cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Visualization of stereoscopic anatomic models of the paranasal sinuses and cervical vertebrae from the surgical and procedural perspective

Recent improvements in three-dimensional (3D) virtual modeling software allows anatomists to generate high-resolution, visually appealing, colored, anatomical 3D models from computed tomography (CT) images. In this study, high-resolution CT images of a cadaver were used to develop clinically relevant anatomic models including facial skull, nasal cavity, septum, turbinates, paranasal sinuses, optic nerve, pituitary gland, carotid artery, cervical vertebrae, atlanto-axial joint, cervical spinal cord, cervical nerve root, and vertebral artery that can be used to teach clinical trainees (students, residents, and fellows) approaches for trans-sphenoidal pituitary surgery and cervical spine injection procedure. Volume, surface rendering and a new rendering technique, semi-auto-combined, were applied in the study. These models enable visualization, manipulation, and interaction on a computer and can be presented in a stereoscopic 3D virtual environment, which makes users feel as if they are inside the model. Anat Sci Educ 10: 598-606. © 2017 American Association of Anatomists.
A Conversation with the CHCCS 2017 Achievement Award Winner

Dr. Kori Inkpen is the CHCCS Achievement Award winner for 2017. For the past 25 years, she has worked in the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), including ten years as a faculty member, first at Simon Fraser University and then at Dalhousie University, followed by another ten years in industry at Microsoft Research. Her research has focused on supporting collaboration in a variety of domains.For the invited publication by the award winner that CHCCS includes in the proceedings, again this year we are experimenting with an interview format rather than a formal paper. This permits a casual discussion of the research area(s), insights, and contributions of the award winner. What follows is an edited transcript of a conversation between Kori Inkpen and Kellogg Booth that took place on April 13, 2017, via Skype.
High order entropy conservative central schemes for wide ranges of compressible gas dynamics and MHD flows

Abstract The Sjogreen and Yee [31] high order entropy conservative numerical method for compressible gas dynamics is extended to include discontinuities and also extended to equations of ideal magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). The basic idea is based on Tadmor's [40] original work for inviscid perfect gas flows. For the MHD four formulations of the MHD are considered: (a) the conservative MHD, (b) the Godunov [14] non-conservative form, (c) the Janhunen [19] – MHD with magnetic field source terms, and (d) a MHD with source terms by Brackbill and Barnes [5] . Three forms of the high order entropy numerical fluxes for the MHD in the finite difference framework are constructed. They are based on the extension of the low order form of Chandrashekar and Klingenberg [9] , and two forms with modifications of the Winters and Gassner [49] numerical fluxes. For flows containing discontinuities and multiscale turbulence fluctuations the high order entropy conservative numerical fluxes as the new base scheme under the Yee and Sjogreen [31] and Kotov et al. [21] , [22] high order nonlinear filter approach is developed. The added nonlinear filter step on the high order centered entropy conservative spatial base scheme is only utilized at isolated computational regions, while maintaining high accuracy almost everywhere for long time integration of unsteady flows and DNS and LES of turbulence computations. Representative test cases for both smooth flows and problems containing discontinuities for the gas dynamics and the ideal MHD are included. The results illustrate the improved stability by using the high order entropy conservative numerical flux as the base scheme instead of the pure high order central scheme.
EphB4: A promising target for upper aerodigestive malignancies.

Abstract The erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular carcinoma (Eph) receptors are the largest family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) that include two major subclasses, EphA and EphB. They form an important cell communication system with critical and diverse roles in a variety of biological processes during embryonic development. However, dysregulation of the Eph/ephrin interactions is implicated in cancer contributing to tumour growth, metastasis, and angiogenesis. Here, we focus on EphB4 and review recent developments in elucidating its role in upper aerodigestive malignancies to include lung cancer, head and neck cancer, and mesothelioma. In particular, we summarize information regarding EphB4 structure/function and role in disease pathobiology. We also review the data supporting EphB4 as a potential pharmacological and immunotherapy target and finally, progress in the development of new therapeutic strategies including small molecule inhibitors of its activity is discussed. The emerging picture suggests that EphB4 is a valuable and attractive therapeutic target for upper aerodigestive malignancies.
Reflections from the Lebanese field: "First, heal thyself".

Humanitarian aid workers caring for Syrian refugees face major stressors as they attend to refugees’ needs on the field. Without adequate psychosocial support, evidence has shown that fieldworkers experience high burnout and turnover as well as long-term poor mental health. Unfortunately, scarce training in this regard leaves them ill-equipped to care for themselves and practice resilience while handling trauma in the field. This paper highlights our reflection on working with mindfulness programs during humanitarian crises, specifically how our program, Stress Management and Relaxation Response Training (SMART), has helped over time fieldworkers and the community they cared for. We propose that programs targeting the wellbeing of fieldworkers should be prioritized as part of efforts to improve the international aid response although they may require impeccable coordination and generous resources. We encourage donors to fund those projects viewed as special social protection programs building resilience and strengthening within system support. We argue that this will increase the efficacy of the crisis intervention and work towards sustainable peace building.
Cochleostomy and facial recess packing alter cochlear implant electrode location in a human cochlea model.

Abstract Purpose Determine the effect of cochleostomy and facial recess packing on cochlear implant electrode distance from the modiolus. Materials and methods Two otolaryngology residents (PGY5 and PGY6) and one attending ear surgeon performed electrode insertions on a human cochlea model using perimodiolar (Cochlear® Slim Modiolar 532™, CI532) and lateral wall electrodes (Cochlear® Slim Straight 522™, CI522) via a cochleostomy. Packing material was simulated using cotton and placed in the cochleostomy and facial recess under the following conditions: 1) inferior to the electrode, 2) superior, 3) both inferior and superior, and 4) no packing. Distance of the electrode from the modiolus at the proximal, middle, and distal basal turn of the cochlea were measured by photomicrograph analysis. Results Packing superior to the CI532 resulted in a significant decrease in distance from the modiolus at the middle and distal basal turn compared to the inferior condition, with the largest effect in the middle basal turn (0.25 mm vs. 1.92 mm, respectively, p Conclusions Packing of the cochleostomy site and facial recess has a significant effect on electrode distance from the modiolus in the middle and distal basal turn using a model of a human cochlea. Effects were more pronounced when using the perimodiolar (CI532) electrode.
Forward and backward masking of consonants in school-age children and adults

Purpose This experiment sought to determine whether children's increased susceptibility to nonsimultaneous masking, particularly backward masking, is evident for speech stimuli. Method Five- to 9-y...
Overview of Snake Venom Chemistry

Snake venom is not composed of single compounds but is a complex mixture of proteins. It is not known exactly how many proteins are present in a venom, but it probably consists of fifty to sixty components. Each protein possesses its own biological activity. A further complication is that composition and activity of a snake venom vary among the species. In general, the closer the phylogenetic relationship of the snakes, the more similar are the venom properties and composition.
Biological Properties of the IgE-Dependent Histamine-Releasing Factor

Publisher Summary The late phase response (LPR) is considered to be an appropriate model for allergic inflammation for many reasons; however, a major similarity between the LPR and chronic allergic inflammation is the cellular influx. In both, an influx of basophils, eosinophils and monocytes is observed. The initial allergen exposure causes the release of cell mediators that may in turn cause the upregulation of adhesion molecules and the influx of inflammatory cells. The IgE-dependent histamine-releasing factors (HRFs) is both a marker for disease severity and is found in the LPR. Because of its presence in the LPR and its activation of basophils, eosinophils and monocytes, human recombinant HRF (HrHRF) is likely to be a pivotal secretagogue in the LPR. Moreover, these findings suggest that HrHRF plays an important role in chronic allergic inflammation. Consequently, receptor identification and further characterization of HrHRF will increase the understanding of chronic allergic disease and may help to explain the varying severity of allergies.
A Model for a Two-Layered Plate with Interfacial Slip

In this paper we derive a model for a two-layered plate in which slip can occur at the interface. We assume that a “glue” layer of negligible thickness bonds the two adjoining surfaces in such a way that the restoring force created by the glue is proportional to the amount of slippage. Within each plate the assumptions of Timoshenko beam theory (namely, that the straight filaments orthogonal to each center sheet at equilibrium remain straight during deformation) are applied and the equations of motion are derived through the principle of virtual work. We relate the resulting system to the Mindlin-Timoshenko-Reissner plate system and also to the Kirchhoff plate system by singular perturbations involving passing the shear stiffness parameter and the glue strength parameter to infinity.
Sexual and relationship violence prevention and response: what drives the commuter campus student experience?

This exploratory study brings together two lines of inquiry on (a) college campus-based responses to sexual and intimate partner violence among students, and (b) the characteristics, experiences, and challenges unique to commuter students and commuter institutions of higher education. Using qualitative analysis of 14 in-depth interviews with campus personnel and focus groups with a total of 71 students on three commuter campuses in the Pacific Northwest, we offer a detailed description of the experiences and characteristics of commuter students as they pertain to sexual and relationship violence programming and prevention, the associated nature of commuter campus communities, and the resulting lack of visibility of the issue of sexual and relationship violence on commuter campuses. We conclude that creative, tailored approaches to prevention and response services on commuter campuses are needed to address the unique circumstances and challenges facing commuter campus students.
One-step hydrothermal synthesis with in situ milling of biologically relevant hydroxyapatite.

Abstract Biologically relevant synthetic hydroxyapatite (HA) has become a much-desired material for use within the medical field with an emphasis on orthopedic applications. However, there are very few sources of sub-micron scale HA powders that are economical. Many current procedures to generate synthetic HA, that is both biological and chemically analogous to naturally occurring HA, tend to involve complicated synthesis procedures that are difficult to simultaneously produce desired stoichiometric ratios and particle diameter. This paper reports the development of a one-step hydrothermal method with in situ ball milling of synthetic HA. That has the potential to be a biological substitute with similar calcium to phosphate stoichiometric ratio and particle diameter of HA found in many natural biologically occulting sources. Parameters affecting particle diameter investigated included varying ball milling media, in situ and ex situ ball milling, and simultaneous agitation. The stoichiometric ratios of the resulting powders indicated that 4-hour hydrothermal reaction time produced materials that are analogous to natural HA, confirmed from spectra acquired via Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). X-ray diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy both indicate that the predominant size of primary crystallites is around ~25 nm. Particle size distributions of dried in situ ball-milled HA suggest that primary crystallites exist as aggregates, with aggregate diameters ranging between 1 and 100 μm.
Repurposing the yeast peroxisome to compartmentalize a toxic enzyme enables improved (S)-reticuline production

Eukaryotic cells compartmentalize metabolic pathways in organelles to achieve optimal reaction conditions and avoid crosstalk with other factors in the cytosol. Increasingly, engineers are researching ways in which synthetic compartmentalization could be used to address challenges in metabolic engineering. Here, we identified that norcoclaurine synthase (NCS), the enzyme which catalyzes the first committed reaction in benzylisoquinoline alkaloid (BIA) biosynthesis, is toxic when expressed cytosolically in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and, consequently, restricts (S)-reticuline production. We developed a compartmentalization strategy that alleviates NCS toxicity while promoting increased (S)-reticuline titer, achieved through efficient targeting of toxic NCS to the peroxisome while, crucially, taking advantage of the free flow of metabolite substrates and product across the peroxisome membrane. We identified that peroxisome protein capacity in S. cerevisiae becomes a limiting factor for further improvement of BIA production and demonstrate that expression of engineered transcription factors can mimic the oleate response for larger peroxisomes, further increasing BIA titer without the requirement for peroxisome induction with fatty acids. This work specifically addresses the challenges associated with toxic NCS expression and, more broadly, highlights the potential for engineering organelles with desired characteristics for metabolic engineering.
Volume Standards for Open AAA Repair Are Not Associated With Improved Clinical Outcomes

Abstract Background Volume-outcome relationships exist for many complex surgical procedures, prompting institutions to adopt surgical volume standards for credentialing. The current Leapfrog Group hospital volume standard for open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (OAR) is 15 per year. However, this is primarily based off data from the 1990’s and may not be appropriate given the dramatic decline in OAR. We sought to quantify the proportion of hospitals meeting volume standards, the difference in perioperative outcomes between low-volume and high-volume hospitals, and the potential travel burden of volume credentialing on patients. Methods We identified Medicare beneficiaries age > 65 years undergoing OAR in 2013-2014. Hospital “all-payer” annual volume was estimated based on the national proportion of patients undergoing OAR covered by Medicare in the Vascular Quality Initiative. Hospital annual OAR volume was characterized as > 15/year (high-volume). Adjusted rates of postoperative morbidity, reoperation, failure to rescue and mortality in 2014 were compared across volume cohorts. Distance between patients’ home zip code and high-volume hospitals was calculated. Results 21,191 OAR were performed at 1,445 hospitals between 2013-2014. The average hospital OAR annual volume was 7.8 (SD +/-9.3) with a median of 4.5. Amongst the 1,445 hospitals, only 190 (13.1%) performed > 15 OAR per year while756 hospitals (53.3%) performed p =0.817). One quarter of patients who received care at a low-volume hospital would be required to travel more than 60 miles to reach a high-volume hospital. Conclusions By conservative estimates, only 13% of hospitals performing OAR meet current volume standards. Triaging all patients to high-volume hospitals would requiring shifting over 5,000 patients annually with no associated improvement in perioperative outcomes. Implementation of the current OAR hospital volume standard may significantly burden patients and hospitals without improving surgical outcomes.
E-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) treated with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) and ultra-protective ventilator settings

A 19-year-old man vaping with tetrahydrocannabinol presented with dyspnoea and right pneumothorax. History, imaging and negative infectious workup were consistent with E-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI). Treated with systemic steroids, he developed acute respiratory distress syndrome and was intubated requiring veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) by hospital day 3. Using VV-ECMO, very-low tidal volume ventilation of 1.5 cc/kg was achieved, as was daily ambulation. VV-ECMO was decannulated on hospital day 9 and the patient was extubated the next day. He was discharged home on hospital day 13 without oxygen. At post-intensive care unit clinic follow-up, he had lost 20 kg of weight while hospitalised and reported nightmares. Patients with EVALI may be supported with VV-ECMO, which allows ultra-lung-protective mechanical ventilation that may minimise ventilator-induced lung injury. Follow-up in patients with EVALI is essential to diagnose and treat comorbidities, follow lung function and prevent relapses.
Nanostructured materials for energy conversion and storage

Abstract Unique challenges to creating multiscale architectured materials arise from the gap between new material synthesis methods, fundamental scientific study, and their engineering applications. This chapter discusses bridging this gap and focuses on three examples that exemplify bottom-up design to build material platforms for the mechanistic study of electron, ion, or molecule transport, as well as a wide range of engineering applications. Specifically interfacial phenomena at atomic and molecular levels will be discussed in seemingly different systems, including: (1) nanoscale rare earth element (REE)-based catalysts for the water–gas shift reaction (WGS), (2) platinum atom cluster supported on phase-pure molybdenum carbide nanotube (beta-Mo2C) for hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen reduction reaction, and (3) nanoscale carbon fibers for supercapacitors. Surface characterization techniques covered include the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, electrochemical cells, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy, and temporal analysis of products. Engineering applications include: (1) dip-coating nanoscale REE catalysts onto tubular reactor surfaces for WGS, (2) membrane electrode assembly testing of platinum (Pt)/Mo2C catalysts as both anodes and cathodes of proton exchange membrane fuel cells, and (3) symmetrical supercapacitors for energy storage. Finally, the importance of a feedback loop between predictive modeling and experimental platforms that can be used to directly validate models is illustrated.
Chemotherapy Treatment Modifications During the COVID-19 Outbreak at a Community Cancer Center in New York City.

PURPOSE As a result of their immunocompromised status associated with disease and treatment, patients with cancer face a profound threat for higher rates of complications and mortality if they cont...
Implications of CMIP6 Projected Drying Trends for 21st Century Amazonian Drought Risk

Recent exceptionally hot droughts in Amazonia have highlighted the potential role of global warming in driving elevated fire risk and forest dieback. The previous generation of global climate model...
Jala-Bhramari, OM chanting, and Kaivalya: A neuroscience perspective

Bhramari is an ancient technique of the yogic pranayama practice. It has been described in the Vedic-Upanishadic literature. Currently, it is being actively practiced and taught in the yoga classes all over the world. Jala-Bhramari is a new term that I am proposing for doing the classical Bhramari while floating in water on one's back, swimming back-stroke, and while standing or sitting in water with both ears under water, while the face is in the air to breathe and vocalize. With this technique, one can hear the humming sound of Bhramari loud and clear through the water and feel the transmitted biomechanical vibrations in the head, face, chest, spine, and the whole body. It is a unique variation of the Bhramari technique with calming and energizing effects. The OM chanting is another very ancient yogic meditation practice from the Vedic-Upanishadic period. Mandukya Upanishad described this valuable meditative practice in detail and gave its rationale as well as the benefits. With this practice, one can achieve a state of profound stillness, silence, and serenity. One can become Atma-tushta, self-satieted, and Atma-shanta, at peace with self. One can also feel liberated from the stressful burdens of one's body, mind, and ego. Such a state was described as Turiya, the fourth state of consciousness. It is also called Kaivalya or the absolute self-freedom and a feeling of unity with the natural existence. Kaivalya is defined as the holistic state of absolute unity, self-liberation, and timeless serenity. Very few people can achieve such an advanced spiritual state and live a blessed life in nature. However, there have been many examples of sages and enlightened visionaries from India as well as other parts of the world. Most of us live with a limited outlook and an isolated individual perspective in this busy and challenging human world. Yogic meditation is a disciplined and purposeful process of self-discovery, which may lead to great insights and a blissful nondual self-awareness.
Six Useful Websites for Practitioners Working in Schools.

A substantial, and seemingly increasing, number of Board Certified Behavior Analysts work in pre-K–12 schools. Many of them will be unfamiliar with the roles and activities of other school professionals, as well as with the structure, function, and mandates of schools. This article introduces 6 websites that are devoted to education. Accessing these free and user-friendly sites can provide practitioners with information and training activities that will help them function comfortably and competently in schools and benefit their clients to a greater extent. Our purpose in writing this article is to introduce and recommend these websites.
Physiologic and psychosocial changes of the menopause transition in US Latinas: a narrative review.

Latinos comprise the fastest-growing minority group in the USA, with Hispanic women (Latinas) constituting 17% of women aged 45–54 years. The menopause transition (MT) is associated with many physi...
A Panel Data Analysis of Latin American Left Populism

This paper studies the impact of 21st century populism in Latin America on income and human development. We find a significant economic cost of populism that is consistent with other studies using a different methodology than ours. Our sample consists of five Latin American countries representative of populist governments: Argentina (2003 – 2015), Bolivia (since 2006), Ecuador (since 2007), Nicaragua (since 2007), and Venezuela (since 1999).
Institutional experience with nab-sirolimus in patients with malignancies harboring TSC1 or TSC2 mutations.

3111Background: TSC1/TSC2 genes are tumor suppressors in the mTOR pathway; mutated at low frequency across tumor types (1–2%). Retrospective analyses of patients (pts) with mTOR pathway mutations ...
Determining the Efficacy of a Vibration Induced Intervention on Improving Arm Swing and Subsequent Gait Stability in Parkinsonian Patients (P2.8-019)

Objective: To determine the capacity of an armband vibratory stimulus as a mnestic cue to induce arm swing in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Background: Decreased arm swing amplitude is a common motoric sign in Parkinsonism. Its association with reduced gait performance and fall risk is problematic. Enhancement of arm swing is suggested to improve ambulatory stability even in healthy males. Recent studies demonstrated cued arm swing can increase gait performance, reducing fall risk in individuals with PD. Design/Methods: 24 PD individuals. Tests: Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA); GAITRite system (FAP); Vicon software (Armswing Magnitude). Vibronome iPhone application administered vibratory stimuli through exercise armband. Gait performance analysis was measured using the GAITRite walkway over 2 sessions totaling 22 walks. All participants completed baseline, verbally instructed arm swing, armband-prompted walks, and a randomization of walks. Results: There was a statistically significant increase in arm swing angles and FAP in participants who received verbal instruction (p=0.0005 and p=0.0019). There was also a significant increase in arm swing and FAP scores in armband intervention (p=0.047 and p=0.0289). The improvement seen between these two interventions was not significantly different, and were determined to be comparable (p=0.0559). There was also a clear relationship seen between a net increase in arm-swing angle and a higher FAP score. Conclusions: The reduction in fall risk seen in both the verbal instruction and armband intervention confirms the hypothesized positive effect of armband intervention on arm swing in PD patients. This further reinforces the idea that an increase in arm swing is correlated to an improvement in gait. Additionally, when comparing improvement in FAP relative to change in magnitude of arm swing, a general decrease in FAP (increased fall risk) was seen in most patients with an arm swing less than 20 degrees. Disclosure: Dr. Taber has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wu has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sterling has nothing to disclose. Dr. Billings has nothing to disclose. Dr. Peter has nothing to disclose. Dr. Koul has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pique has nothing to disclose. Dr. Golan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ma has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cajuste has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bradley has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hartenstein has nothing to disclose. Dr. Maitland has nothing to disclose.
Control of Construction Quality by a Terrestrial Laser Scanner: Example of Steel Frame Building

Quality control during construction is important for many reasons. For one, it can be used for the evaluation and assessment of the as-built condition. The latter state of the construction can be used for making small adjustments of other elements comprising the future structural system. For example, it can be used for assessing the pile’s final location, twist, and inclination after driving the pile into the ground. A possibility of small deviations is quite common in this case. In addition, the imperfections captured during the construction can be used in forensic studies or other reconnaissance efforts of the structural failures, if any. A terrestrial laser scanner can capture an object’s exposed surface with high accuracy. By measuring the duration of travel of a laser beam emitted by the scanner, it can estimate locations of the object’s points in space. A set of these points is commonly called a point cloud. The paper’s main objective is to evaluate an approach for measuring imperfections in installation of steel structural members. The approach is based on utilization of a terrestrial laser scanner. As a typical example of structural members, a wide flange steel beam is studied herein. The approach is based on the analysis of numerous horizontal slices of the beam’s point cloud. A tight bounding box is computed for each slice and its location is compared against other horizontal slices. Based on this analysis, the beam’s basic dimensions, twist and inclination are obtained. The paper provides an approach for a quantitative assessment of the beam’s deviations from its as-drawn configuration.
Pilomatrixoma of the adult male breast: a rare tumor with typical ultrasound features

Pilomatrixomas are uncommon benign skin neoplasms arising from the hair follicle matrix. They occur more commonly in children than adults. Most originate on the head, neck, or upper extremities, less commonly on the trunk or lower extremities, and very infrequently in the breast. We present a rare case of pilomatrixoma of the breast in an adult male. As the patient had a strong family history of breast cancer, a full work-up of the breast mass was performed. Ultimately, an excisional biopsy was carried out for patient reassurance.
Drugs and the brain

The brain and its messengers opiates drugs for schizophrenia mood modifiers stimulants easing anxiety enlightenment in a pill prospects.
Past Loss as Future? The Politics of Temporality and the “Nonreligious” by a Japanese NGO in Burma/Myanmar

This article examines ideas of the past in the development aid work of one of the oldest Japanese NGOs, the Organization for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA), derived from a Shinto-based new religion, and its training courses on sustainable agriculture in Burma/Myanmar. Whereas Japan's official discourses on aid focus on postwar national success, OISCA highlights a sense of national– cultural loss and proposes aid as a form of national renewal by using ideas about Japan's past to “redo” modernity elsewhere. This emphasis on pastness was an effect of OISCA staff asserting that it is a “nonreligious” organization and simply “Japanese.” This article demonstrates how hope for national renewal through development aid generates “redemptive dreams” and enacts a politics of temporality in which Japanese and Burmese aid actors contest over the past as resource for the future and over “Japaneseness” as a universal value, oscillating between oppressive and aspirational possibilities.
You Make Your Own Luck

This essay takes up two questions. First, what does it mean to say that someone creates her own luck? At least colloquially speaking, luck is conceived as something out of an agent's control. So how could an agent increase or decrease the likelihood that she'll be lucky? Building on some recent work on the metaphysics of luck, the essay argues that there is a sense in which agents can create their own luck because people with more skill tend to have more opportunities to benefit from luck. Second, what implications does this conception of luck have for related topics such as how we evaluate performances (like shooting an arrow), including coming to know something? The ubiquitous presence of luck in our actions is often underappreciated. The essay argues that when we combine an expected outcomes view of luck with a counterfactual view of causation, the distinction between environmental and intervening veritic luck seems to disappear. We need a more nuanced view of how luck sometimes undermines credit for success in agents' actions. The upshot of this view is that while luck may undermine the creditworthiness of an agent's success, it only partially undermines creditworthiness.
Transition metal chemistry in crossed molecular beams

Bimolecular state-selective chemistry has been performed using the technique of crossed molecular beams. Systems of current study involve transition metal atoms (M) interacting with small hydrocarbons, in particular: Mo + CH 4 , Zr + C 2 H 4 , and V + C 2 H 4 . Atomic metal reactants are prepared state-specifically by laser excitation followed by radiative decay. Nascent products were allowed to drift to a triply differentially pumped detector where they were ionized by either conventional electron impact or VUV photoionization and counted to obtain product angular and velocity distributions. C-H bond activation was observed for the former two systems, but not for the V systems. This behavior is rationalized in terms of the electronic configurations of the atomic reactants.
Hyperglycemia increases the risk of death in extremely preterm baboons

Transient neonatal hyperglycemia (HG) has been reported in up to 80% of extremely preterm human infants. We hypothesize that severe HG is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in preterm baboons. Sixty-six baboons born at 67% of gestation were studied. HG was defined as serum glucose level ≥150 mg/dl during the first week of life. Animals were stratified into two groups: severe HG (≥8 events) and nonsevere HG (<8 events). HG developed in 65 of the 66 (98%) baboons that were included. A total of 3,386 glucose measurements were obtained. The mean serum glucose level was 159 ± 69 mg/dl for the severe HG group and 130 ± 48 mg/dl for the nonsevere HG group during the first week of life. No differences were found in gender, birth weight, sepsis, patent ductus arteriosus, or oxygenation/ventilation indexes between groups. Severe HG was associated with early death even after controlling for sepsis, postnatal steroid exposure, and catecholamine utilization. HG is common in preterm baboons and is not associated with short-term morbidity. Severe HG occurring in the first week of life is associated with early death in preterm baboons.
Workplace-Based Health and Wellness Programs: The Intersection of Aging, Work, and Health

Workplace-based health and wellness programs (HWPs) may be an obvious yet under-utilized strategy for promoting positive health-related behaviors among older workers and for increasing their ability to continue to work. Given the unprecedented number of older adults who extend their labor force attachment beyond traditional retirement ages, a new vision of older adults' economic security and overall quality-of-life should take into account the intersections of aging, work, and health. The purpose of this article is to: (a) discuss the workplace as an increasingly important setting that can expand the reach and effectiveness of health promotion efforts; (b) examine current knowledge of barriers and facilitators that can affect older workers' participation in workplace-based HWPs; and (c) suggest new incentive structures that may increase older workers' engagement in these programs. We develop a rationale for our proposition that sustained participation in HWPs may improve the health status of older workers and reduce health care costs. It is our conclusion that there is significant potential for workplace-based HWPs to support older adults who want to or need to work.
Disorders of glutamate metabolism.

The significant role the amino acid glutamate assumes in a number of fundamental metabolic pathways is becoming better understood. As a central junction for interchange of amino nitrogen, glutamate facilitates both amino acid synthesis and degradation. In the liver, glutamate is the terminus for release of ammonia from amino acids, and the intrahepatic concentration of glutamate modulates the rate of ammonia detoxification into urea. In pancreatic beta-cells, oxidation of glutamate mediates amino acid-stimulated insulin secretion. In the central nervous system, glutamate serves as an excitatory neurotransmittor. Glutamate is also the precursor of the inhibitory neurotransmittor GABA, as well as glutamine, a potential mediator of hyperammonemic neurotoxicity. The recent identification of a novel form of congenital hyperinsulinism associated with asymptomatic hyperammonemia assigns glutamate oxidation by glutamate dehydrogenase a more important role than previously recognized in beta-cell insulin secretion and hepatic and CNS ammonia detoxification. Disruptions of glutamate metabolism have been implicated in other clinical disorders, such as pyridoxine-dependent seizures, confirming the importance of intact glutamate metabolism. This article will review glutamate metabolism and clinical disorders associated with disrupted glutamate metabolism.
The optimal number of fathers. Evolution, demography, and history in the shaping of female mate preferences.

Abstract: Around the world polygynous marriage (one man, several women) is vastly more common than polyandrous marriage (one woman, several men), and women tend to be more cautious about entering into sexual relationships than men are. Such patterns are often assumed to reflect essential differences between the sexes. However, the same dichotomy between “ardent” males and “coy” females is not found in other primates. Furthermore, under a range of circumstances females enhance their reproductive success by mating with multiple partners and use polyandrous mating (soliciting copulations from several or more males) to circumvent male-imposed costs on their free choice of mates. The existence of one-male mating systems does not prove that females “naturally” gravitate to them. Typically monandrous (copulating with just one partner) mating systems are maintained by one male excluding rivals or by other circumstances that distort female options. As with many other animals, primate females (including women) can benefit reproductively from polyandrous matings. Understanding this takes us beyond narrow research programs intent on demonstrating “universal” differences between the sexes, and allows us to study females as flexible and opportunistic individuals who confront recurring reproductive dilemmas and tradeoffs within a world of shifting options.
Video Hartmann wavefront diagnostic that incorporates a monolithic microlens array

We have developed a video Hartmann wavefront sensor that incorporates a monolithic array of microlenses as the focusing elements. The sensor uses a monolithic array of photofabricated lenslets. Combined with a video processor, this system reveals local gradients of the wavefront at a video frame rate of 30 Hz. Higher bandwidth is easily attainable with a camera and video processor that have faster frame rates. When used with a temporal filter, the reconstructed wavefront error is less than 1/10th wave.
Morals and money

The authors review the implication of the term "professional," especially those dealing with the need for an ethic of trustworthiness and those dealing with the expectation of being paid for services. The erosive potential generated by these foci is explored, and circumstances which magnify or might ameliorate the potential described. The article concludes with a consideration of the relationship between professional ethics and world-view.
The ‘unreachable poles’ defect in LQR theory: analysis and remedy

In virtually every application of optimum linear-quadratic regulator (LQR) theory there exists a hidden region of ‘unreachable poles’ (in the left half-plane) which cannot be realized as optimum closed-loop poles. These regions of unreachable closed-loop poles are not visible using the solution procedures ordinarily employed in LQR applications and their lurking presence has (apparently) been overlooked by many professors, textbook writers and industrial users of LQR control theory for the past 25 years. The existence of these regions of unreachable poles represents a serious defect in the LQR method because those regions may (and often do!) contain closed-loop pole patterns which are considered highly desirable by classical control engineering standards, i.e. by ITAE and other classical standards of ‘ideal’ transient response. We first show how one can identify the regions of unreachable poles in an LQR problem. Then, it is shown how one can modify conventional LQR theory to overcome this defect and make...
Mucilage processing and secretion in the green alga Closterium. I. Cytology and biochemistry

Placoderm desmids (Conjugales, Chlorophyta) such as Closterium exhibit a gliding locomotory behavior. This results from the forceful extrusion of an acidic polysaccharide from one pole of the cell causing the cell to glide in the opposite direction. A biochemical and cytological analysis of gliding behavior was performed. The mucilage is a high molecular weight polysaccharide rich in glucuronic acid and fucose. Under normal growth conditions, 3 [mu]g of mucilage is produced per cell in 30 days. Mucilage production increased 3-4 fold in cells challenged with low phosphate or nitrate conditions. A polyclonal antibody was raised against the mucilage and used in immunofluorescence studies. These results show that upon contact with another object Closterium aligns itself parallel to that object by a [open quotes]jack-knife[close quotes] motion. Subsequently, large amounts of mucilage are released to form elongate tubes enmeshing the cell with that object. In post-cytokinetic phases of the cell cycle, mucilage is extruded only through the pole of the developing semi-cell. Chlorotetracyclene-labeling of mucilage-secreting cells show a correlation between calcium-rich loci on the cell surface and sites of mucilage release. 20 refs., 25 figs., 1 tab.
The efficacy of resorbable plates in head and neck reconstruction.

Objective/Hypothesis The advent of malleable macroporous resorbable plates has allowed the surgeon a greater range of reconstructive options and has decreased the morbidity of conventional plating procedures. Completely malleable after warming to 55°C, resorbable plates can readily conform to most morphologic appearances of fractures or defects and provide rigid fixation when cooled. The plating systems used in head and neck reconstruction are described. Study Design Nine patients were selected for reconstruction using a resorbable plating system. The resorbable system was tested under a variety of clinical situations including frontal sinus fractures (three patients), midface fractures (two patients), mandibular defects (two patients), and laryngeal fractures (two patients). Methods Each case was evaluated for rigidity of fixation, and ease of plate contouring and application. Furthermore, the postoperative functional and cosmetic results and complications were contrasted between the resorbable plating systems and each surgeon's vast experience with traditional plating systems. Results The resorbable plating system was found to be as effective as traditional plating systems with respect to rigidity of fixation, functional results, and complications. In addition, the resorbable system was far easier to contour and, consequently, to apply, while producing higher cosmetic satisfaction after plate resorption than traditional plating. Conclusions Based on our experience, resorbable plates appear to be safe, easy to contour and apply, as well as effective for a wide range of head and neck reconstructive applications. In addition, the shortcomings of permanently retained plates such as plate migration, bone growth restriction, and imaging artifact are avoided.
Characterization of high-affinity receptors for bombesin/gastrin releasing peptide on the human prostate cancer cell lines PC-3 and DU-145: internalization of receptor bound 125I-(Tyr4) bombesin by tumor cells.

Specific receptors for bombesin/gastrin releasing peptide (GRP) on the androgen-independent human prostate cancer cell lines PC-3 and DU-145 were characterized. No specific binding of 125I-[Tyr4]-bombesin to the androgen-dependent human prostate cancer cell line LNCaP was detectable. The binding of 125I-[Tyr4]-bombesin to PC-3 and DU-145 cells was found to be time- and temperature-dependent, saturable, and reversible. Scatchard analysis revealed a single class of binding sites with high affinity (Kd 9.8 × 10−11 M for PC-3, and 9.1 × 10-11 M for DU-145 cells at 25°C) and with a binding capacity of 44,000 binding sites/cell and 19,000 binding sites/cell, respectively. Bound 125I-[Tyr4]-bombesin was rapidly internalized by PC-3 cells. The nonhydrolyzable GTP analog GTP-gamma-S caused a dose-dependent inhibition of 125I-[Tyr4]-bombesin binding to PC-3 and DU-145 cells, indicating that a G-protein (guanine nucleotide-binding protein) couples the bombesin receptor to intracellular effector systems. Bombesin and GRP(14-27) inhibited the binding of 125I-[Tyr4]-bombesin to both cell lines in a dose-dependent manner with inhibition constants (Ki of 0.5 nM and 0.4 nM, respectively. Both cell lines express the bombesin/GRP preferring bombesin receptor subtype, since, in displacement studies, neuromedin B was more than 200 times less potent than bombesin and GRP(14-27) in inhibiting the binding of 125I-[Tyr4]-bombesin. Two synthetic bombesin/GRP antagonists, RC-3095 and RC-3110, powerfully inhibited the specific binding of 125I-[Tyr4]-bombesin with Ki 0.92 nM and 0.26 nM on PC-3 cells, and 3.3 nM and 0.89 nM on DU-145 cells, respectively. These findings indicate that the PC-3 and DU-145 human prostate cancer cell lines possess specific high-affinity receptors for bombesin/GRP, and are suitable models for the evaluation of the antineoplastic activity of new bombesin/GRP antagonists in the treatment of androgen-independent prostate cancer. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Cooperation within actin filament in vertebrate skeletal muscle.

When actin molecules form “rigor complexes” with nucleotide-free myosin, tropomn binds calcium with greater affinity and in a cooperative response the remaining actin molecules not cornplexed with myosin are “turned on” even though calcium is absent.
Migration of isazofos nematocide in irrigated turfgrass soils

Abstract The magnitude of migration of the nematocide, isazofos (O-[5-chloro-1-(1-methyl-ethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl]-O,O-diethyl phosphorothioate) was investigated in a silt loam and a fine sandy loam soil and an acid sand, each prepared in plots as lysimeters and seeded with creeping bentgrass. The amount of pesticide leaching was determined as a function of time after isazofos application. The magnitude of downward migration of isazofos was sand > silt loam > fine sandy loam.
An application of a dynamic model of judgment to magnitude production.

A dynamic model of judgment, together with a model of stimulus context effects, is applied to magnitude production (MP) and magnitude estimation (ME) experiments. Participants’ responses in MP were correlated across trials, as is typically found for ME. The magnitude of the autocorrelation, however, was small, which suggests that participants in MP tend to rely more heavily on a long-term frame of reference. Second, a stimulus context effect found for ME did not appear for MP, most likely because of the different nature of the task (i.e., intermediate values of the stimulus were heard while the participant produced a response). A fit of an earlier regression model, on the other hand, suggests that the number presented on the previous trial in MP has a large contrastive effect on the current response. The present model offers a different view of this result, in that it shows that a negative coefficient for the earlier model is consistent with a positive judgmental effect. The regression effect noted by Stevens and Greenbaum (1966), which is a value of the estimated ME exponent that is smaller than the inverse of the estimated MP exponent, was also found; it is shown that the effect did not arise from bias in estimation.
A Self-Consistent Mean Field Model of a Starburst Dendrimer: Dense Core vs Dense Shell

We examine the equilibrium properties of a starburst dendrimer. A simple Flory theory is developed for the dependence of the radius of gyration of the starburst on its generation. A self-consistent mean field model is solved numerically to verify the Flory theory predictions and elucidate the density profile within the starburst. The density is found to decrease monotonically from the center of the molecule. Structure factors are calculated from the density profiles. Predictions of the model compare favorably with recent experiments and simulations.