cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
User Field Testing of Laser Protective Lenses

A methodology for user field testing of military, laser protective lenses is described. It addresses the difficulty of testing the effects of their reduced light transmittance and color distortion when there is little or no control over the independent variables of illumination and environmental colors and contrasts. The thrust was to collect field data on more than 70 variables from over 250 soldiers, the rationale being that this “shotgun” approach would surface any critical problems. Moreover, if these field data were somewhat consistent with laboratory data, confidence could be placed in relative levels of soldier performance while wearing the lenses. No established methodology for such field testing existed, and a number of performance tasks had to be modified or constructed which were typical of military operations. The Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue Test was also conducted to investigate color discrimination ability while wearing the lenses. This test was intended to supplement other laboratory data an...
Patients with negative cervical biopsies after papanicolaou test interpretations of “atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion”: comparative longitudinal follow-up

Approximately half of women with a Papanicolaou (pap) test interpretation of "atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion" (ASC-H) will have less than a high-grade dysplasia diagnosed on their follow-up cervical biopsy sample. Herein, we compared the follow-up findings in a group of women with a negative cervical biopsy after a pap test interpretation of ASC-H (study group) with those of a randomly selected control group of women whose pap tests were interpreted as "negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy" during the same period. The diagnoses in every follow-up sample in the control and study groups were tabulated. Patients with previous ASC-H or high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion interpretations, and/or high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) diagnoses, were excluded. Both groups were then statistically compared regarding the diagnostic frequencies of each of the Bethesda 2001 categories and CIN grades. Of the 122 patients with ASC-H interpretations and documented histologic follow-up, the first follow-up biopsy was negative for dysplasia in 20 (16.4%). Seventy-six follow-up samples (70 pap tests, 6 biopsies) were obtained from these 20 patients. In the control group of 262 women with pap tests interpreted as "negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy," 641 follow-up samples (629 pap tests, 12 biopsies) were obtained. Patients in the study group were significantly more likely than their control group counterparts to have a follow-up (1) cytologic and/or histologic abnormality (23/76 vs 76/641, respectively; P = .00006), (2) "atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance" (ASC-US) interpretation (13/76 vs 43/641; P = .005), and (3) CIN grade 1 diagnosis (4/76 vs 10/641; P = .05). Approaching statistical significance was the comparatively increased frequency of CIN grade 2 to 3 diagnoses in the study group (2/76 vs 2/641; P = .058). If the analysis is restricted to 1 follow-up sample (the most severe) per patient, patients in the study group were still more likely than those in the control group to have a follow-up cytologic and/or histologic abnormality (12/20 vs 40/262; P = .0002), ASC-US interpretation (6/20 vs 22/262; P = .008), and follow-up CIN grade 2 to 3 diagnosis (2/20 vs 2/262; P = .03). It is concluded that patients whose cervical biopsies are devoid of dysplasia after an ASC-H interpretation still require close surveillance and follow-up because their risk of being diagnosed with follow-up cervical abnormalities is significantly above baseline.
Diltiazem retards the metabolism of oral prednisone with effects on T-cell markers

The area under the time-plasma concentration curve (AUC) was measured for prednisolone (the major active metabolite of prednisone) after ingestion of 15 mg of prednisone (phase 1) and again after 3 d of oral diltiazem (180 mg/d) followed by the same dose of oral prednisone (phase 2) in eight normal adult patients. Diltiazem increased the prednisolone AUC by 21% (range 3-38%), from 1297 +/- 157 ng/h/mL to 1560 +/- 169 ng/h/mL (p = 0.001). This effect was associated with a greater decrease from baseline in CD3+ lymphocyte number at 4 h after prednisone ingestion (596 +/- 175 vs. 516 +/- 140, p = 0.05), a larger percentage decrease of circulating CD3+ lymphocytes at 8 h (43 +/- 19% vs. 53 +/- 19%, p = 0.04), and a decrease in the number of CD3+ CD8+ T cells at 4 h post-prednisone ingestion (279 +/- 81 vs. 236 +/- 51, p = 0.04). Diltiazem retards prednisolone metabolism and when used chronically with prednisone could conceivably, in some patients, enhance its immunologic and other clinical effects. Potentiation of prednisone side-effects by diltiazem may be of special interest in pediatric patients, and possible diltiazem-prednisone interactions merit study in this population.
Action of chlorpromazine on oxidative phosphorylation of liver and brain mitochondria.

INVESTIGATIONS of recent years have shown that mitochondria, irrespective of their source, are the site of oxidative phosphorylation; but it is not known to what extent the metabolism of these structural units is specific for a particular organ.
Exciton interactions in dimers of bacteriochlorophyll and related molecules

Abstract Formalisms are developed for calculating the absorption wavelengths, dipole strengths and rotational strengths for dimers of bacteriochlorophyll and related molecules. The expressions explicitly consider the mixing of bacteriochlorophyll's four main excited states (Q y , Q x , B x and B y ) in the ground and excited states of the dimer. This mixing must be considered in order to account for the hyperchromism and nonconservative circular dichroism found experimentally in oligomers of bacteriochlorophyll and bacteriopheophytin. The spectroscopic properties of the eight absorption bands of a bacteriopheophytin dimer are calculated as functions of the geometry of the dimer. The importance of the mixing of nondegenerate excited states, and of the mixing of doubly-excited states into the dimer's ground state, is evaluated by comparisons with calculations in which these phenomena are neglected. Structures for bacteriopheophytin dimers are found for which most of the calculated spectroscopic properties are consistent with the properties seen experimentally. Possible explanations are considered for the remaining discrepancies between the calculated and observed properties.
CW laser annealing of A15 superconductors

Abstract The change in superconducting transition temperature (Tc) induced by cw laser annealing has been studied for various A15 compounds. Ordering of disordered Nb3Sn starts to occur after a single laser scan, making possible an estimation of the activation energy for ordering at high temperatures (1000–2000°C) for times
Member Career Opportunities and the Internal Organization of Legislatures

Legislatures employ a variety of organizational schemes to determine how positions of power are distributed within them. I propose and test a theory relating the internal organization of a legislature to the political career goals of its members. Examining the lower legislative house in California, Connecticut, and New York, I demonstrate that each body offers its members a different political career path, and that the particular ambition is promoted by the internal organization of the legislature. New York assemblymen have career ambitions and seniority matters in gaining positions of power in that body. California assemblymen have progressive goals and operate in a system which allows any member to gain power quickly. In Connecticut, where legislators have discrete ambitions, seniority is not important and power is centralized.
The Tension in Business Education Between Academic Rigor and Real-World Relevance: The Role of Executive Professors

Business schools are walking a tightrope between the academic side of business and the practitioner side. In reaction to early criticism of being trade schools, business schools have emphasized the...
Deformation Analysis for Shape Based Classification

Statistical analysis of anatomical shape differences between two different populations can be reduced to a classification problem, i.e., learning a classifier function for assigning new examples to one of the two groups while making as few mistakes as possible. In this framework, feature vectors representing the shape of the organ are extracted from the input images and are passed to the learning algorithm. The resulting classifier then has to be interpreted in terms of shape differences between the two groups back in the image domain. We propose and demonstrate a general approach for such interpretation using deformations of outline meshes to represent shape differences. Given a classifier function in the feature space, we derive a deformation that corresponds to the differences between the two classes while ignoring shape variability within each class. The algorithm essentially estimates the gradient of the classification function with respect to node displacements in the outline mesh and constructs the deformation of the mesh that corresponds to moving along the gradient vector. The advantages of the presented algorithm include its generality (we derive it for a wide class of non-linear classifiers) as well as its flexibility in the choice of shape features used for classification. It provides a link from the classifier in the feature space back to the natural representation of the original shapes as surface meshes. We demonstrate the algorithm on artificial examples, as well as a real data set of the hippocampus-amygdala complex in schizophrenia patients and normal controls.
Dynamic relational topic model for social network analysis with noisy links

A probabilistic framework is presented for joint analysis of text and links between nodes (e.g., people) in a time-evolving social network. Unlike existing approaches, the proposed model is able to handle “noisy” links, i.e., observed links between nodes for which there is limited or no similarity in the associated text. This decoupling between links and text is made possible by incorporating random effects in the probabilistic model, and leads to improved text modeling and link prediction performance. The model allows efficient inference using fully conjugate Gibbs sampling, obviating the need for any maximum-likelihood parameter setting. Experiments are conducted using scientific paper citation and co-authorship network datasets, with the proposed approach outperforming previous state-of-the-art results.
Resisting the Lonely Superpower: Responses of States in the United Nations to U.S. Dominance

The United States finds itself increasingly isolated in multilateral organizations. To infer what this trend signifies, we need to disentangle changes in the agenda from changes in revealed preferences. This paper does so with a novel data set, important votes in the United Nations according to the State Department, and method, a multilevel item-response model estimated by MCMC methods. The results show that the agenda becomes more negative for the United States after 1996, whereas the almost universal widening of the preference gap occurs at a constant rate between 1991 and 2001. In addition, there is no evidence for an increasing clash of civilizations and some evidence that the gap with states that become more liberal has increased less.
Development of quality of care indicators for Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a major cause of disability. To date, there have been no large-scale efforts to measure the quality of PD care because of a lack of quality indicators for conducting an explicit review of PD care processes. We present a set of quality indicators for PD care. Based on a structured review of the medical literature, 79 potential indicators were drafted. Through a two-round modified Delphi process, an expert panel of seven movement disorders specialists rated each indicator on criteria of validity, feasibility, impact on outcomes, room for improvement, and overall utility. Seventy-one quality indicators met validity and feasibility thresholds. Applying thresholds for impact on outcomes, room for improvement, and overall utility, a subset of 29 indicators was identified, spanning dopaminergic therapy, assessment of functional status, assessment and treatment of depression, coordination of care, and medication use. Multivariable analysis showed that overall utility ratings were driven by validity and impact on outcomes (P < 0.01). An expert panel can reach consensus on a set of highly rated quality indicators for PD care, which can be used to assess quality of PD care and guide the design of quality improvement projects. © 2003 Movement Disorder Society
Effects of Birefringence Within Ice Sheets on Obliquely Propagating Radio Waves

In this paper, effects of birefringence on radio waves obliquely propagating though polar ice sheets are examined to facilitate interpretations of bistatic and side-looking radar data. A formalism applicable for arbitrary radar configurations is developed to predict the returned power from within and beneath the ice sheets that have arbitrary alignments of ice crystals (ice fabrics). We applied this formalism to a range of ice fabrics found in ice cores and assessed the effects of birefringence in terms of ray-path configurations, ice fabrics, and radar frequency. Predicted frequency dependence of the bed return power replicates prominent features observed at Greenland NGRIP ice-core site. Results show that birefringence in ice of 1 km or more thickness with strong (weak) fabric can reduce the power returned from the bed 2 dB or more at frequencies higher than 200 MHz (20 MHz) as compared to isotropic ice. This suggests that quantitative interpretation of the power returned from the bed requires careful assessment of birefringence almost everywhere over the ice sheets. Application of this formalism also suggests a radar-frequency range usable for attenuation measurements, possible effects of fabric on synthetic aperture radar processing, and a feasibility of remote sensing of ice fabric.
A complete axiomatization for functional and multivalued dependencies in database relations

We investigate the inference rules that can be applied to functional and multivalued dependencies that exist in a database relation. Three types of rules are discussed. First, we list the well known rules for functional dependencies. Then we investigate the rules for multivalued dependencies. It is shown that for each rule for functional dependencies the same rule or a similar rule holds for multivalued dependencies. There is, however, one additional rule for multivalued dependencies that has no parallel among the rules for functional dependencies. Finally, we present rules that involve functional and multivalued dependencies together. The main result of the paper is that the rules presented are complete for the family of functional and multivalued dependencies.
A novel 3D layer-multiplexed on-chip network

Recently, a near-optimal oblivious routing algorithm for 3D mesh networks called Randomized Partially-Minimal (RPM) routing was proposed [12], which works by load-balancing traffic across vertical layers and routing minimally on each horizontal layer. It achieves optimal worst-case throughput when the network radix k is even and within a factor of 1/k2 of optimal when k is odd, and it achieves significantly lower latencies than Valiant routing [18], the best previously known optimal worst-case throughput algorithm. This paper presents a novel layer-multiplexed (LM) architecture for 3D on-chip networks that exploits the optimality of RPM together with the short inter-layer wiring delays enabled in 3D technology. The LM architecture replaces the one-layer-per-hop routing in a 3D mesh with simpler vertical demultiplexing and multiplexing structures. The proposed LM architecture can achieve the same worst-case throughput as a 3D mesh by adapting RPM routing to the LM architecture. However, the LM architecture consumes 27% less power, occupies 27% less area, attains 14.5% higher average throughput, and achieves 33% lower worst-case hop count for a symmetric 4x4x4 mesh topology. On an asymmetric 8 x 8 x 4 mesh, the LM architecture achieves comparable average-case throughput to a 3D mesh, but consumes 26% less power, takes up 27% less area and attains 20% lower worst-case hop count.
Phoneme recognition with staged neural networks

Presents a staged series of artificial neural networks (ANNs) for phoneme recognition for text-to-speech applications. Contrary to much of the prior published literature this approach is not restricted to monosyllabic words or the pronunciation of single multi-syllabic words, but can readily be embodied in a program that allows for the reading of a complete text. Also, it does not require pre-processing to align the letters and phonemes on the training data. The training data utilized are the 2000 most common words in American English. As an illustration it is shown that the staged neural neural network approach works excellent for a sample text (in this case the first paragraph of Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz").
Personality traits and behavioral patterns associated with systolic blood pressure levels in college males

Abstract 1. 1. Seventy-four young white male college students (out of an original pool of 800 examined) were selected for having high or low systolic readings taken on a registration line. These students were then classified according to their paired casual, usual, and sustained levels of systolic blood pressure. Of 21 persons with a high paired casual systolic blood pressure (two independent determinations in excess of 140 mm Hg), 16 were also characterized as belonging to a ‘usual high’ group (blood pressure in excess of 131 mm on resting and repeated home readings). A ‘sustained’ high blood pressure group (n = 11) was further obtained by selecting those who were ‘high’ on their paired casual and their ‘usual’ blood pressure levels. These blood pressure patterns were then related with self ratings on the Cattell 16 PF questionnaire. 2. 2. A consistent elevation to the upper range of normal in the systolic blood pressure of these college males was associated with ‘submissiveness’ and ‘sensitivity’ as defined by Cattell's 16 PF questionnaire. Subjects with ‘high paired casual’ systolic blood pressures described themselves as motivated to obtain social contacts, but in a ‘sensitive’ and ‘anxious’ manner. 3. 3. Subjects who were later selected for having a single high systolic blood pressure reading taken on first entering the physician's office (their second casual reading) tended more frequently to yield in an argument and then afterwards to change their private opinions toward agreement with partners who had an initially low systolic reading. 4. 4. Whereas obesity was highly correlated with higher systolic levels, the psychological correlates of obesity were different from those related to elevated ‘casual’ or ‘sustained’ blood pressure. Obese subjects in this population appeared to be physically active, and more confident, though somewhat anxious under the stress of school examinations.
Loss of Betaig-h3 protein is frequent in primary lung carcinoma and related to tumorigenic phenotype in lung cancer cells.

Betaig-h3 as a secreted protein induced by transforming growth factor-β has been suggested to modulate cell adhesion and tumor formation. Although we have previously shown that downregulation of Betaig-h3 gene is involved in the cellular transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells induced by radiation, its regulation in primary human lung cancers is not clearly understood. In this study, Betaig-h3 expression was studied in 130 primary human lung carcinomas by immunohistochemistry. Betaig-h3 protein was absent or reduced by more than two-fold in 45 of 130 primary lung carcinomas relative to normal lung tissues examined. Recovery of Betaig-h3 expression in H522 lung cancer cells lacking endogenous Betaig-h3 protein significantly suppressed their in vitro cellular growth and in vivo tumorigenicity. In addition, parental H522 cancer cells are resistant to the etoposide induced apoptosis compared with normal human bronchial epithelial cells. However, recovery of Betaig-h3 expression in H522 cancer cells results in significantly higher sensitivity to apoptotic induction than parental tumor cells. IGFBP3 is upregulated in Betaigh3-transfected H522 cells that may mediate the apoptotic sensitivity and antitumor function of Betaig-h3 gene. These observations demonstrate that downregulation of Betaig-h3 gene is a frequent event and related to the tumor progression in human lung cancer. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
High-Speed Imaging of Sprite Streamers

The spatial and temporal developments of sprite streamers in the mesosphere are discussed in the context of the data recorded on August 27, 2009. Streamers initiate at approximately 75 km in altitude and are seen to propagate first downward and subsequently upward. Streamer splitting is observed as the streamers propagate. The streamer tips are approximately three times brighter than the planet Jupiter.
Optimized DRIE etching of ultra-small quartz resonators

Current manufacturing technology for quartz resonators does not provide a straightforward path for reducing the size and thereby increasing the frequency of operation into the UHF range. Using MEMS processing techniques and a commercial deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) tool, we are developing new techniques that may provide the ability to integrate large numbers of high performance filters onto a single chip for future handheld programmable communication systems.
The Power and Prospects of Fluorescence Microscopies and Spectroscopies

■ Abstract Recent years have witnessed a renaissance of fluorescence microscopy techniques and applications, from live-animal multiphoton confocal microscopy to single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy and imaging in living cells. These achievements have been made possible not so much because of improvements in microscope design, but rather because of development of new detectors, accessible continuous wave and pulsed laser sources, sophisticated multiparameter analysis on one hand, and the development of new probes and labeling chemistries on the other. This review tracks the lineage of ideas and the evolution of thinking that have led to the actual developments, and presents a comprehensive overview of the field, with emphasis put on our laboratory’s interest in single-molecule microscopy and spectroscopy.
Perfluoroalkyl Acids: A Review of Monitoring and Toxicological Findings

In recent years, human and wildlife monitoring studies have identified perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA) worldwide. This has led to efforts to better understand the hazards that may be inherent in these compounds, as well as the global distribution of the PFAAs. Much attention has focused on understanding the toxicology of the two most widely known PFAAs, perfluorooctanoic acid, and perfluorooctane sulfate. More recently, research was extended to other PFAAs. There has been substantial progress in understanding additional aspects of the toxicology of these compounds, particularly related to the developmental toxicity, immunotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and the potential modes of action. This review provides an overview of the recent advances in the toxicology and mode of action for PFAAs, and of the monitoring data now available for the environment, wildlife, and humans. Several avenues of research are proposed that would further our understanding of this class of compounds.
Studies towards the synthesis of epothilone A via organoboranes.

Studies towards the synthesis of epothilone A via organoboranes have been described. A modified procedure for the large-scale preparation of B-γ,γ-dimethylallyldiisopinocampheylborane from prenyl alcohol has been developed. This reagent, upon reaction with various aldehydes, provides the corresponding α,α-dimethylhomoallylic alcohols in high enantioselectivities. The application of this reagent for the synthesis of the C1–C6 subunit of epothilone has been demonstrated. Alternatively, inter- and intramolecular asymmetric reduction protocols have also been utilized for the synthesis of the C1–C6 subunit of epothilone A. The synthesis of the C7–C21 fragment of epothilone A involving asymmetric alkoxyallyl- and crotylboration using α-pinene-derived reagents has also been described.
Atmospheric pressure infrared (10.6 µm) laser desorption electrospray ionization (IR-LDESI) coupled to a LTQ Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer

We present the implementation of a CO2 laser emitting infrared laser irradiation at 10.6 µm onto the versatile atmospheric pressure ionization platform. Infrared laser desorption electrospray ionization (IR-LDESI) is demonstrated from liquid-state samples at atmospheric pressure with and without ESI postionization. Multiply charged proteins ranging in molecular mass from 8.6 to 17 kDa were detected from liquid-state samples without the addition of matrix. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Why Health Costs Spiral: The Case of Emergency Department Regulation

In this paper, we analyze the effect of hospital emergency department regulations on overall health costs using microeconomic tools of analysis. We find that regulations that have price ceiling effects create an upward pressure on prices in other areas of the health care market as hospitals and health care providers seek to compensate for their losses in emergency department operation.
Modeling the effects of microstructure on the tensile properties and micro-fracture behavior of Mo–Si–B alloys at elevated temperatures

Abstract A computational framework is developed to study the role of microstructure on the deformation behavior of Mo–Si–B alloys. A parametric range of idealized multi-phase microstructures of Mo–Si–B alloys are instantiated in 2D using Voronoi tessellation schemes and their deformation behavior modeled with the use of the finite element method. Continuum elements are used to model the constituent phases, while cohesive elements are used to model debonding at the interfaces of the intermetallic (A15 and T2) phases with the solid solution-strengthened Moss matrix and cleavage fracture within the intermetallic phases. The deformation behavior of Mo–Si–B alloys is studied in terms of the simulated stress-strain response and microstructure evolution characteristics. Effects of various microstructure parameters, such as composition and clustering of intermetallic phases, on the tensile strength and ductility are also studied.
Diffusive Transport in Swollen Polymer Membranes

Recent work on transport of solvent and solutes in swollen, hydrocarbon-type network polymers is reviewed, and some generalizations for other systems are made. Network polymers are useful as model membranes since they are well understood thermodynamically and can be free of inhomogeneities such as pores and crystallinity which obscure results in many systems. The absence of pores assures a diffusional transport mechanism. The degree of swelling of the membrane by solvent is a very important parameter which for hydrocarbon networks can be varied over a wide range without altering polymer structure by selecting from a large number of suitable organic solvents. Solvent transport by an applied pressure differential as in reverse osmosis is considered as well as by downstream vacuum as in pervaporation. Emphasis is given to how the outside driving force causes solvent diffusion in the membrane and relationships between the two different processes. The major factors affecting the diffusion coefficient of solutes in such membranes are discussed.
Progression to stage 3 and 4 chronic kidney disease and risk factor stratification following endovascular aortic aneurysm repair.

BackgroundRisk of progression to various stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) is unknown. This study estimates progression rates to stage 3 and 4 CKD after EVAR and identifies potential predictors for progression.MethodsEVAR cases (2006–2012) were retrospectively reviewed. Freedom of progression to CKD was estimated using Kaplan–Meier analysis, and predictors for progression were identified using Cox proportional hazards model.ResultsTwo hundred and twelve consecutive patients at a single academic institution underwent EVAR for infrarenal aneurysms. Estimated freedom from progression to stage 3 CKD was 80%, 76%, and 63% at 6, 12, and 18 months, respectively, and for stage 4, 97%, 96%, and 93% at 6, 12, and 18 months, respectively. Stage 3 CKD predictors of progression included age (odds ratio (OR): 1.106, p = 0.001), diabetes (OR: 3.052, p = 0.04), perioperative use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (OR: 3.249, p...
A Ritz solution for cantilevered, doubly skewed, helicoidal parallelepipeds using orthogonal displacement functions

The natural frequencies of three-dimensional curved cantilevered parallelepipeds are evaluated herein by application of Ritz's first method. Specifically, a generalized geometric transformation is employed which enables solution for solids having geometric skew about both inplane axes and a helicoidal rotation, or twist, about the longitudinal axis; in order to fully capture the dynamic response characteristics of many important cantilevered engineering structures, most notably turbomachinery blades, it is essential to include twist and skew about both inplane axes. Orthogonal trigonometric functions, rather than previously used nonorthogonal algebraic polynomials, are employed as continuum displacement functions. Model cantilevered structures are then studied to determine the effects of varying skew and twist angles on their frequencies. Results of numerical studies are compared with three-dimensional finite element analysis and with data found in the literature for verification of the method.
Towards a balanced social environment on the oncology service

A cancer patients' discussion group on an inpatient oncology unit is designed to help patients, their families and staff find a useful balance between sharing difficulties and containing them adequately. The method for conducting the groups is to help participants find and share in their most vital common theme. The findings of the project are re-considered in terms of the microcosm of the group meeting, the influence of the group on ward life, and the influence of both group meetings and ward culture on oncological treatment results. The method for generating intense and clearly focused group discussions and the map of typical defensive processes are delineated. Typical effects on ward interaction are described. A series of empirical questions are proposed to sort out the proper dosage of group meetings and follow up individual conversations and the patients for whom these methods make the most difference.
Modulation of somatic embryogenesis in early and late-stage embryos of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under the influence of (±)-abscisic acid and its analogs

Zygotic embryos from ten spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes were tested for embryogenic callus induction in the presence or absence of externally supplied (±)-abscisic acid (ABA) and two of its analogs, methyl abscisate and methyl epoxy-beta-ionylideneacetate. (±)-ABA and its analogs suppressed precocious germination of cultured late-stage embryos and promoted embryogenic callus induction. A significantly greater number of plants was regenerated from calli induced in the presence of ABA and ABA analogs. Early-stage embryos when cultured in the presence of (±)-ABA showed a negative response. Possible roles of ABA with respect to the expression of somatic embryogenesis are discussed.
Adsorption of mixtures of bile salt taurine conjugates to lecithin-cholesterol membranes: implications for bile salt toxicity and cytoprotection

Tauroursodeoxycholate (TUDC), a relatively hydrophilic bile salt, reduces disruption of cholesterol-rich membranes by more hydrophobic bile salts such as taurocholate (TC), taurochenodeoxycholate (TCDC), or taurodeoxycholate (TDC). We examined the interactions of these bile salts in adsorption to large unilamellar vesicles to determine whether TUDC may stabilize membranes by preventing adsorption of more toxic bile salts. Fractional adsorption was quantified by rapid ultrafiltration. Adsorption coefficient Ai was defined for each bile salt i as ([bound i]/[free i])/[lecithin]. Affinity of different bile salts for lecithin vesicles varied with their relative hydrophobicity, increasing in the order TUDC < TC << TCDC < or = TDC. Ai of each bile salt fell with its accumulation on membranes, reaching a minimum at bound bile salt/lecithin mole ratio (B:L) between 0.05 and 0.1, then increasing with formation of higher-affinity mixed micelles. Inclusion of cholesterol in vesicles reduced Ai of all bile salts. In heterologous binding studies at submicellar concentrations, Ai of each bile salt varied with total B:L but was independent of the specific bile salts present on the membrane. Addition of TUDC to TDC reduced binding of TDC to membranes only slightly and lowered the threshold TDC concentration associated with transition to mixed micelles. However, above this threshold, TUDC markedly altered the adsorption of TDC to lecithin-containing phases. We conclude that TUDC does not directly stabilize membranes; rather, reduced permeabilization and dissolution of cholesterol-rich membranes after addition of TUDC to TDC may result from effects on the formation and structure of simple and mixed micelles.
Relationships Between Traits of Cow-Calf Pairs and a Measure of Partial Efficiency

Angus cow-calf pairs (N = 114) were individually fed grass silage diets under conditions chosen to approximate nutrient intake under a free grazing, noncreep situation. Postfactum comparison with a subsequently conducted study on pasture indicated that the procedures used produced animal responses similar to those provided by a tall fescue pasture averaging 58% dry matter digestibility. Cow-calf pair efficiency was expressed as the ratio of estimated total digestible nutrient (ETDN) intake of the pair to calf weight at weaning. Initial cow weight per se was unrelated to pair efficiency. When considered jointly with calf weight at weaning, initial cow weight was unfavorably and calf weight was favorably related to pair efficiency. Calf age at weaning and milk production were favorably related to pair efficiency through their relationship with calf weight at weaning. Initial cow fat thickness, estimated ultrasonically, was not related to this measure of efficiency, indicating compensations between the year just completed and the next year in the relationship between cow fat thickness at weaning and pair efficiency. Mating schemes resulting in selection of relatively smaller females and larger males, within the variation available in a straightbred population, would be expected to alter the cow weight-calf weight ratio in a direction favorable to the component of efficiency defined in this study.
Domains and ferroelectric switching pathways in Ca 3 Ti 2 O 7 from first principles

Ferroelectrics that allow a coupling between the polarization and another order parameter are of great interest because they could make the electric field control of nonpolar order parameters possible. In recent years, ``hybrid improper''' ferroelectrics - materials where the polarization couples to two different structural distortions - have emerged as a possible way to realize this goal. Theoretical predictions of hybrid improper ferroelectricity in layered perovskite materials were followed by its first experimental realization in Ca${}_{3}$Ti${}_{2}$O${}_{7}$ in 2015. However, the precise pathway by which the polarization reverses in this material during ferroelectric switching remains an open question. The authors address this question and lay the groundwork for understanding the unexpectedly complex domain structure of Ca${}_{3}$Ti${}_{2}$O${}_{7}$, consisting of a network of multiple types of domain walls and topological defects.
Knowledge and Politics in Plato's Theaetetus : Knowledge, Politics, and Midwifery

Introduction My interpretation of Plato's Theaetetus aims to give full weight to the political substance of the dialogue. Readers will be excused for thinking this aim should have produced a work considerably shorter than the one they now hold in their hands. It assuredly is not due to its political insight that the Theaetetus ranks among the most studied of Plato's dialogues. The dialogue earns that privileged place because of its penetrating examination of no less a question than what is the meaning of knowledge. In the rarefied atmosphere of such a question my consideration of the dialogue's political teaching may seem an unwelcome, because unwise, lowering of our sights. But I do not recommend that we look at politics instead of knowledge. Rather, I hope to show that Plato's treatment of the Theaetetus ' pervasive theme can only be properly understood through careful attention to the dialogue's political character. To begin to establish the plausibility of my thesis I want to sketch the more prominent political features of the Theaetetus . I start with the dialogue's conclusion because it locates the Theaetetus as a whole in an eminently political context. At the dialogue's end, Socrates makes this portentous announcement: “But now there's something I need to go and face in the courtyard of the king-archon, in response to the indictment which Meletus has drawn up against me (210d2–4).” With Socrates' walk to the courtyard he begins his inexorable march to death in an Athenian cell.
The environmental and medical geochemistry of potentially hazardous materials produced by disasters

Many natural or human-caused disasters release potentially hazardous materials (HM) that may pose threats to the environment and health of exposed humans, wildlife, and livestock. This chapter summarizes the environmentally and toxicologically significant physical, mineralogical, and geochemical characteristics of materials produced by a wide variety of recent disasters, such as volcanic eruptions, hurricanes and extreme storms, spills of mining/mineral-processing wastes or coal extraction by-products, and the 2001 attacks on and collapse of the World Trade Center towers. In describing these characteristics, this chapter also illustrates the important roles that geochemists and other earth scientists can play in environmental disaster response and preparedness. In addition to characterizing in detail the physical, chemical, and microbial makeup of HM generated by the disasters, these roles also include (1) identifying and discriminating potential multiple sources of the materials; (2) monitoring, mapping, and modeling dispersal and evolution of the materials in the environment; (3) understanding how the materials are modified by environmental processes; (4) identifying key characteristics and processes that influence the materials' toxicity to exposed humans and ecosystems; (5) estimating shifts away from predisaster environmental baseline conditions; and (6) using geochemical insights learned from past disasters to help estimate, prepare for, and increase societal resilience to the environmental and related health impacts of future disasters.
The potential use of low-frequency tones to locate regions of outer hair cell loss.

Abstract Current methods used to diagnose cochlear hearing loss are limited in their ability to determine the location and extent of anatomical damage to various cochlear structures. In previous experiments, we have used the electrical potential recorded at the round window –the cochlear response (CR) –to predict the location of damage to outer hair cells in the gerbil. In a follow-up experiment, we applied 10 mM ouabain to the round window niche to reduce neural activity in order to quantify the neural contribution to the CR. We concluded that a significant proportion of the CR to a 762 Hz tone originated from phase-locking activity of basal auditory nerve fibers, which could have contaminated our conclusions regarding outer hair cell health. However, at such high concentrations, ouabain may have also affected the responses from outer hair cells, exaggerating the effect we attributed to the auditory nerve. In this study, we lowered the concentration of ouabain to 1 mM and determined the physiologic effects on outer hair cells using distortion-product otoacoustic emissions. As well as quantifying the effects of 1 mM ouabain on the auditory nerve and outer hair cells, we attempted to reduce the neural contribution to the CR by using near-infrasonic stimulus frequencies of 45 and 85 Hz, and hypothesized that these low-frequency stimuli would generate a cumulative amplitude function (CAF) that could reflect damage to hair cells in the apex more accurately than the 762 stimuli. One hour after application of 1 mM ouabain, CR amplitudes significantly increased, but remained unchanged in the presence of high-pass filtered noise conditions, suggesting that basal auditory nerve fibers have a limited contribution to the CR at such low frequencies.
Small cell lung cancer growth is inhibited by miR-342 through its effect of the target gene IA-2

Small cell lung cancers (SCLC) are tumors of neuroendocrine origin. Previous in vitro studies from our laboratory showed that SCLC expresses high levels of the transmembrane dense core vesicle protein IA-2 (islet cell antigen-2) as compared to normal lung cells. IA-2, through its effect on dense core vesicles (DCVs), is known to be involved in the secretion of hormones and neurotransmitters. It is believed that the dysregulated release of the neurotransmitter Acetylcholine (ACh) by DCVs has an autocrine effect on SCLC cell growth. Recently, we found that IA-2 is a target of the microRNA miR-342 and that miR-342 mimics suppress the expression of IA-2. The present experiments were initiated to see whether IA-2 and/or miR-342 affect the growth of SCLC. SCLC cell growth was evaluated following the knockdown of endogenous IA-2 with RNAi or by overexpressing miR-342 with a mimic. The secretion and content of ACh in SCLC cells was analyzed using a human acetylcholine ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) kit. The knockdown of endogenous IA-2 by RNAi reduced SCLC cell growth within 4 days by 40 % or more. Similar results were obtained when these cell lines were transfected with a miR-342 mimic. The knockdown of IA-2 by RNAi or miR-342 with a mimic also resulted in a significant decrease in the secretion of ACh, one of the autocrine hormones secreted by SCLC. Further studies revealed that the growth of SCLC cell lines that had been treated with the miR-342 mimic was restored to nearly normal levels by treatment with ACh. Our studies show for the first time that both miR-342 and its target gene IA-2 are involved in the growth process of SCLC cells and act by their effect on autocrine secretion. These findings point to possible new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of autocrine-induced tumor proliferation.
Patients with Follicular Lymphoma, Grade 3, Have a Prolonged Relapse-Free Survival Following Aggressive Combination Chemotherapy.

Clinical prognostic factors for grade 3 follicular lymphoma (FL3), using the new WHO classification, have not yet been clearly defined. Hence, we conducted a retrospective study to identify the outcome and clinical features predictive of survival in patients with FL3. Two hundred and two patients diagnosed with FL3 using the Berard criteria, who were staged and treated with various aggressive combination chemotherapy regimens containing either an anthracycline or mitoxantrone, are included in this study. After a median follow-up of 8.4 years (range, 0.5 – 19.5 years), 105 patients (52%) have died and 97 patients (48%) are alive at last contact. The estimated 10-yr event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) are 34% (95% CI: 26–41%) and 45% (95% CI: 37–53%), respectively. By multivariate analysis, older age (≥60 years; Figure 1) and a low hemoglobin (<12 gm/dL) were independent adverse predictors of OS (RR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.5–3.7, p=0.0002; and RR: 1.9, 95% CI 1.2–3.0, p=0.0095, respectively). A low hemoglobin and advanced stage (III/IV) at presentation were independent adverse predictors of EFS (RR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.2–2.8, p=0.0072; and RR: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.1–2.5, p=0.0096 respectively). When patients were compared based on age, there were no significant differences in the distribution of adverse prognostic factors among patients ≥60 years of age as compared to younger patients. There were also no differences in the frequency of relapse/progression (10-year rate of 50% in patients <60 years vs. 44% in patients ≥60 years, p=0.71) or lymphoma-specific/treatment-related deaths between the two age groups (10-year rate of 30% in patients <60 years vs. 35% in patients ≥60 years, p=0.17; Figure 2). Although younger patients (<60 years) had a significantly better OS and EFS as compared to older patients, there were no differences in the relapse/progression rates or lymphoma/treatment-related survival. Thus, aggressive combination chemotherapy led to durable remissions in 50–60% of patients with FL3. ![Figure][1] Figure ![Figure][1] Figure [1]: pending:yes
A Simulation-Based Dynamic Approach for External Flooding Analysis in Nuclear Power Plants

All nuclear power plants must consider external flooding hazards such as local intense precipitation, riverine flooding, flooding due to upstream dam failure, and coastal flooding due to storm surge or tsunami. While external flooding events could potentially interrupt off-site power, threaten plant structures, systems and components important to safety, or limit plant access, they have often been qualitatively assessed as risk insignificant and screened out from detailed evaluation and quantification. Recent lessons learned from the Fukushima seismic/tsunami initiated nuclear accident (2011), the Fort Calhoun (2011), Vermont Yankee (2013), Arkansas Nuclear One (2013), and St. Lucie (2014) flooding events have highlighted the need for more detailed risk analysis. However, incorporating an external flood model into the traditional event tree/fault tree approach used in static probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) models is challenging because it is difficult to accurately represent plant system and component behavior and reliability of manual actions during an ever-progressing flood event. The plant response to external flood may be highly spatial and time dependent, subject to the hydrological and hydraulic characteristics of the flood event. Such unique challenges prompt the investigation of using simulation-based dynamic analysis approaches for external flood risk assessment. Simulation methods can better model the performance of structures, systems, and components during an external flooding event. A general framework to perform a simulation-based dynamic flooding analysis is presented in this paper with the subtasks of flood hazard analysis, flood fragility analysis, plant response modeling, safety margin analysis or PRA quantification. A new type of PRA technique, State-based PRA Modeling, is introduced to incorporate time-related interactions such as those from both 3D physical simulations and random failures into traditional PRA logic models.