cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adaptive physiology of heteromyid rodents

Heteromyid rodents are distributed from the New World tropics to the deserts of North America, but their habitation of deserts is relatively recent. Their evolutionary history, though, is associated with progressive aridity, with larger quadrupedal taxa being more mesic (and primitive), and smaller quadrupeds and all bipeds more xeric. The correlation between water regulatory efficiency and body mass is strongly negative in heteromyids; bipedal Dipodomys spp. have water regulatory efficiency fixed at an intermediate level independent of mass. Heteroymids generally have basal metabolic rates reduced below the eutherian level, with the greatest reductions occurring in desert species. The use of torpor as an energy-conserving device is cosmopolitan in small ( Dipodomys , confers no direct energetic advantages as revealed in treadmill studies. Large quadrupedal heteromyids have adaptive physiologies suitable for more mesic habitats, but smaller quadrupeds are suited for xeric existences; these characteristics likely reflect an evolution from a tropical ancestry to rather recent habitation of deserts. Bipedalism occurs only in xeric-adapted forms and has no directly discernible energetic benefit; yet it appears to relieve in some unknown way the energetic constraints of foraging.
Imaging Mass Spectrometry in Clinical Pathology

Abstract Molecular imaging directly from human tissue by mass spectrometry has been demonstrated for well over a decade. Since that time, extensive pioneering research and development has enabled mass spectrometry to be a commercially viable molecular imaging technology. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry is a well-established form of this technology for clinical and biological applications since it can determine the in situ distribution of biologically important molecules, including small molecules such as drugs and metabolites, lipids, and proteins. The technology does not require any target-specific reagent such as antibodies and directly measures the analytes themselves in tissue specimens without prior knowledge of their potential presence. This technology provides highly specific molecular information that can be used to determine the molecular phenotype of the disease state and its progression, therapeutic efficacy, disease biomarkers, molecular tumor margins, and aid in the molecular assessment of mechanisms of disease pathology. This chapter will review the clinical utility of MALDI imaging mass spectrometry and discuss its application to several diseases, including diabetes and cancer. Current developments in the field are aimed at improving throughput and facilitating the ease of use of the technology by pathologists and other health care specialists as a complement to current methods, ultimately with the goal of improving patient diagnoses and outcomes.
An Interview With Pete Gibson, CEO, Datlytics, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA

Pete Gibson is an executive technology leader with a solid record of success leveraging technology, improving operations, and developing high-performing teams globally, earned a reputation during h...
Effect of high DMSO concentration on albumin during freezing and vitrification

IR spectroscopy was used to probe the composition of the freeze concentrated liquid (FCL) during near equilibrium freezing of albumin–dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solutions down to −70 °C. While cooling down to −32 °C, preferential entrapment of DMSO within ice occurred, which was attributed to formation of DMSO–water complexes. These complexes subsequently collapsed on cooling below −32 °C with albumin being preferentially entrapped in ice. Heterogeneity induced in the FCL as a result, was more pronounced in solutions containing lower solute concentrations and thus larger volume fractions of ice. Crystallization of DMSO was not observed on cooling below its eutectic temperature and the FCL vitrified instead at −58 °C, as confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry and low temperature X-ray crystallography. The increase in viscosity of the FCL upon glass transition prevented further compositional changes. Isothermal measurements confirmed that preferential exclusion of either species from ice occurred solely during advance of the ice interfaces and was hence governed by its relative diffusivity. Adverse effects of high DMSO concentrations on the protein were observed between −35 °C and −55 °C and devitrification during thawing proved to be even more detrimental in vitrified samples. Thawing rate had a significant effect on the extent of structural unfolding of the protein in vitrified samples, but not on the ones which were simply frozen. These results will be relevant to vitrification of solutions containing proteins, cells and small tissue systems as such as monocytes, oocytes, ova, embryos, zygotes, vein rings/segments and pancreatic islets.
Letter to the Editor: A Delayed Diagnosis of Iatrogenic Guidewire Retention After Central Line Placement.

Central line placement is a life-saving procedure commonly performed in the intensive care unit (ICU) for various indications, including intravenous fluid resuscitation, hemodynamic monitoring, vasopressor infusion, hemodialysis, and parenteral nutrition. Complications have occurred after central
Cardiovascular Risk Prediction in CKD

Cardiovascular disease is an important complication for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), warranting accurate risk prediction, but clinical guidelines are inconsistent regarding whether or how to use information on measures of CKD for predicting risk. Recent large meta-analyses have shown that key CKD measures (estimated glomerular filtration rate and albuminuria) improve cardiovascular risk prediction beyond traditional risk factors, especially when albuminuria is added to prediction models. In addition, several recent studies have shown that the use of filtration markers other than serum creatinine, cystatin C, and β2-microglobulin can improve cardiovascular risk prediction. In case the goal is to best estimate cardiovascular risk, recent studies have shown that measures reflecting pathophysiological processes in the cardiovascular system, such as coronary artery calcium score or high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T, can be useful in CKD populations. This review compares the current major clinical guidelines and synthesizes the growing body of evidence on traditional and nontraditional predictors for improving cardiovascular risk prediction in persons with CKD.
An epistemic logic of situations: extended abstract

In this paper we present a first order epistemic logic that incorporates the essentially finite character of what is actually known by any knower. Our logic and language allows us to represent familiarity with individuals including individual situations. It is also a logic of limited awareness in the manner of [FH88]. It is adequate for the syntactic characterization of the shared-situation account of common knowledge [Bar89]. Finally, it is sound and complete with respect to the presented semantics.
Effects of mass extinction and recovery dynamics on long-term evolutionary trends: A morphological study of Strophomenida (Brachiopoda) across the Late Ordovician mass extinction

Mass extinctions affect the history of life by decimating existing diversity and ecological structure and creating new evolutionary and ecological pathways. Both the loss of diversity during these events and the rebound in diversity following extinction had a profound effect on Phanerozoic evolutionary trends. Phylogenetic trees can be used to robustly assess the evolutionary implications of extinction and origination.We examine both extinction and origination during the Late Ordovician mass extinction. This mass extinction was the second largest in terms of taxonomic loss but did not appear to radically alter Paleozoic marine assemblages. We focus on the brachiopod order Strophomenida, whose evolutionary relationships have been recently revised, to explore the disconnect between the processes that drive taxonomic loss and those that restructure ecological communities.Apossible explanation for this disconnect is if extinction and origination were random with respect to morphology. We define morphospace using principal coordinates analysis (PCO) of character data from 61 Ordovician–Devonian taxa and their 45 ancestral nodes, defined by a most parsimonious reconstruction in Mesquite. A bootstrap of the centroid of PCO values indicates that genera were randomly removed from morphospace by the Late Ordovician mass extinction, and new Silurian genera were clustered within a smaller previously unoccupied region of morphospace. Diversification remained morphologically constrained throughout the Silurian and into the Devonian. This suggests that the recovery from the Late Ordovician mass extinction resulted in a long-term shift in strophomenide evolution. More broadly, recovery intervals may hold clues to understanding the evolutionary impact of mass extinctions.
Dynamical Phase Transitions and Cation Orientation-Dependent Photoconductivity in CH(NH2)2PbBr3

The choice of organic cation in hybrid perovskites has large implications for optoelectronic properties, material stability, and crystal structure. In particular, formamidinium ((CH(NH2)2+) perovsk...
Cost of Unnecessary Amylase and Lipase Testing at Multiple Academic Health Systems.

OBJECTIVES To determine adherence to Choosing Wisely recommendations for using serum lipase to diagnose acute pancreatitis rather than amylase, avoiding concurrent amylase/lipase testing and avoiding serial measurements after the first elevated test as both are ineffective for tracking disease course. METHODS Deidentified laboratory data from four large health systems were analyzed to determine concurrent testing rates, serial testing rates, and provider-ordering patterns. RESULTS While most providers adhered to recommendations with 58,693 lipase-only tests ordered and performed, 86% of amylase tests were performed concurrently with lipase. Ambulatory, inpatient, and emergency department settings revealed concurrent rates of 51%, 41%, and 8%, respectively. Services with order sets containing both amylase and lipase were associated with higher rates of concurrent testing. CONCLUSIONS Concurrent amylase/lipase testing is an area of opportunity to improve compliance, especially in ambulatory settings. Revision of order sets and provider education could be interventions to reduce unnecessary testing and save costs.
The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute Subcommittee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing: Background, Organization, Functions, and Processes

The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) Subcommittee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST SC) is a volunteer-led, multidisciplinary consensus body that develops and publishes standards and guidelines (among other products) for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) methods and results interpretation in the United States and internationally. The Subcommittee (SC) meets face-to-face twice yearly, and its working groups (WGs) are active throughout the year via teleconferences. All meetings are open to the public. Participants include clinical microbiologists, infectious disease (ID) pharmacists, and infectious disease physicians representing the health care professions, government, and industry. Individuals who work for a company with a primary financial dependency on drug sales cannot serve as voting members, and well-defined conflict of interest polices are in place. In addition to developing and updating susceptibility breakpoints, the SC develops and validates new testing methods, provides guidance on how results should be interpreted and applied, sets quality control ranges, and educates users through seminars, symposia, and webinars. Based on its work, the SC publishes print and electronic standards and guidelines, including an annual update, the Performance Standards for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (M100). This commentary will describe the background, organization, functions, and operational processes of the AST SC.
Association Between Anticoagulation and Survival in Interstitial Lung Disease: An Analysis of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Patient Registry.

Background Aberrations in the coagulation system have been implicated in the pathogenesis of interstitial lung disease (ILD). Anticoagulants have been proposed as a potential therapy in ILD; however, a randomized controlled trial examining warfarin as a treatment for IPF was terminated early due to increased death rates. This has led some to speculate that warfarin specifically may be harmful in ILD, and use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) could result in superior outcomes. Research Question The goal of this study was to delineate the relationship between anticoagulation and outcomes in patients with ILD through an analysis of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Patient Registry. Study Design and Methods An analysis of all patients in the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Patient Registry was performed. Patients were stratified into three groups: no anticoagulation, DOAC use, or warfarin use. Survival was analyzed by using both Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models. Results Of 1,911 patients included in the analysis, 174 (9.1%) were given anticoagulants; 93 (4.9%) received DOACs, and 81 (4.2%) received warfarin. There was a twofold increased risk of death or transplant for patients receiving DOACS; for warfarin, the risk was over two and half times greater. DOACs were not associated with an increased risk of mortality following adjustment for confounding variables. However, even after adjustment, patients given the anticoagulant warfarin remained at increased risk of mortality. In patients with IPF, warfarin was associated with reduced transplant-free survival, but DOACs were not. There was no statistically significant difference in survival between those receiving warfarin and those receiving a DOAC. Interpretation The need for anticoagulation is associated with an increased risk for death or transplant in patients with ILD, in both the IPF and non-IPF population. Further research is required to determine if warfarin and DOACs present varying safety profiles in patients with ILD.
Transformation of Trace Organic Contaminants from Reverse Osmosis Concentrate by Open-Water Unit-Process Wetlands with and without Ozone Pretreatment

Reverse osmosis (RO) treatment of municipal wastewater effluent is becoming more common as water reuse is implemented in water-stressed regions. Where RO concentrate is discharged with limited dilution, concentrations of trace organic contaminants could pose risks to aquatic ecosystems. To provide a low-cost option for removing trace organic compounds from RO concentrate, a pilot-scale treatment system comprising open-water unit-process wetlands with and without ozone pretreatment was studied over a 2-year period. A suite of ecotoxicologically relevant organic contaminants was partially removed via photo- and bio-transformations, including β-adrenergic blockers, antivirals, antibiotics, and pesticides. Biotransformation rates were as fast as or up to approximately 50% faster than model predictions based upon data from open-water wetlands that treated municipal wastewater effluent. Phototransformation rates were comparable to or as much as 60% slower than those predicted by models that accounted for light penetration and scavenging of reactive oxygen species. Several compounds were transformed during ozone pretreatment that were poorly removed in the open-water wetland. The combined treatment system resulted in a decrease in the risk quotients of trace organic contaminants in the RO concentrate, but still dilution may be required to protect sensitive species from urban-use pesticides with low environmental effect concentrations.
Should Investors Avoid All Actively Managed Mutual Funds? A Study in Bayesian Performance Evaluation

This paper analyzes mutual-fund performance from an investor's perspective. We study the portfolio-choice problem for a mean-variance investor choosing among a risk-free asset, index funds, and actively managed mutual funds. To solve this problem, we employ a Bayesian method of performance evaluation; a key innovation in our approach is the development of a flexible set of prior beliefs about managerial skill. We then apply our methodology to a sample of 1,437 mutual funds. We find that some extremely skeptical prior beliefs nevertheless lead to economically significant allocations to active managers.
Blended Courses in Law School: The Best of Online andFace-to-Face Learning?

Education at every level, from kindergarten to graduate school, is constantly changing. Each year, educators face a fresh set of challenges and encounter a new group of students. Likewise, the methods and materials available to teachers continue to evolve as well. One way for legal educators to respond to this ever-present state of change is through course design and redesign. To meet the modern challenges facing legal education and to maximize students’ learning, law teachers construct new courses and update existing courses. Course design and redesign help ensure that law school courses efficiently and effectively prepare students for the modern practice of law. In the second decade of the twenty-first century, a fundamental course design issue for legal educators is the appropriate modality or medium for law school courses. The course could follow the traditional, face-to-face format. Students prepare for class by reading, writing, and thinking outside of class and then interact with the teacher and other students in the classroom. Or the course could be delivered online. Students read, write, and complete exercises outside of the classroom, and then interact with the teacher and students in an online environment. During the last ten years, a third course design option has emerged in higher education, including legal education—a blended course that combines the face-to-face and online formats.
Are Training and Experience Adapting Evidence-Based Interventions Associated With Self-Efficacy and Attitudes? A Cross-Sectional Survey of Students and Practitioners With Varying Levels of Adaptation Experience.

Increasing use of evidence-based interventions (EBIs) in local settings will help reduce the research-practice gap and improve health equity. Because adaptation to new settings and populations is e...
Articular cartilage thickness changes differ between males and females 4 years following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Anterior cruciate ligament injury and reconstruction (ACLR) affects articular cartilage thickness profiles about the tibial, femoral, and patellar surfaces; however, it's unclear whether the magnitudes of change in cartilage thickness, as well as the locations and areas over which these changes occur, differ between males and females. This is important to consider as differences exist between the sexes with regard to knee biomechanics, patellofemoral pain, and anatomic alignment, which influence risk of an index and repeated injury. Subjects underwent ACLR with a bone-patella tendon-bone autograft. At four-year follow-up, they had asymptomatic knees; however, significant ACL injured-to-contralateral normal knee differences in articular cartilage thickness values were observed. Both thickening and thinning of cartilage occurred about the tibiofemoral and patellofemoral joints, relative to matched control subjects with normal knees. Further, the location of the areas and magnitudes of thickening and thinning were different between females and males. Thickening (swelling) of articular cartilage is an early finding associated with the onset of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). Therefore, the increases in cartilage thickness that were observed in this cohort may represent early signs of the onset of PTOA that occur prior to the patient developing symptoms and radiographic evidence of this disease. The different locations of areas that underwent a change in cartilage thicknesses between males and females suggest that each sex responds differently to knee ligament trauma, reconstruction, rehabilitation and return to activity, and indicates that sex specific analysis should be utilized in studies of PTOA. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Adjuncts Unite! The Struggle to Unionize, Administrative Response, and Building a Bigger Movement:

In the last decade, adjuncts have become the dominant faculty type at most colleges and universities, making up to 80 percent of those teaching college courses. Their conditions and struggles have ...
Sex-based eRNA expression and function in ischemic stroke.

Abstract Enhancer-derived RNAs (eRNAs) are a new class of long noncoding RNA that have roles in modulating enhancer-mediated gene transcription, which ultimately influences phenotypic outcomes. We recently published the first study mapping genome-wide eRNA expression in the male mouse cortex during ischemic stroke and identified 77 eRNAs that were significantly altered following a 1 h middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and 6 h of reperfusion, as compared to sham controls. Knockdown of one such stroke-induced eRNA - eRNA_06347 - resulted in significantly larger infarcts, demonstrating a role for eRNA_06347 in modulating the post-stroke pathophysiology in males. In the current study, we applied quantitative real-time PCR to evaluate whether the 77 eRNAs identified in the male cortex also show altered expression in the post-stroke female cortex. Using age-matched and time-matched female mice, we found that only a subset of the 77 eRNAs were detected in the post-stroke female cortex. Of these, only a small fraction showed similar temporal expression characteristics as males, including eRNA_06347 which was highly induced in both sexes. Knockdown of eRNA_06347 in the female cortex resulted in significantly increased infarct volumes that were closely matched to those in males, indicating that eRNA_06347 modulates the post-stroke pathophysiology similarly in males and females. This suggests a common underlying role for eRNA_06347 in the two sexes. Overall, this is the first study to evaluate eRNA expression and perturbation in the female cortex during stroke, and present a comparative analysis between males and females. Our findings show that eRNAs have sex-dependent and sex-independent expression patterns that may be of significance to the pathophysiological responses to stroke in the two sexes.
Book Review: Manolescu, D. (2019). Tips. A Guidebook for Teaching Excellence in ESL

The Guide for Teaching Excellence in ESL provides several demonstrations of the connection between language and culture. The book outlined the history behind words, the development of languages and alphabets, and the relationship between language and culture. Dan Manolescu recognized the student needs and core competencies that teachers must demonstrate to improve learning outcomes for students learning English. The book provided references to establish sources of information to support the author's work and approach to ESL instruction. He used his knowledge and experiences to create a comprehensive work that may benefit those new and veteran teachers who support ESL students. The author's knowledge of language and teaching is very evident throughout the book. The author signals the importance of performing an environmental scan when providing instructional tips to students because excellence can be achieved and is vital to building knowledge.
Islam, Law, and Equality in Indonesia: An Anthropology of Public Reasoning

Part I. Village Repertoires: 1. Law, religion and pluralism 2. Adat's local inequalities 3. Remapping Adat Part II. Reasoning Legally through Scripture: 4. The contours of the courts 5. The judicial history of 'consensus' 6. The poisoned gift 7. Historicizing scripture, justifying equality Part III. Governing Muslims through Family: 8. Whose word is law? 9. Gender equality in the family? 10. Justifying religious boundaries 11. Public reasoning across cultural pluralism.
In-situ mitigation of radiation-induced attenuation in optical fiber used for sensing at nuclear facilities

The ionizing radiation environment in a nuclear reactor containment building or geological waste repository may result in saturation of the radiation-induced attenuation (RIA) in fiber optic cables. Room temperature irradiations to Mrad doses were carried out to quantify RIA recovery at both ambient and elevated temperatures. Additional experiments sought to establish a reduction in RIA beyond recovery obtained by thermal annealing alone by incrementally increasing injected light power from 1 μW to 12 μW over varying time intervals. Results indicate that total possible signal recovery under such conditions is ~70% and is dominated by thermal annealing of short-lived color centers with supplemental low-intensity (μW) photobleaching providing little to no additional benefit.
Oxidative dehydrogenation of propane over alkali-Mo catalysts supported on sol-gel silica-titania mixed oxides

A group of novel molybdena catalysts for propane oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) is presented. These catalysts, which were prepared using a sol-gel/co-precipitation technique, were supported on silica-titania mixed oxides and promoted by alkali metals (Li, Na, K, Cs). While reaction results show no specific trend with the type of alkali promoter, comparisons indicate that promotion with potassium gives a superior catalyst. Propylene yields around 30% were obtained with K/Mo catalysts at 550°C, in dilute feed stream experiments. Differences in reaction performance are found to be closely related to surface acidity, oxidation-reduction behavior, and dispersion of the active components.
An optimizing C * compiler for a hypercube multicomputer

C* is the synchronous, data parallel, C superset designed by Thinking Machines for the Connection Machine processor array. We discuss an implementation of C* targeted to the NCUBE 3200 hypercube multicomputer, an asynchronous machine. In the multicomputer environment, the major obstacle to high efficiency is the relatively slow interprocessor communication. We describe our C* optimizer that concentrates on reducing the cost of a C* program's message passing. We present the results of evaluating our system using three benchmark programs.
Capacity bounds for the alternative relaying diamond channel with conferencing links

In this paper, the diamond relay channel is considered, which consists of one source-destination pair and two relay nodes connected with rate-limited out-of-band conferencing links. In particular, we focus on the half-duplex alternative relaying strategy, in which the two relays operate alternatively over time. With different amounts of delay, two conferencing strategies are proposed, each of which can be implemented by either a general two-side conferencing scheme (for which both of the two conferencing links are used) or a special-case one-side conferencing scheme (for which only one of the two conferencing links is used). Based on the most general two-side conferencing scheme, we derive the achievable rates by using the decode-and-forward (DF) relaying scheme. By further exploiting the properties of the optimal solutions, the simpler one-side conferencing is shown to be equally good as the two-side conferencing in term of the achievable rates under arbitrary channel conditions. Based on this, the DF rate in closed-form is obtained, and the principle to use which one of the two conferencing links for one-side conferencing is also established. Moreover, the DF scheme is shown to be upper-bound-achieving under certain conditions with even one-side conferencing. Finally, numerical results are provided to validate our analysis.
Theory of Low Energy Electron Scattering by Complex Atoms

Publisher Summary This chapter presents theoretical methods that provide a quantitative description of electron scattering by atoms with more than one electron, in the low energy region where ionization is either energetically impossible or unimportant. The principal scattering processes are elastic scattering and excitation of discrete target atom states. Only neutral target atoms are considered. The quantitative description of electron scattering by a complex atom presents a formidable challenge to theory. The chapter elaborates on the structure and interpretation of the electronic wavefunction appropriate to continuum states of the system consisting of an N-electron target atom and an external electron. Variational formalism appropriate for the construction and analysis of such wavefunctions is described. A detailed discussion of the theory of resonances and threshold effects is given. A survey of theoretical methods relevant to low energy electron scattering is discussed. Applications of these methods and comparison with experimental data for electron scattering by He, alkali metal atoms, 0, N, and C are reviewed in the chapter.
Triggers of spontaneous preterm delivery--why today?

Background Our goal is to study triggers of spontaneous preterm delivery using a case-crossover design.
Primary tumor resection as a component of multimodality treatment may improve local control and survival in patients with stage IV inflammatory breast cancer

BACKGROUND To the authors' knowledge, the benefit of primary tumor resection among patients with metastatic inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is unknown. METHODS The authors reviewed 172 cases of metastatic IBC. All patients received chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy and/or surgery. Patients were classified as responders or nonresponders to chemotherapy. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and distant progression-free survival (DPFS) and local control at the time of last follow-up were evaluated. RESULTS A total of 79 patients (46%) underwent surgery. OS and DPFS were better among patients treated with surgery versus no surgery (47% vs 10%, respectively [P < .0001] and 30% vs 3%, respectively [P < .0001]). Surgery plus radiotherapy was associated with better survival compared with treatment with surgery or radiotherapy alone (OS rate: 50% vs 25% vs 14%, respectively; DPFS rate: 32% vs 18% vs 15%, respectively [P < .0001 for both]). Surgery was associated with better survival for both responders (OS rate for surgery vs no surgery: 49% vs 23% [P < .0001] and DPFS rate for surgery vs no surgery: 31% vs 8% [P < .0001]) and nonresponders (OS rate for surgery vs no surgery: 40% vs 6% [P < .0001] and DPFS rate for surgery vs no surgery: 30% vs 0% [P < .0001]). On multivariate analysis, treatment with surgery plus radiotherapy and response to chemotherapy were found to be significant predictors of better OS and DPFS. Local control at the time of last follow-up was 4-fold more likely in patients who underwent surgery with or without radiotherapy compared with patients who received chemotherapy alone (81% vs 18%; P < .0001). Surgery and response to chemotherapy independently predicted local control on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS The results of the current study demonstrate that for select patients with metastatic IBC, multimodality treatment including primary tumor resection may result in better local control and survival. However, a randomized trial is needed to validate these findings. Cancer 2014;120:1319–1328. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
Physical Organic Chemistry of Transition Metal Carbene Complexes. 16.1 Reactions of (CO)5MC(OR)Ph (M = Cr or W; R = Me or Et) with Thiolate Ions in Aqueous Acetonitrile. Complete Kinetic Dissection of the Two-Step Mechanism

A kinetic study of the reactions of (CO)5MC(OR‘)Ph (1a, M = Cr, R‘ = Me; 1b, M = W, R‘ = Me; 1c, M = Cr, R‘ = Et; 1d, M = W, R‘ = Et) with n-PrS-, HOCH2CH2S-, MeO2CCH2CH2S-, and MeO2CCH2S- in 50% MeCN−50% water (v/v) at 25 °C is reported. At low [RS-] and relatively low pH the reaction leads to the nucleophilic substitution products (CO)5MC(SR)Ph without accumulation of any intermediate. At high [RS-] and high pH formation of a tetrahedral intermediate, (CO)5MC(OR‘)(SR)Ph, is observed. Upon addition of acid the intermediate is converted into the substitution product. For the reactions of most thiolate ions a detailed kinetic analysis allowed the determination of the rate constants for nucleophilic attack on the carbene complexes (k1) and its reverse (k-1), the equilibrium constant for nucleophilic addition (K1 = k1/k-1), and the rate constants for alkoxide ion departure from the respective intermediates catalyzed by H+ ( ) and N-methylmorpholinium ion ( ). The dependence of these rate and equilibrium con...
Near-death experiences and the physio-kundalini syndrome

Near-death experiences (NDEs), transcendental experiences on the threshold of death with profound implications for both patient care and religious belief, have been hypothesized to be related to the awakening of a biological process known in Eastern traditions as kundalini. In a test of this proposed association between kundalini and NDEs, a sample of near-death experiencers acknowledged significantly more symptoms of a physio-kundalini syndrome than did control subjects.
Autoignition of N-Decane under Elevated Pressure and Low-To-Intermediate Temperature Conditions

Abstract An experimental investigation of the autoignition for various n-decane/oxidizer mixtures is conducted using a rapid compression machine, in the range of equivalence ratios of ϕ = 0.5 – 2.2 , dilution molar ratios of N2/(O2 + N2) = 0.79–0.95, compressed gas pressures of P C = 7 – 30 bar, and compressed gas temperatures of T C = 635 – 770 K . The current experiments span a temperature range not fully investigated in previous autoignition studies on n-decane. Two-stage ignition, characteristic of large hydrocarbons, is observed over the entire range of conditions investigated, as demonstrated in the plots of raw experimental pressure traces. In addition, experimental results reveal the sensitivity of the first-stage and total ignition delays to variations in fuel and oxygen mole fractions, pressure, and temperature. Predictability of two kinetic mechanisms is compared against the present data. Discrepancies are noted and discussed, which are of direct relevance for further improvement of kinetic models of n-decane at conditions of elevated pressures and low-to-intermediate temperatures.
Ethanol elimination kinetics following massive ingestion in an ethanol naive child.

Objective:At low-to-moderate concentrations, ethanol elimination follows zero-order kinetics. It is unknown whether renal, pulmonary or other first-order processes become significant in patients with very high serum ethanol concentrations. Additionally, it is unclear whether ethanol naive subjects induce their metabolism during acute intoxication. We present the toxicokinetic analysis in a child with a massive ingestion of ethanol.Case report:A 15-year-old girl without significant medical history presented to the Emergency Department after drinking 24 ounces of tequila. She was found unresponsive at home with a Glasgow Coma Score of 3. Her presenting vitals were as follows: 118/69 mmHg blood pressure; pulse rate was 88 beats per minute; respiratory rate of 20 breaths per minute; pulse-oximetry is 96% on room air. Other than obtundation, her physical examination was normal. She was intubated for airway protection and admitted to the ICU. Her initial serum ethanol concentration was 543 mg/dL. A repeat level 3 h later was 722 mg/dL. Post-absorptive ethanol concentrations decreased from 693 mg/dL to 291 mg/dL over the following 15.5 h. The patient had spontaneous eye opening 24 h after presentation. Her projected serum ethanol concentration at that time was 215 mg/dL. She was extubated 2 h later and had an uneventful recovery.Results:The elimination of ethanol in the post-absorptive phase remained zero-order at a rate of 26.3 mg/dL/h (5.7 mmol/L/h) with a Pearson's correlation coefficient (R(2)) of 0.9968 (p Language: en
The importance of interactive questioning techniques in the comprehension of algorithm animations

The purpose of the study presented in this paper is to analyze the usefulness of various types of pop-up questions used in algorithm animations. Preliminary analysis indicates that providing feedback to pop-up questions increases the participant's ability to correctly answer both pop-up questions and regular test questions while the form of interaction required of the user via pop-up questions lessens the overall performance, though not significantly.
Transformation of mechanically alloyed Nb-Sn powder to Nb3Sn

Nb3Sn was processed via mechanical alloying (MA). The powder mixture comprised of stoichiometric proportions of elemental niobium and tin powder was mechanically alloyed for 3 hours and the mechanically alloyed powder mixture was heat treated. While MA resulted in Nb-Sn solid solution, the reaction leading to the formation of Nb3Sn occurs during the subsequent heat treatment of the powder mixture.
Redundancy techniques (or reliable flight-control computers

Insuring safety of flight in high-performance aircraft requires great advancement in the reliability of flight-control computers. While such improvements are not attainable by component improvement alone, they can be effectively achieved by redundancy. This paper describes a combination of redundancy techniques developed to meet flight-control requirements, using majority logic supplemented by self-combinational networks and parity-check error detection. Alternative redundancy techniques are outlined and simple approximate expressions for reliability are derived, showing the reasons leading to selection of the desired combination. Theory of majority logic is explained, and expressions for optimum voter arrangement and resultant reliability are derived. Implementation of a model flight-control computer, built for the Air Force, is explained. Judicious computer organization enhances reliability of the basic nonredundant layout, achieving a mean lifetime of 1,500 hours (failure probability of 0.005 for an 8-hour mission). For an 8-hour mission, the redundant computer has an equivalent lifetime of 110 years (failure probability of 10?5).
Time series with periodic structure.

Time series which are encountered in meteorology exhibit non-stationary behaviour. If a variable is observed at the same time each day, it appears to be stationary over a period of a few weeks, but there is a seasonal variation in structure (Monin, 1963). For example, the mean and spectral density are different in the summer and in the winter. The usual approach to this problem is to divide the year into parts and analyse the data separately for the same two or three months from several years. This paper is concerned with the problem of predicting time series with periodic structure, including the estimation of the necessary parameters and variances.
A soil catena on schist in northwestern California

Abstract Soil characteristics in a small steepland watershed underlain by schist in a rainy, tectonically active area in northwestern California show close associations with drainage-basin position and slope characteristics. Five soil-topography units based on these associations are defined in the study watershed. Spatial relationships of soil series, and patterns of soil development as indicated by B-horizon clay content and redness, reflect interactions between pedogenesis and erosion. General soil-topography patterns include: (1) decreases in soil-development moving from low-order to higher-order stream vallyes; and (2) more developed soils on north-facing as opposed to south-facing slopes. Decreases in soil-profile development moving from slopes near low-order streams to slopes near higher-order streams approximately correlate with increases in gradient, vertical relief, and drainage density, and reflect a more vigorous stripping of regolith by erosion on the slopes near the higher-order streams. The larger percentage of area covered by the more developed soils on north-facing as opposed to south-facing slopes appears to reflect a contrast in the way dominant erosional processes interact with pedogenic processes. Roadcuts on middle and upper slopes show soil discontinuities indicative of disturbance by block slides or slumps or both. Roadcuts on lower slopes show disrupted soils in small bedrock hollows that could have been created by rapid, shallow landslides or by the pulled-up root wads of toppled trees. Soil-profile characteristics and soil-topography patterns in the study area demonstrate that both erosional and pedogenic processes need to be considered when interpreting characteristics of hillslope soils.
Smaller subcortical volumes and cognitive deficits in children with prenatal methamphetamine exposure

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine possible neurotoxic effects of prenatal methamphetamine (Meth) exposure on the developing brain and on cognition. Meth-exposed children (n=13) and unexposed control subjects (n=15) were evaluated with MRI. Global brain volumes and regional brain structures were quantified. Ten Meth-exposed and nine unexposed children also completed neurocognitive assessments. Meth-exposed children scored lower on measures of visual motor integration, attention, verbal memory and long-term spatial memory. There were no differences among the groups in motor skills, short delay spatial memory or measures of non-verbal intelligence. Despite comparable whole brain volumes in each group, the Meth-exposed children had smaller putamen bilaterally (-17.7%), smaller globus pallidus (left: -27%, right: 30%), smaller hippocampus volumes (left: -19%, right: -20%) and a trend for a smaller caudate bilaterally (-13%). The reduction in these brain structures correlated with poorer performance on sustained attention and delayed verbal memory. No group differences in volumes were noted in the thalamus, midbrain or the cerebellum. In summary, compared with the control group, children exposed to Meth prenatally exhibit smaller subcortical volumes and associated neurocognitive deficits. These preliminary findings suggest prenatal Meth exposure may be neurotoxic to the developing brain.
Software economics: Status and prospects

1. Overview Software is valuable when it produces information in a manner that enables people and systems to meet their objectives more effectively. Software engineering techniques have value when they enable software developers to build more valuable software. Software economics is the sub-field of software engineering that seeks improvements which enable software engineers to reason more effectively about important economic aspects of software development, including cost, benefit, risk, opportunity, uncertainty, incomplete knowledge and the value of additional information, implications of competition, and so forth. In this paper, we survey the current status of selected parts of software economics, highlighting the gaps both between practice and theory and between our current understanding and what is needed. The sheer volume of current software costs makes the study and application of software economics techniques a significant area of concern and opportunity. Recent studies [1,2] estimate roughly 2,000,000 software professionals in the US in 1998. At typical salaries of $60‐80,000/year and a typical overhead rate of 150%, this translates into a $300‐ 400 billion annual expenditure on software development in the US alone. A conservative estimate of worldwide software costs is twice the US costs, or $600‐800 billion per year. With the kind of expenditures now being made on software, just the economics of more efficient software production are important to understand and apply. Software development is widely seen to be inefficient, which means that there is considerable room for improvement. A 10% reduction in software production costs translates into a
Synergistic effects of porosity and glass on quasi-ductility under Hertzian contact in liquid-phase-sintered alumina

Direct observation of damage mechanisms in a porous liquid-phase-sintered alumina under Hertzian contact has been made possible through a modification of the bonded interface technique. Using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, subsurface regions have been examined in a pre-indentation and post-indentation condition at loads just beyond the yield stress. Intergranular cracking, often through large glassy regions, is observed in the vicinity of pores, whereas dense regions of the microstructure remain undamaged. Distributed subsurface microfracture is attributed to porosity that acts as a stress concentrator and the glassy phase, which provides a weak path for short-crack propagation.
Adjunctive antibiotics with nonsurgical periodontal therapy improve the clinical outcome of chronic periodontitis in current smokers.

Article Title and Bibliographic Information A systematic review of clinical efficacy of adjunctive antibiotics in the treatment of smokers with periodontitis. Angaji M, Gelskey S, Nogueira-Filho G, Brothwell D. J Periodontol 2010;81(11):1518-28. Reviewer Jasim M. Albandar, DDS, DMD, PhD, Diplomate ABP Purpose/Question Does the use of adjunctive antimicrobials improve the clinical outcome of nonsurgical therapy (scaling and root planing) or surgical therapy in the treatment of chronic periodontitis in smokers? Source of Funding Information not available Type of Study/Design Systematic review Level of Evidence Level 2: Limited-quality, patient-oriented evidence Strength of Recommendation Grade Grade B: Inconsistent or limited-quality patient-oriented evidence
Synthesis of monoalkoxide monopyrrolyl complexes Mo(NR)(CHR')(OR'')(pyrrolyl): enyne metathesis with high oxidation state catalysts.

Addition of 1 equiv of ROH to Mo(NAr)(CHCMe2Ph)(Me2Pyr)2 (Ar = 2,6-i-Pr2C6H3, Me2Pyr = 2,5-dimethylpyrrolyl) in diethyl ether or THF yields Mo(NAr)(CHCMe2Ph)(OR)(Me2Pyr) species where R = (CH3)3C (1, 22% isolated yield), (CH3)2CH (2, 83%), Ar (3, 81%), (CF3)2CH (4, 45%), or (CF3)2(CH3)C (5, 80%). Ring-closing enyne metathesis by various catalysts leads to cyclic products that arise through initial addition of the triple bond to a methylene species (initially neophylidene) to yield an α- or a β-substituted metallacyclobutene intermediate.
Risk and danger among women-who-prostitute in areas where farmworkers predominate.

Based on ethnographic research in three agricultural settings in Florida, this article examines one aspect of risk ana danger for female sex workers, that of interpersonal violence, while considering women's responses to a shifting sex trade in areas where farmworkers live and work. Sex work in agricultural areas varies from urban sex work. Women eschew pimps, ask for backup from local men entrenched in street settings, and canvass a wide spatial area rather than remained fixed in space. Oscillating between periods of capital-deficiency (nonseason) and capital-intensification (harvest), women respond to increasing risk and danger by building a clientele of regular customers, refusing risky transactions and referrals, and creating a local infrastructure of sanctuary. Some women also construct schemes to relieve men of their money. These men typically are farmworkers, whose vulnerability and image of low riskfor HIVexpands the potential for risk and danger found in these settings, [commercial sex work, migrant and seasonal farmworkers, violence against women, southeastern United States {Florida}]