cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bacterial communities of soil and earthworm casts of native Palouse Prairie remnants and no-till wheat cropping systems

Abstract Earthworms are important ecosystem engineers and modify the physical and chemical properties of soils. However, less is known about how earthworms impact soil microbial communities. We compared bacterial communities of the bulk soil and earthworm casts in native prairie remnants and wheat cropped fields in the Palouse of eastern Washington using next-generation sequencing. Communities among prairie sites were similar, indicating a consistent prairie community. The bulk soil and earthworm casts of native prairie locations had higher richness compared to agricultural sites, but similar diversity. Diversity tended to be higher in bulk soil than earthworm casts in native prairies but not agricultural soils. In native prairies, earthworm casts were enriched in the families Caulobacteraceae, Cellulomonadaceae, Cytophagaceae, and Microbacteriaceae, and the genera Flavobacterium, Caulobacter, Burkholderia, Brevundimonas, compared to the bulk soil. In agricultural soils, Geodermatophilaceae, Flavobacterium and Pseudomonas were relatively more abundant in casts, whereas bulk soil harbored greater relative abundances of taxa related to Acidobacteria GP1. Casts from prairies had higher abundances of Actinobacteria, including Cellulomonas, Pseudonocardia, Geodermatophilaceae, and Propionibacteraceae, whereas casts from agricultural habitats were especially enriched in Flavobacterium and Pseudomonas. Fresh casts from Aporrectodea trapezoides from agricultural sites were highly enriched in Flavobacteriaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, Nocardioidaceae and Geodermatophilaceae and in OTUs related to Flavobacterium, Pseudomonas, and Bradyrhizobiaceae. Co-occurrence networks among communities from bulk soil and earthworm casts collected from agricultural fields were strikingly different than those from prairie soils and formed only two modules of co-occurring taxa, compared to 8–9 modules in the prairie soils, indicating a greater complexity of interactions. Networks from agricultural fields tended to have lower ratios of positive to negative edges (interactions) compared to prairie soils, suggesting more competition and antagonism among bacteria. Thus, the specific co-occurring taxa, as well as the aggregate structure of ecological interactions, are largely distinct between Palouse prairie soil communities versus those of earthworm casts in agricultural settings.
Statistical theory of a self-seeded free electron laser with noise pedestal growth

We study the impact of a spectral noise pedestal on the statistical properties of a self-seeded free electron laser (FEL). The broad pedestal is assumed to come from self amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) in the second stage of the self-seeding system and is uncorrelated with the narrowband amplified seed. An analytic description is developed based on the statistical theory of a one-dimensional FEL in the high gain linear regime. The theory shows good agreement with experimental data, which show that the presence of a SASE background can have a strong impact on the statistical behavior of self-seeding systems.
Meaning and understanding in intellectual history

This article responds to Quentin Skinner’s chapter ‘Hobbes and the Humanist Frontispiece’ in his book From Humanism to Hobbes: Studies in Rhetoric and Politics by raising methodological questions c...
Chapter 15 – Cathodic Protection

This chapter outlines cathodic protection fundamentals, criteria, field data, and design aspects. A detailed description is given for monitoring methods such as potential survey, close interval potential survey, direct current voltage gradient, and corrosion rate measurement. Sacrificial protection system design illustrates total circuit resistance evaluation, anode output, number of anodes, and anode life. Impressed current systems (ICS) design is illustrated for a pipeline designed by the author and anode, rectifier, and ground bed selection is explained as well as rectifier output and service life. At the end of the chapter, a computer-aided cathodic protection design is addressed to illustrate troubleshooting existing structures, sacrificial and ICS design analysis, checking interference effects, attenuation, and system life prediction. Case studies and solved problems illustrate sacrificial and impressed current cathodic protection system design.
The US Response to COVID-19 and Climate Change Endangers the Country and the World

Climate change and pandemics require cooperative, integrated responses that in turn require planning, coordination, and the mobilization of expertise. US failures in these domains have compromised the world's ability to cope with both problems. At a minimum, the US needs to re-engage with the Paris Agreement and support the World Health Organization.
Learning Lessons from Peace Operations in Africa

This chapter reflects on the experiences of more than fifty peace operations deployed to nearly twenty African countries during the twenty-first century to identify key lessons, best practices, and potential solutions that might make peace operations in Africa more effective. It does so in three parts. The first section summarizes the major trends and patterns of peace operations focusing on the record number of missions and peacekeepers deployed in Africa, as well as the expanded range of mandated tasks given to them. The second section summarizes the major generic lessons arising therefrom, including: the need to ensure peace operations are part of a viable strategy of conflict resolution; that means and ends are aligned; that a capabilities and effects-based approach to force generation is superior to a numbers-centric approach. The final section sketches six recommendations for improving the performance of peace operations in these areas.
KDP-type crystal spontaneous polarization behavior better explained by bound charge semiconductor model than by mean field model

Mean-field models for behavior of ferroelectric (FE) crystals like KH2PO4 (KDP) succeed well in explaining behavior in the paraelectric (PE) phase in which the various phosphate groups HiPO4 (i = 1...
Hydrogenated graphene: Important material properties regarding its application for hydrogen storage

Abstract Chemically hydrogenated graphene possesses a theoretical hydrogen storage capacity of 7.7 wt%, and will release H2 gas upon thermal decomposition, making it an intriguing material for hydrogen storage applications. Recent works have demonstrated that this material can be synthesized at multi-gram scale quantities, and it has already been safely demonstrated as a hydrogen source to power a PEM fuel cell. While these results are promising, further characterization and evaluation of this material as it pertains to hydrogen storage must be carried out. In this work, we characterize various properties of chemically hydrogenated graphene, which will be key in the application of this material as a hydrogen storage medium moving forward. These include: theoretical calculation of the material's total volumetric energy density, the dependence of both temperature and surrounding atmosphere on the release of hydrogen gas, thermal expansion of the material upon heating, and the activation energy associated with hydrogen release.
Time-to-digital converters

Integrated circuits, especially analog circuits, are highly sensitive to process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) variations. The information processed by analog circuits is often embedded in the amplitude of the waveforms, which requires circuits with high precision and high linearity. On the other hand, analog signal processing in time domain, such as (TDCs) and digital to-time converters (DTCs), was not widely adopted until the late 1990s when semiconductor technology advanced to the sub-micrometer region.
64180 The Proportion of Young Patients with Acute Surgical Pain and Development of Opiate Abuse Disorders

ABSTRACT IMPACT: The importance of this study is to evaluate the responses following the exposure of opioid drugs in young adults to address the current opioid epidemics OBJECTIVES/GOALS: To compare the proportion of patients between 18 and 25 years of age, who develop an opioid abuse disorder following dental surgery, to those following other surgical procedures, when an opioid drug is used for acute postoperative pain control. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We fashioned an IRB-sponsored retrospective cohort study of patients, ages 18 to 25 years old, who presented for dental surgery or other medical surgical procedures, at Strong Memorial Hospital Medical Center, at the University of Rochester and received opioid drug treatments, for acute surgical pain management. Patients with the diagnosis of acute surgical pain were included in the study. However, those with chronic pain or other related abnormalities were excluded, even if a diagnosis of acute surgical pain was present in the electronic chart. The clinical data were retrieved from electronic medical records and NYS-iStop records. All statistics were significant at the level of <0.1 RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: We identified 167 subjects, of whom, only 150 subjects met inclusion criteria (n=100) in dentistry and (n=50) in other medical specialties. Patients were followed up in a 7-year period. Most of the subjects were females (n=91), Caucasian (n=80), and lived in a suburban location (n=78). The most frequently prescribed opioid included hydrocodone (n=119). A significantly higher proportion (8.7%) of patients developed opioid abuse disorders in the control group, compared to 1% of subjects in the experimental group (p 0.02). Those in the control group received marginally significant higher doses of MMEs 447.2 +/-644.8 mg vs 306.2 +/-354.7mg in the experimental group (p 0.086). Those in the control group had significantly longer periods of opioid treatment 10 (+/-12) compared to 6(+/-6) days in the experimental group DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: It is paramount to evaluate the morphine milligram equivalents, and duration of opioid treatment given to the young population with acute surgical pain, to prevent opioid abuse disorders in this vulnerable cohort.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder screening in childhood and adolescence

Abstract This chapter describes attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) screening performance in preschool and school-age children and adolescents. Studies of large and community representative samples are emphasized, and the focus is on screening performance metrics that are comparable across studies (e.g., area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, likelihood ratio positive and negative, and positive and negative predictive values). Multiple assessment instruments can identify children and adolescents who probably have ADHD and those who probably do not with moderate-to-high sensitivity and moderate specificity in community samples. Specificity (the capacity to rule out the disorder) tends to be moderate because ADHD symptoms are common in children who meet diagnostic criteria for other neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders. Variation in screening performance across studies appears to be attributed to differences in ADHD diagnostic methods (e.g., clinical examination vs. parent report), sample characteristics (e.g., age, sex, and comorbidities), and/or respondent type (e.g., parent vs. teacher).
Tendon-Derived Progenitor Cells With Multilineage Potential Are Present Within Human Patellar Tendon:

Background:Progenitor cells serve as a promising source of regenerative potential in a variety of tissue types yet remain underutilized in tendinopathy. Tendon-derived progenitor cells (TDPCs) have...
Risk Factors and Natural History of Parastomal Hernia Following Radical Cystectomy and Ileal Conduit.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the incidence, risk factors, and natural history of parastomal hernia. MATERIALS AND METHODS We reviewed the records of patients who underwent radical cystectomy and ileal conduit from 2007 to 2020. Patients who had available follow-up CT imaging were included in this study. All CT scans were re-reviewed for detection of parastomal hernia per Moreno-Matias classification. Patients who developed hernia were followed up and classified into stable or progressive (defined as radiologic upgrading and/or need for surgical intervention). Multivariable cox regression was performed to identify independent predictors of hernia development and progression. RESULTS A total of 361 patients were included in this study. The incidence of radiologic parastomal hernia was 30%, graded as I (56.5%), II (12%), and III (31.5%). Median (IQR) time to radiologic hernia was 8 (5-15) months. During the median (IQR) follow-up of 27 (13-47) months in 108 patients with a hernia, 26% progressed. Median (IQR) time to progression was 12 (6-21) months. On multivariable analysis, female gender (HR 1.86), diabetes (HR 1.81), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (HR 1.78), and higher body mass index (HR 1.07 for each unit) were independent predictors for radiologic parastomal hernia development. No significant factor was found to be associated with hernia progression. CONCLUSION The incidence of radiologic parastomal hernia following radical cystectomy and ileal conduit is 30%; a quarter of whom progress in a median time of 12 months. Female gender, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and high body mass index are independent predictors for radiologic hernia development.
Countermove: how CEOs respond to post-acquisition compensation adjustments

Following poorly performing acquisitions, the board of directors often redesigns the CEO’s annual compensation package to include less risk-encouraging stock options and more risk-discouraging restricted stock. This study explores the emerging area of post-acquisition compensation management and proposes that CEOs can indirectly, but effectively, defend against compensation rebalancing. Specifically, we find that CEOs may counteract the effects of compensation rebalancing by delaying the exercise of existing stock option holdings. Fortunately, this insight also offers valuable implications including the ability of the board to limit the CEO’s defense by adjusting stock option exercise windows.
Secure Transaction Processing in Real-Time Databases

A system that is specifically designed for efficiently processing transactions with timing constraints is referred to as aReal-Time Database System(RTDBS). The objective of the system here is to meet the transaction deadlines, that is, to process transactions before their deadline expires. RTDBS’s performance is often measured in terms of miss percentage or the fraction of transactions that are unable to complete before their deadline expires. Typically, an RTDBS should keep the miss percentage as low as possible. In addition to improving real-time performance by helping the transactions to meet their individual time constraints, an RTDBS has to ensure the data integrity constraints just like in a conventional transaction processing scenario. In other words, RTDBS design becomes significantly complex due to having to address the above two constraints simultaneously. Over the past decade, a considerable amount of research has been devoted for developing priority assignment mechanisms, concurrency control techniques, buffer management policies, and transaction processing components that are specifically tailored for the RTDBS environment. However, the issue of ensuring security of RTDBS began to receive adequate research attention only recently.
Ventral Hernia Repair in the Morbidly Obese Patient: A Review of Medical and Surgical Approaches in the Literature

Background: Obesity is a risk factor for ventral hernias. As obesity becomes more prevalent, general surgeons will be faced with managing complex ventral hernias in the obese. Consensus is that weight loss improves outcomes in obese patients undergoing ventral hernia repair (VHR), but there is no agreement on the best approach. Methods: We conducted a literature search using EMBASE and Medline using the terms “hernia,” “morbid,” and “obesity.” We identified studies discussing the medical or surgical management of obesity with VHR. We assimilated the data into a literature review discussing management options for ventral hernia in the obese patient. Results: Fourteen articles were utilized in this review. Hernia repair preceded by physician monitored medical weight loss, concomitant hernia repair with weight loss surgery, or weight loss surgery staged prior to or after hernia repair were all viable options to approach this problem. However, there are limited level 1 data to address this problem. Conclusion...
A Specialized Toroidal Pressure Vessel

A method is developed for determining the meridional contours of a toroidal shell that will produce no hoop stress resultants in the curved portion when under internal pressure. The meridional membrane force will remain tensile. The resulting toroidal pressure vessel design may eliminate the possibility of buckling failures. Methods for finding the internal volume and surface area of such a pressure vessel are also presented. (auth)
Direct interaction of NF-E2 with hypersensitive site 2 of the β-globin locus control region in living cells

The human beta-globin locus control region (LCR) confers high-level, tissue-specific expression to the beta-globin genes. Tandem Maf recognition elements (MAREs) within the hypersensitive site 2 (HS2) subregion of the LCR are important for the strong enhancer activity of the LCR. Multiple proteins are capable of interacting with these sites in vitro, including the erythroid cell- and megakaryocyte-specific transcription factor, NF-E2. The importance of NF-E2 for beta-globin gene expression is evident in murine erythroleukemia cells lacking the p45 subunit of NF-E2. These CB3 cells have a severe defect in alpha- and beta-globin gene transcription, which can be restored by expression of NF-E2. However, mice nullizygous for p45 express nearly normal levels of beta-globin. Thus, either a redundant factor(s) exists in mice that can functionally replace NF-E2, or NF-E2 does not function through the LCR to regulate beta-globin gene expression. To address this issue, we asked whether NF-E2 binds directly to the tandem MAREs of HS2 in intact cells. Using a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, we provide evidence for NF-E2 binding directly and specifically to HS2 in living erythroleukemia cells and in mouse fetal liver. The specific immunoisolation of HS2 sequences was dependent on the presence of p45 and on intact MAREs within HS2. These results support a direct role for NF-E2 in the regulation of beta-globin gene expression through activation of the LCR.
Antiviral Action of a Rifamycin Derivative: Formation of Rous Sarcoma Virus Particles Deficient in 60 to 70S RNA

Abstract Growth of Rous sarcoma virus-transformed cells in the presence of rifazone-82, a rifamycin derivative, results in the formation of noninfectious virus particles lacking 60 to 70S RNA.
Lessons from the Crisis

A lot happened even before the perceived beginning of this crisis in 2007, so although the events are recent, I will give an overview from a US perspective of the period from 2001 to date, in our search for the lessons to be learned. Much of it is probably familiar, but worth revisiting.I will break this necessarily simplified account into 3 stages: First, a look at the key factors that led to the increasing riskiness of US home mortgages; second, how those risks were transmitted as securities from US housing lenders to institutional investors around the globe; and third, how those risks led to huge losses and created a credit crunch that moved the impact from the financial economy to the real economy and produced a severe recession. Then we will have a factual foundation for deriving the lessons that ought to be taken away from this very expensive experience.
Selectively generalizing plans for problem-solving

Problem solving programs that generalize and save plans in order to improve their subsequent performance inevitably face the danger of being overwhelmed by an ever-increasing number of stored plans. To cope with this problem, methods must be developed for selectively learning only the most valuable aspects of a new plan. This paper describes MORRIS, a heuristic problem solver that measures the utility of plan fragments to determine whether they are worth learning. MORRIS generalizes and saves plan fragments if they are frequently used, or if they are helpful in solving difficult subproblems. Experiments are described comparing the performance of MORRIS to a less selective learning system.
Laser microdissection and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry coupled for multimodal imaging.

This paper describes the coupling of ambient laser ablation surface sampling, accomplished using a laser capture microdissection system, with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry for high spatial resolution multimodal imaging. A commercial laser capture microdissection system was placed in close proximity to a modified ion source of a mass spectrometer designed to allow for sampling of laser ablated material via a transfer tube directly into the ionization region. Rhodamine 6G dye of red sharpie ink in a laser etched pattern as well as cholesterol and phosphatidylcholine in a cerebellum mouse brain thin tissue section were identified and imaged from full scan mass spectra. A minimal spot diameter of 8 m was achieved using the 10X microscope cutting objective with a lateral oversampling pixel resolution of about 3.7 m. Distinguishing between features approximately 13 m apart in a cerebellum mouse brain thin tissue section was demonstrated in a multimodal fashion including co-registered optical and mass spectral chemical images.
Unconventional magnetism in ThCr2Si2-type phosphides, La1−xNdxCo2P2

Quaternary phases La1−xNdxCo2P2 (x = 0, 0.12, 0.25, 0.37, 0.50, 0.63, 0.75, 0.88, 1.0) have been synthesized from Sn flux to investigate the origins of drastic differences in properties between ferromagnetic LaCo2P2 and antiferromagnetic NdCo2P2. Powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction indicate that all La1−xNdxCo2P2 samples are isostructural and crystallize in the ThCr2Si2 structure type. The unit cell parameters and volume change non-linearly with the Nd content (x), with the x 0.50 being closer to NdCo2P2. These structural differences are also reflected in the magnetic behavior. The samples with lower Nd content are characterized by ferromagnetic ordering in the Co sublattice with the TC increasing from 132 K for x = 0 to 262 K for x = 0.50, while the samples with higher Nd content exhibit suppressed magnetization in the Co sublattice and canted antiferromagnetic ordering with TC ∼ 270 K. Refinement of neutron powder diffraction patterns for x = 0.50 and 0.75 reveals a gradual ordering of the Nd 4f moments under the influence of Co 3d moments below 100 K. At low temperatures and zero field, these samples exhibit antiferromagnetic ordering of both Nd and Co magnetic moments, but under applied field they demonstrate the stabilization of a ferrimagnetic state with antiparallel alignment of the 4f and 3d moments, as indicated by isothermal magnetization measurements. The re-entrant ferrimagnetic transition is also observed in samples with x > 0.50 if the temperature is lowered below 5 K. The occurrence of this low-temperature magnetic transition was confirmed by alternating-current susceptibility measurements.
Accounting for risk and uncertainty in determining preferred strategies for adapting to future climate change

Individuals, businesses, and policymakers face the problem of selecting a preferred strategy for adapting a managed ecosystem to future climate change when there is risk and/or uncertainty about future climate change and its ecosystem impacts, and the conditional outcomes of adaptive strategies (i.e., performance of an adaptive strategy given a particular future climate change scenario occurs). Evaluation methods for this purpose are described for two cases; one in which the decision-maker can (climate risk case) and cannot (climate uncertainty case) assign probabilities to future climate change scenarios. Fuzzy sets are used to characterize uncertainty regarding both future climate change, and the conditional outcomes of adaptive strategies. The preferred conditional adaptive strategy for a future climate change scenario is determined by ordering the adaptive strategies for that scenario using a fuzzy set operation. Two methods are described for determining the adaptive strategy that is preferred across all climate change scenarios. The preferred overall adaptive strategy for the climate risk case is determined by maximizing a performance index for strategies. The preferred overall adaptive strategy for the climate uncertainty case is determined using the minimax regret criterion, which selects the strategy that minimizes the maximum loss in performance that can occur across all strategies and climate change scenarios. Ways for making the evaluation methods dynamic are considered.
Differential effects of positive and negative proliferative stimuli on murine cytolytic and helper T-cell clones.

Abstract Studies were performed to determine whether substances could be identified which exhibited differential regulatory effects—either positive or negative—on the growth of murine alloreactive cytolytic (T c ) and helper (T h ) cloned T-cell lines. The following lines of evidence suggested that T c and T h proliferate in response to the same growth factor (GF). (1) When GF-containing fluids from cultures of phorbol myristic acetate (PMA)-activated EL4 thymoma were fractionated by a variety of biochemical techniques, T c and T h eluted together. (2) Absorption of GF-containing supernatants with either cloned T c or cloned T h depleted GF activity for each to a similar extent, and GF eluted from either T c or T h to which it had adsorbed supported the proliferation of T c and T h equally well. (3) Lectin-depleted supernatants from cultures of concanavalin A (Con A)-activated T h stimulated the proliferation of T h as well as T c . (4) Recombinant human interleukin (IL-2) supported the growth of T c and T h with equal efficiency. On the other hand, the following observations indicated that T c and T h differed in their responses to inhibitors of GF-driven proliferation. (1) Con A at ⩾0.3 μg/ml inhibited the GF-driven proliferation of each of three T h lines but not either of two T c lines. To the contrary, Con A enhanced GF-dependent proliferation of T c . (2) Like Con A, allogeneic splenocytes selectively depressed GF-driven proliferation of T h but not T c . (3) A substance generated during the acid elution of GF from cells, possibly a modified fetal calf serum component, greatly reduced the GF-driven proliferation of T c but not T h . These results suggest that differential control of the proliferation of T c and T h in cellular immune responses may be achieved via negative regulatory signals and raise the possibility that substances which can selectively depress the proliferation of specific T-cell subsets might be found which would be of therapeutic value.
The impact of apolipoprotein E4 on cause of death in Alzheimer's disease.

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that the apolipoprotein E ϵ4 (apoE4) allele is associated with an increased proportion of vascular-related mortality in Alzheimer9s disease (AD). Background: ApoE4 is associated with an increased risk of developing AD, with an earlier onset, and may predispose to vascular dementia as well. In the general population, apoE4 has been associated with increased coronary artery disease and shorter lifespan. There is a paucity of data regarding the effect of the apolipoprotein E (apoE) genotype upon the contributing causes of death in AD. Methods: Death certificates of 114 AD cases were reviewed blind to apoE genotype. Deaths due to ischemic heart disease (IHD), cerebrovascular disease (CVD), vascular disease (either IHD or CVD), pneumonia, and other causes were analyzed as a function of apoE genotype. Logistic regression analyses were employed to control for age and gender effects. Results: The likelihood of vascular disease contributing to death increased in association with the ϵ4 allele (29% in cases without an ϵ4 allele, 43% in cases with one ϵ4 allele, 53% in ϵ4/4 homozygous cases;p = 0.035 after corrections for age and gender). This increase appeared largely due to an increase in ischemic heart disease, which was reported more frequently on death certificates of cases with one or moreϵ4 allele (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.85 per ϵ4 allele;p Conclusions: The apoE4 allele appears to increase the risk of vascular and ischemic heart disease-related death in patients with AD.
Immune profiling by multiple gene expression analysis in patients at-risk and with type 1 diabetes

There is a need for biomarkers to monitor the development and progression of type 1 DM. We analyzed mRNA expression levels for granzyme B, perforin, fas ligand, TNF-α, IFN-γ, Foxp3, IL-10, TGF-β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-17, Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) and Immunoglobulin G gamma chain (IgG ) genes in peripheral blood of at-risk, new-onset and long-term type 1 DM , and healthy controls. The majority of the genes were suppressed in long-term type 1 DM compared to controls and new-onset patients. IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA levels were significantly higher in new-onset compared to at-risk and long-term groups. There was decreased mRNA expression for AID and IgG and up-regulation of IFN-γ with age in controls. Data suggest an overall depressed immunity in long-term type 1 DM. Increased gene expression levels for IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10 in new-onset patients from at-risk patients might be used as potential markers for progression of the disease.
1040 ACUTE CHANGES IN CIRCULATING LYMPHOCYTE SUBSETS AND FUNCTION FOLLOWING SPLENECTOMY IN BETA THALASSEMIA MAJOR

In a prospective study of 23 children with Thalassemia Major we demonstrated a 3 fold increase in circulating B cells, and decreased lymphoproliferative responses to PHA and Candida albicans in nonsplenectomized patients of whom 92% were anergic. Splenectomized patients, however, had a 10 fold increase in B cells, as well as a 2 fold increase in T4 and T8 positive cells. This group was not anergic, and had higher in vitro responses to Candida albicans. We hypothesized that the difference between these two groups was related to splenectomy rather than the stage of the disease and/or its treatment. To test this, two patients have been followed prospectively. In comparison to their pre-splenectomy data, there was a 1½ and 5 fold increase in circulating number of B cells and a 2 and 3 fold increase in T cells and a marked increase in lymphocyte responses to Candida albicans and allogeneic lymphocytes. A 2 fold increase in circulating HLA-DR positive cells was noted. 92%. were B cells, less than 1% T cells. The mononuclear spleen cells were not as suppressive as the patient's peripheral blood lymphocytes. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients were more suppressive than were control lymphocytes. These observations suggest (1) splenectomy is the cause of the increased number of circulating T and B lymphocytes, (2) the elevation in lymphocytes is secondary to redistribution rather than activation (3)increase lymphocyte response is due to a loss of suppressor cells atsplenectcomy.
Southeast Asia. External intervention and the politics of state formation: China, Indonesia and Thailand, 1893–1952 . By Ja Ian Chong. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012. Pp. x + 293. Maps, Tables, Figures, Bibliography, Index.

External intervention and the politics of state formation: China, Indonesia and Thailand, 1893-1952 By JA IAN CHONG Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012. Pp. x+293. Maps, Tables, Figures, Bibliography, Index. doi: 10.1017/S0022463413000684 Given the recent examples of United States' involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq, this is a timely look at the effect of external influence on state-building in non-Western societies. Chong's analysis begins with the question of how polities outside the modern European state came to organise themselves as sovereign states by the mid-twentieth century. While acknowledging the merits of explanations involving nationalism, institutional commitment, and capital accumulation, the book argues that scholars have overlooked the relationship between external intervention and sovereign statehood. Contrary to accepted notions that foreign involvement in the affairs of weak governments will lead to either subjugation or political fragmentation, Chong asserts that such outside interference can also lead to the creation of a modern independent state. According to Chong, foreign powers intervene in the affairs of peripheral countries to increase their own access to local resources and/or deny similar access to rivals. The book contains tables that present foreign policy as the product of net cost analysis, but the emphasis lies on the effect of collective outside meddling on the development of the state. If imperialist governments mutually anticipate that the costs of intervention will be low, the polity in question will likely disintegrate under combined pressure; if the perceived cost is high, external actors pursue the development of a cooperative local interest that can ensure access to all parties. If there is no consensus on opportunity costs, the divergent approaches to intervention can generate 'cross-cutting forces' that lead to feudalisation. External intervention purports to study state formation in China, Indonesia, and Thailand--three case studies he describes as 'least likely' to support his argument (although precisely why they are 'least likely' is unclear). Although the title refers to three case scenarios, this book is a study of state formation in China. Paradoxically, Chong credits external intervention for both China's period of feudalisation (1893-1922) and its later period of slow but steady centralisation (1922-52). During the first period, the high reward/low cost dynamic enticed many imperialist powers to interfere in China's affairs. …
Review of literature on chemical-induced aneuploidy in mammalian male germ cells

Abstract 80 papers published between 1970 and 1984 were evaluated for results pertaining to chemical-induced aneuploidy in mammalian male germ cells. Diverse assays and end points were represented. The assays considered to involve direct measures of aneuploidy were based upon chromosome counts in premeiotic, meiotic, and embryonic cells, and the male pronucleus, or upon phenotypic expression of X-linked genetic markers. Assays in which indirect measures were interpreted as evidence for aneuploidy included those primarily assessing chiasma frequencies, univalent frequencies, and spermatid/sperm sex chromosome body counts. An initial screening to reject studies with insufficient data and those which did not involve a single chemical test agent led to the elimination of 39 papers from further review. The remaining 41 papers reported effects from 46 different chemicals. These papers were rigorously assessed for adequacy of experimental protocols, relevance of end points as direct measures of aneuploidy, and completeness of data presentation and statistical analysis. Criteria specific to each assay were also considered. 4 chemical tests were considered to provide reliable positive or negative aneuploidy data. Cyclophosphamide and chloral hydrate each caused metaphase II hyperploidy when injected into mice. Very limited analyses of trenimon and isoniazid provided negative results. Test findings for 44 chemicals were viewed as inconclusive. It was concluded that standardization of tests to evaluate chemical-induced aneuploidy in male germ cells and the application of these tests towards increasing the data base are badly needed.
Bizarre hierarchy of brain function

At its substratum, brain/mind organization requires both synaptic firings and non-synaptic events. Synaptic firings organize the pattern of non-synaptic events. Non-synaptic events organize the pattern of synaptic firings. The processes are related in a bizarre hierarchy. Comparing these processes to electric circuits, it is as if we have two circuits that each continuously and simultaneously update the topology, and consequently, the dynamical laws of the other. Since either can be seen to be rebuilding the other, from its own perspective each process appears higher than the other in a hierarchy. This same kind of hierarchy is found in a hyperset structure. Interpreted as a directed graph, the nodes in a hyperset form a hierarchy in which, from the perspective of any node in the hierarchy, that node is at the top. This organizational structure violates the Foundation Axiom. Algorithmic computation strictly complies with the Foundation Axiom. Thus, an algorithm organized like a hyperset is a contradiction in terms. Does this contradiction mean are we precluded forever from implementing brain-like activities artificially? Not at all! An algorithm is incapable of doing the job, but nothing prevents us from constructing interacting analog processes that update each other's dynamical laws on the fly.
Stability of transmitter cooperation over a multiple access channel

Cooperation between nodes has become increasingly necessary to mitigate interference in modern wireless networks. The question of whether cooperation is fair and stable and whether all rational nodes have a sufficiently large incentive to cooperate is unknown even for simple networks. This paper addresses the stability of cooperation between rational transmitters (TXs) signaling over a multiple access channel (MAC) using the framework of cooperation game theory. Using the sum rate as the utility of each coalition of TXs, the stability of the grand coalition is examined by evaluating the core of the TX game cooperation game in partition form, a game model in which the utility of a coalition depends on TXs external to the coalition. The non-emptiness of the core implies that there exists a feasible division of utility such that no smaller coalition of TXs has an incentive to deviate from the grand coalition. For a single user decoding (SUD) receiver, the cooperation is shown to be stable in the high SNR and low SNR regimes while for a successive interference cancelling (SIC) receiver with fixed decoding order, cooperation is stable only in the low SNR regime.
Auditory cortex cheers the overture and listens through the finale.

Although we hear sounds throughout their duration, studies on anesthetized animals have suggested that auditory cortex neurons primarily detect changes in sound. New evidence in a report in Nature from awake animals is forcing us to reconsider this view.
SU-E-T-260: Pediatric Total Body Irradiation Calculations and In-Vivo Dosimetry Using Diodes and OSLD's

Purpose: To verify that a photon total body irradiation (TBI) calculation method scales properly from adult to pediatric dimensions and to determine TBI in-vivo dosimetry correction factors for diodes and optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters (OSLD's). Methods: TBI technique used is 400 SAD 18 MV opposed laterals with beam spoiler. Water bags are used to supplement narrower lateral dimensions for patient treatments. To verify that dose calculations scale properly with decreasing dimensions, CAX doses were measured and compared to calculations for different rectangular phantom geometries: (L=length(cm), H=height(cm), d=depth(cm)): L(30)xH(30) (d=3-25), L(30)xH(12)(d=2–20), L(13)xH(13) (d=5–13), L(30)x(H=10–40) d=15, L(30–150) x H(10) (d=15). In infant geometry, measured off axis “leg” dose (L(30)xH(2.5–10.6), d=7)) was compared to CAX (“body” L(30)xH(10)(d=7) adjacent to “leg”). Entrance and exit doses were measured with surface diodes, diodes with buildup, OSLD's, as well as ion chambers for comparison. Correction factors ((ion chamber CAX dose)/(in vivo dose)) were calculated for surface diodes, diodes with buildup, OSLD's, and ion chamber. Results: All rectangular phantom measurements agree with calculated within 2.5%. For L(30)xH(30), L(30)xH(12), L(13)xH(13), L(30)x(H=10–40) and L(30–80)xH(10) agreement was within 1%. For the infant geometry, the ratio of leg dose to CAX varies from 0.956 (h=2.5) to 0.995 (h=10.6). The range of in-vivo dosimetry entrance+exit to CAX dose correction factors varied by dosimeter (diode: 0.883–1.015, surface diode: 1.008–1.214, ion chamber: 0.924–1.084, OSLD: 0.920–1.106). Conclusion: TBI calculations scaled properly to pediatric dimensions. In-vivo dosimetry with various detectors demonstrated similar trends with different magnitudes. OSLD measurements agreed well with ion chamber measurements.
An ab initio molecular orbital theory study of the conformational free energies of 2-methyl-, 3-methyl-, and 4-methyltetrahydro-2H-pyran

Abstract Ab initio molecular orbital theory with the 6-31G(d), 6-31+G(d), 6-31G(d,p), 6-311G(d,p), 6-311+G(d,p), 6-31G(2d), 6-311G(2d), and 6-311G(2d,p) basis sets have been used to calculate the conformational enthalpies (ΔH°), entropies (ΔS°), and free energies (ΔG°) of the axial and equatorial conformers of 2-methyl-, 3-methyl-, and 4-methyltetrahydro-2H-pyran (tetrahydropyran, oxacyclohexane, oxane) and methylcyclohexane (toluene). Although HF and MP2 generally gave higher conformational free energies (ΔG°) than the experimentally reported values, other MP2 calculations gave ΔG° values in excellent agreement with experimental results for methylcyclohexane [6-311G(d,p)] and 3-methyltetrahydro-2H-pyran [6-31+G(d), 6-311+G(d,p)]. Consistent with solution studies, the MP2 calculations gave larger ΔG° values for 4-methyltetrahydro-2H-pyran than for methylcyclohexane.
White Light Transmission Color Holography: A Review

A review of color holographic imaging techniques utilizing a white-light source is presented. These techniques consist of reflection holography, rainbow holography, spatial encoding, coherent and white-light speckle encoding, double-aperture encoding, a dual-beam encoding principle, incoherent spatial encoding, source encoding, and white-light Fourier holography. The holographic construction and reconstruction processes of these techniques are explained, and experimental demonstrations of the techniques are given.
Discrepancy between pre- and post-transplant diagnosis of end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy

A pretransplant diagnosis was compared with the diagnosis made after macroscopic and microscopic examination of the explanted hearts in 112 cardiac transplant recipients. A coronary angiogram was recorded in 87.5% and endomyocardial biopsy was performed in 12.5% of patients within 1 year of the transplant. Echocardiograms were obtained in all patients. Before transplantation, 57.1% of patients were classified as having ischemic cardiomyopathy and 33.9% were classified as having idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC). At explantation, severe coronary artery disease was found in all patients with a pretransplant diagnosis of ischemic cardiomyopathy, in 9 patients with a pretransplant diagnosis of IDC (6 of them had a "normal" pretransplant angiograms), and in 3 of the 4 patients with presumptive alcoholic cardiomyopathy. Left ventricular hypertrophy, undetected on echocardiography, was found at autopsy in 11 patients with presumed IDC, and acute myocarditis was found in 3 patients with a pretransplant diagnosis of IDC. A correct pretransplant diagnosis can lead to different management (e.g., bypass surgery rather than transplant), and may also portend different pre- and post-transplant prognoses. The results of this study suggest that an "in-depth" search for a cause should be conducted in all patients with heart failure, regardless of their clinical presentation. Our study also emphasizes the limitations of coronary angiography and echocardiography in patients with IDC and the need for improving current diagnostic techniques in these patients.
Optimal control of the artificial-kidney-patient system

Discrete optimal-state control has been applied to the control of the artificial-kidney-patient system. The resulting optimal control policy can be easily implemented by medical technicians, and results in a meaningful improvement in treatment.
Studies of the icacinaceae—VI. Irvingbaileya and codiocarpus, two new genera of the icacineae

Engler (1893) was the first to recognize Tylecarpus as a distinct genus. Howard (1940) pointed out that Medusanthera was an older name for the genus and must replace the name Tylecarpus. The genus Medusanthera is closely related to Lasianthera, Gastrolepis, and Discophora in having, in common with those genera, polypetalous flowers, stamens with pubescent filaments, and a characteristically flattened drupe with a fleshy appendage borne laterally. Further study of this genus revealed that the species recently assigned to Medusanthera (Tylecarpus of Engler and Sleumer) represent more than one generic entity. Therefore, in this paper Tylecarpus Merrittii, Tylecarpus andamanicus, and Medusanthera australis are segregated into the new genera Codiocarpus and Irvingbaileya. The principal characters supporting this segregation are to be found in the structure of the fruit, especially in the form of the putamen, although secondary characters are found in other parts of the plant. Codiocarpus differs from the other genera mentioned above in that the staminal filaments are filiform and glabrous. The essential differences for generic segregation are summarized in the synoptic key which follows. I have not seen mature fruits of Lasiainthera or of Gastrolepis, and the descriptions of these in the literature are sketchy. For that reason I have avoided using fruit characters in the keys for these two genera. All other descriptions have been drawn up from examination of the cited material. No mature wood was available in existing collections of Irvingbaileya australis, Codiocarpus andamanicus, Lasia-nthera africana, and Gastrolepis austro-caledonica. The anatomical descriptions of wood structure of these species were drawn up after examination of twigs from herbarium sheets. Of these genera, one, Discophora, is found in the New World, occurring from Brazil to Colombia and Panama. Lasianthera is from tropical Africa. The others are from Australia, the Philippines, the East Indies, and Oceania. Their relationship is established from evidence found not only in the structure of the flowers, the fruits, and the similarity of appearance but also from similarities of wood structure and pollen-grain morphology.
Proximal tissues and patterned neurite outgrowth at the lumbosacral level of the chick embryo: deletion of the dermamyotome.

Abstract The role of the dermamyotome (the dorsal portion of the somite which gives rise to muscles and dermis) in the development of patterned axon outgrowth was examined under conditions where limb development was substantially undisturbed. One or more chick dermamyotomes were removed before or during early neurite outgrowth and subsequent development was examined. Several developmental processes suspected to depend on the dermamyotome were not altered by its removal: (1) Neural crest cells that form sensory ganglia migrated and condensed in their normal segmental pattern. (2) The distal progression, dorsal-ventral organization, and segmentation of spinal nerves were unaltered. (3) Motoneuron pathway selection and projection patterns in the limb were normal in all respects. The most interesting finding was that the formation of the dorsal ramus is dependent on the nearby dermamyotome which provides the targets for this nerve. When a single or two adjacent dermamyotomes were removed, the metameric epaxial muscles derived from each dermamyotome were absent and the dorsal ramus extended into epaxial muscle in the closest adjacent segment. However, when dermamyotomes in both adjacent segments had also been removed or substantially reduced, the dorsal ramus did not form. These results strongly suggest that the target provides a chemotactic signal for proper outgrowth of dorsal ramus axons.