societies and extractive regimes. Scientific improvements in medicine and agriculture yielded benefits that underwrote colonial projects and the construction of authoritative knowledge in medicine, racial biology, and social science created disciplinary power over Africans as scientifically objectified colonial subjects. It has been observed that the failure of science to heed indigenous knowledge led to a “misreading” of the landscape and inappropriate intervention. Recently, some historians have attempted to mitigate overly stark depictions of colonial science, making good cases that the practice of scientific ecology, agronomy, and medicine in colonial Africa had motivations and effects beyond the service of extraction and governmentality. They have rightly informed us that the assessment of applied sciences in colonial Africa cannot be reduced to their role in European domination. Clearly, these are critical issues that merit attention. Yet the focus on ways science did (or did not) support various colonial agendas may have impeded the development of a more representative understanding of Euro-American scientific pursuits in African colonies.
Better Hypothesis Testing for Statistical Machine Translation: Controlling for Optimizer Instability

In statistical machine translation, a researcher seeks to determine whether some innovation (e.g., a new feature, model, or inference algorithm) improves translation quality in comparison to a baseline system. To answer this question, he runs an experiment to evaluate the behavior of the two systems on held-out data. In this paper, we consider how to make such experiments more statistically reliable. We provide a systematic analysis of the effects of optimizer instability---an extraneous variable that is seldom controlled for---on experimental outcomes, and make recommendations for reporting results more accurately.
The Effectiveness of Generic versus Brand Advertising: The Case of U.S. Dairy Promotion

This article compares the effectiveness of generic versus. brand advertising for fluid milk and cheese. The analysis is based on estimated fluid milk and cheese demand equations and on an analysis of optimal reallocations between generic and brand advertising expenditures. The issue of generic versus brand advertising effectiveness is examined in two ways. First, the advertising elasticities of demand for fluid milk and cheese are computed and compared. Second, optimal reallocation levels between generic and brand advertising expenditures are simulated. From the elasticity point of view, in two of the three estimated demand equations, the generic advertising elasticity is larger than its brand counterpart. However, it is erroneous to just look at advertising elasticities. The optimality condition must also be considered. The optimal results suggest that dairy farmers could achieve increases in sale volumes and revenues by reallocating some of the generic dollars to brand fluid advertising. The increases in the sale volume and revenues from doing so are about 3% for volume and 1% for revenues. However, the simulation results should be interpreted with care because as one moves away from the historical advertising levels, the estimated equations used in the simulation become less reliable. This is relevant because the optimal solutions call for large percentage reallocations. Finally, the results also suggest that dairy farmers should not divert generic dollars to brand cheese advertising. A strategic implication is that dairy farmers should consider establishing some type of fund matching relationship with brand fluid companies.
In Vitro Testing of Dry Powder Inhalers

There is increasing focus on the development of dry powder inhalers (DPIs) for the delivery of therapeutic entities to the lungs. In vitro testing of metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) has evolved through the years and general tests and methods have been published through USP general chapter , monographs, and guidelines issued by the FDA. In contrast, very few guidelines have been established for the testing of dry powder inhaler systems. In fact, these systems may prove to be more difficult to propose general tests for because they are based on different principles leading to a greater diversity in the number of types of devices and formulations in comparison to the MDIs. To form absolute standards at this stage will be difficult and this paper will present a comparison of the in vitro test methods of MDIs to some of the DPIs that are commercially available and suggests some guidelines to follow.
Utility of software analysis of esophageal manometry studies in patients with aperistalsis.

SUMMARY Esophageal manometry is the gold standard for the diagnosis of esophageal aperistalsis. There is computer software that analyzes peristalsis on esophageal manometry, but this automated analysis has not been formally evaluated. Our primary aim was to evaluate the software analysis of esophageal aperistalsis by esophageal manometry in patients diagnosed with aperistalsis by an experienced clinician. Esophageal manometry studies from January 2006 to November 2007 were retrospectively reviewed for evidence of aperistalsis by an experienced clinician. All studies demonstrating aperistalsis were selected for further review. The automated analysis performed by our software program for each study was recorded. Agreement between the automated analysis and the clinician was measured by the proportion of agreement on the absence of peristalsis. Eighty-seven of the 962 esophageal manometry studies reviewed demonstrated aperistalsis. The automated analysis reported esophageal body peristalsis with wet swallows in 66 out of 87 patients (75.9%). In these patients, the software analyzed an average of 34.2% of the wet swallows as peristaltic. The agreement between the clinician's review and software analysis of aperistalsis was 24.1%. These data suggest there is poor agreement between the automated analysis of peristalsis and that of an experienced reviewer. Automated analysis cannot be relied upon in the diagnostic evaluation of esophageal aperistalsis as it overestimates the presence of peristalsis and may lead to incorrect diagnoses and management strategies.
Isolation and characterization of a glycopeptide from sheep thyroglobulin

Abstract Thyroglobulin is a glycoprotein containing galactose, mannose, fucose, glucosamine and sialic acid ( Ujejski et , al. , 1955 ; Wollman and Warren, 1961 ; Robbins, 1963 ). Recently we described a procedure for the efficient release of I131-labeled amino acids from I131-labeled thyro-proteins that entailed the use of the proteolytic enzyme, Pronase, obtained from Streptomyces , griseus ( Tong et , al. , 1963 ). Proteolysis of thyroglobulin by this enzyme resulted in release of a nondialyzable glycopeptide. Spiro and Spiro (1963) also reported the release of glycopeptides from calf thyroglobulin by the action of Pronase . The present report deals with the isolation, purification and partial characterization of a glycopeptide from sheep thyroglobulin.
The effect of caffeine reduction on sleep quality and well-being in persons with HIV.

Abstract Objectives: With reports of high rates of sleep disruption in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) + persons, this study tested whether there were differences in sleep quality and well-being between a group of HIV+ persons who reduced their caffeine intake from baseline by 90% or greater for 30 days (n=44) versus a group of HIV+ persons who continued their usual caffeine consumption (n=44). Methods: Subjects were administered pre- and post-Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Perceived Well-being Scale-Revised (PWB-R) and MOS-HIV Health Survey instruments, with MOS-HIV summary scores used as a covariate. Results: On ANCOVA analysis for sleep quality (F=14.032, P
Continuum analysis of dislocation pile-ups: Influence of sources

Abstract One explanation of the Hall-Petch relationship is that dislocation pile-ups serve to enhance the stress felt at grain boundaries. This dislocation pile-up model results in a d −½ dependence of the yield strength, with d the grain size. In fact, this dependence is observed often. However, the traditional pile-up picture neglects two important aspects of pile-up formation: firstly the existence of a threshold stress for dislocation production, and secondly the necessity of a finite-sized dislocation-free region in which a source may operate. In this paper, both of these aspects are addressed within a continuum model of the dislocation pile-ups. A closed-form expression is obtained for the dependence of yield stress on grain size and source characteristics. The continuum model agrees closely with the corresponding discrete dislocation model even when the pile-up contains as few as ten dislocations.
Amino Acid- and Purine Ribonucleoside-Induced Germination of Bacillus anthracis ΔSterne Endospores: gerS Mediates Responses to Aromatic Ring Structures

Specific combinations of amino acids or purine ribonucleosides and amino acids are required for efficient germination of endospores of Bacillus anthracis DeltaSterne, a plasmidless strain, at ligand concentrations in the low-micromolar range. The amino acid L-alanine was the only independent germinant in B. anthracis and then only at concentrations of >10 mM. Inosine and L-alanine both play major roles as cogerminants with several other amino acids acting as efficient cogerminants (His, Pro, Trp, and Tyr combining with L-alanine and Ala, Cys, His, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Trp, Tyr, and Val combining with inosine). An ortholog to the B. subtilis tricistronic germination receptor operon gerA was located on the B. anthracis chromosome and named gerS. Disruption of gerS completely eliminated the ability of B. anthracis endospores to respond to amino-acid and inosine-dependent germination responses. The gerS mutation also produced a significant microlag in the aromatic-amino-acid-enhanced-alanine germination pathways. The gerS disruption appeared to specifically affect use of aromatic chemicals as cogerminants with alanine and inosine. We conclude that efficient germination of B. anthracis endospores requires multipartite signals and that gerS-encoded proteins act as an aromatic-responsive germination receptor.
Classroom-based science research at the introductory level: changes in career choices and attitude.

Our study, focused on classroom-based research at the introductory level and using the Phage Genomics course as the model, shows evidence that first-year students doing research learn the process of science as well as how scientists practice science. A preliminary but notable outcome of our work, which is based on a small sample, is the change in student interest in considering different career choices such as graduate education and science in general. This is particularly notable, as previous research has described research internships as clarifying or confirming rather than changing undergraduates’ decisions to pursue graduate education. We hypothesize that our results differ from previous studies of the impact of engaging in research because the students in our study are still in the early stages of their undergraduate careers. Our work builds upon the classroom-based research movement and should be viewed as encouraging to the Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education movement advocated by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Science Foundation, and other undergraduate education stakeholders.
Testosterone and Daily Activity Period in Laboratory-Housed Mountain Spiny Lizards, Sceloporus jarrovi

Experimentally elevated testosterone has been shown to increase the daily activity period of free-ranging lizards, but it is unknown whether the effect depends upon additional factors present in nature (i.e., conspecific interactions) or whether it can be elicited in the laboratory. In a relatively simple laboratory environment, male Mountain Spiny Lizards (Sceloporus jarrovi) implanted with testosterone had significantly greater activity levels throughout the day than sham-implanted males. Differences were greatest during the morning and late afternoon, with testosterone-treated males more likely to be out earlier and to stay out later. This general result was repeated in both spring and fall experiments using separate groups of males. Although testosterone-treated males were more active (i.e., out in the open) than control males, there was not a significant difference in the frequency of movements (>20 cm), nor did the groups differ in selected body temperature in their home cages. Nonetheless, testosterone-implanted males lost significantly more body mass than controls over the course of the experiments. Because the effect of testosterone on daily activity period occurs in the laboratory as well as in the field, it is suggested that the effect is not dependent upon interactions with complex environmental stimuli.
End-Use Opportunity Analysis from Progress Indicator Results for ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2013

This report and an accompanying spreadsheet (PNNL 2014a) compile the end use building simulation results for prototype buildings throughout the United States. The results represent he energy use of each edition of ASHRAE Standard 90.1, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings (ASHRAE 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013). PNNL examined the simulation results to determine how the remaining energy was used.
Has the phase-out of PBDEs affected their atmospheric levels? Trends of PBDEs and their replacements in the Great Lakes atmosphere.

Air and precipitation samples were collected every 12 days at five sites near the North American Great Lakes from 2005 to 2011 (inclusive) by the Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network (IADN). The concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and selected alternative brominated flame retardants [pentabromoethyl benzene (PBEB), hexabromobenzene (HBB), 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane (TBE or BTBPE), decabromodiphenylethane (DBDPE), 2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (TBB), and bis(2-ethylhexyl)-tetrabromo-phthalate (TBPH)] were measured in these samples. The concentrations of almost all of these flame retardants were related to the number of people within a 25 km radius of the sampling site, except for HBB, the concentrations of which were relatively high at Sturgeon Point, and PBEB, the concentrations of which were relatively high at Eagle Harbor. The temporal trends of all of these concentrations were variable. For example, BDE-47 vapor phase concentrations were increasing with dou...
Salient features in uniaxial extension of polymer melts and solutions: Progressive loss of entanglements, yielding, non-Gaussian stretching, and rupture

The nonlinear responses of an entangled SBR melt and its solutions in rapid uniaxial extension have been studied by rheometric and rheo-optical measurements. During (startup) extension, the samples progressively lose entanglements. At relatively low rates, all entanglements are eventually lost, leading to yielding, nonuniform extension, and ductile specimen failure. At sufficiently high rates, some entanglements survive to allow non-Gaussian stretching and full chain extension leading to rupture-type sample breakdown when the failure mechanism switches from disentanglement, i.e., mutual chain sliding, to chain scission. The precursor to rupture, i.e., non-Gaussian stretching, is evidenced by the birefringence measurements that show the breakdown of the linear stress–optical relation. The corresponding critical stress is found to be proportional to the polymer concentration, in agreement with a scaling analysis based on an entanglement network picture. The onset of non-Gaussian stretching and rupture occur...
Novel Piezoelectric Polyimides

This research focuses on the synthesis, processing, and characterization of novel high performance piezoelectric polymers. A series of polyimides containing pendant, polar trifluoro (-CF 3) and nitrile (-CN) groups have been synthesized, electroded and poled. Measurements of the piezoelectric sensor response are presented to demonstrate the relationship between dipole concentration and the level of piezoelectricity for these materials. An understanding of the effect of dipole concentration on piezoelectric properties will enable the molecular design of polymers possessing distinct improvements over state of the art piezoelectric polymers including enhanced polarizability, polarization stability at elevated temperatures, and increased mechanical integrity.