cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Serum mercury concentration and the risk of ischemic stroke: The REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke Trace Element Study.

Abstract Background Although biologically plausible, epidemiological evidence linking exposure to methylmercury with increased risk of ischemic stroke is limited. The effects of methylmercury may be modified by selenium, which is an anti-oxidant that often co-exists with mercury in fish. Objectives To examine the association between serum mercury levels with the incidence of ischemic stroke and to explore the possible effect modifications by serum selenium levels and demographic and geographic factors. Methods A case-cohort study was designed nested in the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke cohort, including 662 adjudicated incident cases of ischemic stroke and 2494 participants in a randomly selected sub-cohort. Serum mercury was measured using samples collected at recruitment. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using the Barlow-weighting method for the Cox proportional hazards regression model. Results No statistically significant association was observed between serum mercury concentration and the incidence of ischemic stroke (the highest vs. lowest quintile of mercury levels: HR = 0.82; 95% CI = 0.55–1.22; P for linear trend = 0.42). Sex (P for interaction = 0.06), but not serum selenium levels, modified the association; a more evident trend toward lower incidence of ischemic stroke with higher mercury levels was observed among women. Conclusion This study does not support an association between mercury and the incidence of ischemic stroke within a population with low-to-moderate level of exposure. Further studies are needed to explore the possibility of mercury-induced ischemic stroke toxicity in other populations at higher exposure levels.
Stability Analysis for Buoyancy-Opposed Flows in Poloidal Ducts of the DCLL Blanket

An approach developed in earlier work to study the hydrodynamic stability of the buoyancy assisted flow in DCLL blanket based on the solution of the OrrSommefeld equation for MHD flows is used here to address the stability of the buoyancy-opposed (downward) flows in the DCLL blanket conditions. The present analysis predicts that downward flows in DCLL blanket conditions will likely be hydrodynamically unstable and eventually turbulent due to the development of either inflectional instability or boundary layer instability.
Impacts of storage temperature and rice moisture content on color characteristics of rice from fields with different disease management practices

Abstract Rice downgrading due to discoloration in storage presents a significant loss to growers and processors. The objective of this study was to investigate impacts of storage temperature and rice moisture content (MC) on color characteristics of milled hybrid rice (cv. XL 745) from fields with differing production practices. Freshly-harvested rough rice from field plots treated with and without fungicide for rice disease control during production were procured and stored at four MC levels (12.5%, 16%, 19% and 21% wet basis), and at five temperatures (10 °C, 15 °C, 20 °C, 27 °C, 40 °C) for 16 weeks, with samples taken every 2 weeks. Kinetics of mold growth and rice color were determined. It was observed that at 12.5% MC, discoloration was abated across all studied temperatures and treatments until 6 weeks of storage and increased not in excess of 20% thereafter 16 weeks. As the storage MC increased to 16%, discoloration increased and became significantly notable at the highest temperature of 40 °C. By week 16, at 40 °C storage temperature, discoloration increased significantly to 87.9% and 73% for sample lots from fungicide and non-fungicide treated plots, respectively. At the highest MC (21%), increase in rice discoloration was notable as early as after 2 weeks, across all storage temperatures, and continued to increase, especially for the highest storage temperature of 40 °C, to as high as 99.1% and 96.47%, after 16 weeks, for sample lots from fungicide and non-fungicide treated plots, respectively. There was more expression of discoloration patterns on samples stored at the highest temperature of 40 °C compared to that at lower temperatures, for both categories of sample treatments and ranges of studied MCs. Although not yet widely used for rice, this study suggested that cooling technology for rice, may have potential to extend rice storability, especially by retarding discoloration in the first few weeks after harvest.
Cell block cellularity: A comparison of two fixatives and their impact on cellularity

Background Ancillary testing including immunohistochemistry and molecular diagnostics has become an increasingly important component for the evaluation of cytologic specimens. Ancillary testing is important not only for diagnosis but also for predictive and prognostic evaluation. While a number of substrates are appropriate for ancillary testing, cell block specimens are commonly utilized and the success of ancillary testing depends on cell-block cellularity. Methods Forty-six pairs of cases each fixed in both formalin and CytoLyt were each analyzed by two evaluators for overall cellularity. Linear regression was used to assess inter-rater reliability of cell counts for each method. Cellularity scores for each case were obtained by averaging the scores for each rater and cellularity was compared between the methods. Results Inter-rater agreement was very good for both methods. The coefficient of determination was 1.0 and 0.99 for the CytoLyt and formalin methods respectively. Cell blocks using the CytoLyt method have lower levels of cellularity than cell blocks performed by the formalin method. Conclusions Cell blocks prepared using a formalin fixative yield significantly greater cellularity than those produced by the CytoLyt method. Formalin fixation appears to optimize cellularity of cell blocks useful for ancillary testing.
NUTRIENT CLAIMS ON PACKAGING

Food labels provide important information to consumers and assist them in making informed purchase decisions. Over time, food labels have evolved from basic product identity to potentially complex labels. The labels can include specific nutrient claims as well as detailed nutrient composition data. To remain competitive in the global marketplace, the meat industry must understand the role of meat in the diet, the perceived and real risks associated with consumption of meat, methods for improving the nutritional compositions, and the regulatory requirements for properly labeling meat. This article will highlight key areas related to meat intake and labeling.
Methods for Studying Swarming and Swimming Motility

Proteus mirabilis is well known for using its flagella to swim through liquids or swarm across solid surfaces. Both phenomena are easy to observe. Described here are two agar-based assays for studying both swimming and swarming behavior, and considerations that affect the outcome.
The effects of source placement on time reversal focusing in rooms

Abstract Time Reversal (TR) is a technique that may be used to focus an acoustic signal at a particular point in space. The effect of transducer placement within a room as well as the layout of several sources are explored. Maximum focal amplitude and spatial clarity are found to increase when the focus location is dual coplanar to the source location while temporal quality is found to decrease in comparison to the case when source and focal location share only one plane. Maximum focal amplitude is found to be at a minimum when the focus location is at the critical distance and increases closer and farther away from the source, while temporal quality steadily decreases and spatial clarity steady increases farther from the source. The maximum focal amplitude and the temporal quality are not greatly affected by the type of array layout, but a circular array, even without half wavelength spacing, is ideal for maximizing spatial clarity.
Management of cataract in the setting of uveitis: a review of the current literature.

Purpose of reviewThis review aims to cover the preoperative planning, intraoperative considerations, and postoperative management that aids in successful outcomes of patients with cataract and uveitis. Disease-specific management and pediatric management will also be addressed.Recent findingsDexamet
Norms and Attitudes about Being an Active Bystander: Support for Telling Adults about Seeing Knives or Guns at School among Greater London Youth.

A detailed understanding of the factors associated with support among youth for reporting a knife or gun at school to an adult is essential to inform violence prevention initiatives. However, no studies have empirically assessed attitudes about support for reporting among secondary school students in Greater London nor perceived norms about such support among peers. Thus, this study explores whether students misperceive peer norms about support for telling adults about seeing weapons at school. Anonymous surveys were completed by 7401 youth (52% female; 43% White; mean age 11.8 years) in school years 4–11 in 45 school cohorts in a greater London borough between 2007 and 2012. Students reported both personal support about reporting weapons to several categories of adults and whether they perceived most other students at their school to support reporting weapons to adults in each category. Most students (64–78% on average) in most cohorts personally thought that students should report seeing a weapon at school to head teachers, police/security guard, teachers/counselors, and parent/other adult relatives. However, 34–44% of students erroneously thought that the majority of their peers did not support reporting to these adults. Perceived norms predicted personal support for reporting, adjusting for the prevalence of actual support at one’s school and other factors. Pervasive norm misperceptions about reporting may contribute to a less safe environment.
Incidence and impact of Textbook Outcome among patients undergoing resection of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: Results of the US Neuroendocrine Tumor Study Group.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES We sought to define the incidence and impact of Textbook Outcome (TO) on disease-free survival [DFS] among patients undergoing resection of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET). METHODS Patients undergoing resection of a PNET between 2000 and 2016 were identified using a multi-institutional database. TO was defined as no postoperative severe complications (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ III), no 90-day mortality, no prolonged length-of-hospital stay (LOS) (ie, > 75th percentile), no 90-day readmission after discharge, and R0 resection. The 5-year DFS was calculated and the association with TO was examined. RESULTS Among 821 patients with a PNET, median tumor size was 2.1 cm (IQR 1.4-14.6). Resection consisted of pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) (n = 231, 28.1%), distal pancreatectomy (DP) (n = 492, 59.9%), and enucleation (EN) (n = 98, 11.9%). Overall TO rate was 49.3% (n = 405). The incidence of TO varied by procedure type (PD: 32.5% vs DP: 56.7% vs EN: 52.0%; P < .001). After adjusting for all competing factors, achievement of a TO was independently associated with improved DFS (hazard ratio: 0.54, 95% CI, 0.35-0.81; P = .003). CONCLUSIONS Only one in two patients undergoing resection of a PNET achieved a TO, which varied markedly based on procedure type. Achievement of a TO was associated with improved DFS.
Autonomy and Intelligence - A Question of Definitions

Abstract : It is tempting to call a mechanism that works by itself autonomous. The common dictionary definition of autonomy supports this temptation. According to Webster's Ninth New College Dictionary, autonomy is "the quality or state of being self-governing". But governance implies more than simple perpetual motion. Does the earth's rotation around the sun constitute an autonomous trajectory? Probably we would not commonly think so. What if an asteroid suddenly appeared in the earth's path? What would the earth do about it? Would the earth modify its trajectory and avoid the impending collision? Not likely. A collision would confirm for us that the earth was not autonomous. Now take a laboratory robot equipped with a SONAR array. The output of the SONAR array could be used to steer the robot away from looming obstacles, thus avoiding many potential collisions, Would we then say that the robot was autonomous? Many robotics developers, based on the titles and texts of their documents, do indeed say that obstacle avoidance is an autonomous behavior. Those very same robots, however, usually have an on-off switch. When that switch is in the off position, the robot cannot avoid a looming object and a serious and destructive collision is likely to occur. The on state of the robot could also be compromised by depletion of the robot's energy reserve, again making it vulnerable to environmental calamities. Something similar could happen to us when we are asleep or are otherwise not paying particular attention. Should we say then that autonomy is a state-dependent attribute?
Nanotechnology approaches to addressing HER2-positive breast cancer

Breast cancer is a major cause of cancer-associated deaths in the United States. It was estimated that 12% of women in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. The human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2/neu) is a growth-promoting protein that is overexpressed in 15–20% of breast cancers (HER2-positive breast cancer). HER2-positive breast cancer generally grows and spreads more quickly than other breast cancers, but it can be targeted therapeutically. Targeting drugs have been developed with a specific design to stop the growth and even the spread of cancer. These drugs include trastuzumab (Herceptin), pertuzumab (Perjeta), ado-trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla, or TDM-1), fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan, lapatinib, neratinib and tucatinib. However, the need for better targeted therapy and efficacy still exists. Nanotechnology could have major advantages in terms of detection, targeting, drug delivery, and destruction of cancer cells and tumors. Although a great deal of progress has been accomplished major challenges still need to be addressed. In this review, we examine the major areas of research in the area of nanotechnology and HER2-positive breast cancer.
Nondestructive Sampling to Monitor Macrophomina phaseolina Root Colonization in Overwintering Stevia

Macrophomina phaseolina is a soilborne fungal pathogen in the family Botryosphaeriaceae. Microsclerotia of M. phaseolina were first observed at the base of overwintering stevia stems in North Carol...
Impact of Racial Disparities on All-Cause Mortality in Patients With Tumors of the Spinal Cord or Spinal Meninges: A Propensity-Score Analysis:

Study Design:Retrospective cohort study.Objective:The influence that race has on mortality rates in patients with spinal cord tumors is relatively unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate ...
Abdominal aortic endograft infection with Clostridium difficile.

OBJECTIVES The increase in endovascular aortic aneurysm repair has led to increasing incidence of aortic endograft infections. Additionally, more atypical organisms are being identified as pathogens. We report on a rare aortic endograft infection to further characterize and understand these infections. METHODS We report a Clostridium difficile culture-positive aortic endograft infection in an 82-year-old male 3 years after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. RESULTS The patient underwent successful open, complete explant of his endograft and in-situ repair using a rifampin-soaked Dacron graft. He continues to do well. CONCLUSIONS Aortic endograft infections are a complex problem further complicated by rare and virulent infections. Unless the patient is at prohibitive risk, the management of infected aortic endografts is surgical graft explant and in-situ or extra-anatomic reconstruction due to the exceedingly high mortality rate with non-operative management.
Breakdowns of the Nighttime Planetary Boundary Layer over Complex Terrain

Turbulence and diffusion in the stable planetary boundary layer (SBL) are often intermittent and sporadic, and this strongly affects air quality modeling. During intermittent turbulent breakdowns, pollutants in the upper levels of the SBL can be brought to the ground with relatively little dilution. Pollutants released near the surface can, in contrast, be rapidly mixed by a breakdown event, causing an unexpected dilution. These breakdowns can also have significant effects on the surface fluxes of momentum, heat, and water vapor. An understanding of these breakdowns is a necessary step in the development of improved parameterizations of turbulence and diffusion in the SBL.
A study of B 6 stars.

Because detailed information about the spectra of normal late B type stars is deficient, a study of the spectrum of zeta-Draconis, beta-Sextantis, and alpha-Leonis was undertaken to fill this lack and to provide data for comparison with observations of Bp stars, many of which are of late B spectral type. The study was made from high dispersion spectrograms which cover the spectral region 3100 to 6700 A, and from OAO-II spectral scans covering the spectral region 1100 to 3600 A. Profiles, equivalent widths, and central intensities of many lines in the spectrum of zeta-Draconis and of the major lines of beta-Sextantis are presented. The star alpha-Leonis rotates too rapidly for these measurements to be made from high resolution spectrograms. The star beta-Sextantis is the most massive and hottest of the three stars studied.
History of Workers’ Benefits in the United States

Employee benefit programs—workers’ compensation, group medical expense insurance, employer provided disability, pension benefits, etc.—are run by different departments within the firm. Each of these programs generally have separate information systems that do not, and often cannot, communicate with each other. This compartmentalization of benefits not only impedes the implementation of a worker centered, integrated benefit strategy once the importance of that approach is recognized, but compartmentalization also encourages a benefit specialization that is antithetical to an integrated benefits approach. Looking hard at each program tree separately, we fail to comprehend the shape of the benefit forest.
Radiation Reduction Capabilities of a Next-Generation Pediatric Imaging Platform.

The aims of this study were to quantify patient radiation exposure for a single interventional procedure during transition from an adult catheterization laboratory to a next-generation imaging system with pediatric settings, and to compare this radiation data to published benchmarks. Radiation exposure occurs with any X-ray-directed pediatric catheterization. Technologies and imaging techniques that limit dose while preserving image quality benefit patient care. Patient radiation dose metrics, air kerma, and dose–area product (DAP) were retrospectively obtained for patients <20 kg who underwent patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure on a standard imaging system (Group 1, n = 11) and a next-generation pediatric imaging system (Group 2, n = 10) with air-gap technique. Group 2 radiation dose metrics were then compared to published benchmarks. Patient demographics, procedural technique, PDA dimensions, closure devices, and fluoroscopy time were similar for the two groups. Air kerma and DAP decreased by 65–70 % in Group 2 (p values <0.001). The average number of angiograms approached statistical significance (p value = 0.06); therefore, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted that confirmed significantly lower dose measures in Group 2. This degree of dose reduction was similar when Group 2 data (Kerma 28 mGy, DAP 199 µGy m2) was compared to published benchmarks for PDA closure (Kerma 76 mGy, DAP 500 µGy m2). This is the first clinical study documenting the radiation reduction capabilities of a next-generation pediatric imaging platform. The true benefit of this dose reduction will be seen in patients requiring complex and often recurrent catheterizations.
EVOLUTION OF COST/SCHEDULE CONTROL (DIRECT LABOR) IN NAVAL SHIPYARDS.

Abstract : The evolution of a Cost/Schedule Control System (C/SCS), for direct labor, in naval shipyards can be traced from the cost/schedule control concept used in the Air Force in the 1960s, as an initiative toward more reliable data. Subsequent C/SCS programs were initiated across the Department of Defense (DoD) in the late 1960s and early 1970s. As private shipyards came under what is known as Cost/Schedule Control System Criteria (C/SCSC), and its validation requirements, the issue of C/SCS in naval shipyards rose to the surface. In 1984, the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) issued a directive which called for C/SCS implementation in naval shipyards. Expanded use and standardization has followed. This paper reviews basic C/SCS principles, how naval shipyards have used C/SCS in improving performance, and how it has been standardized while still retaining a degree of flexibility.
A convex relaxation for approximate global optimization in simultaneous localization and mapping

Modern approaches to simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) formulate the inference problem as a high-dimensional but sparse nonconvex M-estimation, and then apply general first- or second-order smooth optimization methods to recover a local minimizer of the objective function. The performance of any such approach depends crucially upon initializing the optimization algorithm near a good solution for the inference problem, a condition that is often difficult or impossible to guarantee in practice. To address this limitation, in this paper we present a formulation of the SLAM M-estimation with the property that, by expanding the feasible set of the estimation program, we obtain a convex relaxation whose solution approximates the globally optimal solution of the SLAM inference problem and can be recovered using a smooth optimization method initialized at any feasible point. Our formulation thus provides a means to obtain a high-quality solution to the SLAM problem without requiring high-quality initialization.
Assessment in contests of male lizards (Anolis carolinensis) : how should smaller males respond when size matters?

Within a female-defence polygynous mating system, males of the lizard A. carolinensis use an array of stereotyped signals and aggressive tactics to acquire and defend long-term territories containing multiple, sedentary females. In competition, body size appears to be important because size of free-ranging males correlates positively with volume of male territories and number of patrolled females. Therefore, an ability to assess body size during territorial contests should be an adaptive attribute that would influence the tactics of intermale aggression. To examine this premise, we staged contests between 10 pairs of males matched for size (i.e. symmetric contests) and 10 pairs mismatched for size (i.e. asymmetric contests), while all 20 pairs of males were matched for habitat resources, a mate, and resident status. Overall, we found (1) contest profiles best fit the features of a ‘fixed-phase, sequential assessment’ model of game theory, (2) body size and mass were highly correlated with contest outcome, (3) none of 12 signal variables predicted contest outcome, and (4) paired males generally matched aggressive tactics and signalling behaviours. We also examined the asymmetric contest profiles for deviations from the profiles of symmetric contests. We tested the proposition that smaller males of size-mismatched contests would assess their disadvantage and choose a bluff strategy to mitigate risky behaviour and avoid fighting. We found, however, that the risk-mitigation hypotheses were unsupported. Smaller males were not playing a bluff strategy, but rather a hawk strategy. They initiated risky tactics by (1) invading the habitats of their larger opponents, an act that invited retaliation, (2) showing no tendency to stay away from larger opponents, (3) maintaining high levels of aggressive signalling as encounters intensified, and (4) engaging larger opponents in physical fighting, despite losing 90% of their encounters. These empirical results support a recent game theoretical construct (‘Napoleon complex’) that models size-asymmetric contests in which smaller males initiate fights that they usually lose. Our data suggest that, if smaller males of A. carolinensis have breeding territories, then they will engage in costly contests, despite a low probability of defeating larger and equally motivated opponents.
Development of a lavage solution associated with minimal water and electrolyte absorption or secretion

Abstract Ingestion of large volumes of a balanced electrolyte solution has previously been shown to be an effective method of cleaning the colon for diagnostic studies. However, in this paper we have shown that total gut perfusion with such a solution results in absorption of 2400 ml water and 375 meq of sodium over 3 hr, which is the approximate time required to clean the colon by this technique. This might be hazardous to patients who are unable to readily excrete a salt and water load. We, therefore, designed a solution containing mainly sodium sulfate that was associated with only trivial amounts of water and sodium absorption or secretion during total gut perfusion. This new solution might be useful in colon cleansing before colonoscopy, barium enema, and surgery. In addition, such a solution may have some therapeutic indications, including bowel cleaning in patients with hepatic encephalopathy or as a rapid washout technique for ingested toxins.
Law in a social determinants strategy: a public health law research perspective.

Research in social epidemiology over the past three decades has shown convincingly that population health is shaped to a significant degree by fundamental social conditions. The social production of health is sufficiently complex to preclude simple causal attributions, but consistent correlations across populations between health and various measures of social and economic status leave little room for doubt that social arrangements account for an important fraction of population health. Efforts to find the mechanisms of these effects are ongoing, and progress is seen in findings about, for example, the powerful role of stress across the life course.1 Although in the U.S. we tend to hear most about racial/ethnic disparities, these inequities are as much a matter of class as race or ethnicity. Responding to the findings of this social epidemiology is perhaps the true grand challenge of our time in public health. Whether or not it is grand, it is certainly difficult, from both the research and implementation points of view. The efforts of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP), described in a 2010 white paper,2 represent an extremely valuable contribution to meeting the challenge of health inequities. In this commentary, I offer a public health law researcher's thoughts on practical efforts to address the social determinants of health (SDH), and how law and research on law can best support the effort. I distinguish two relationships between law and social determinants and suggest—via a quick tour through the work of Geoffrey Rose3—the importance of integrating law more frequently into behavioral and social health research. Of course, this is epidemiology coming from an attorney, so caveat emptor—let the buyer beware'
Strengthening the Theory of Institutional Corruptions: Broadening, Clarifying, and Measuring

This essay suggests ways to broaden the concept of Institutional Corruption, developed by Dennis Thompson and Lawrence Lessig, so that it can more effectively apply to more institutional settings that do not involve elections or political institutions by drawing on the work of Malcolm Salter on Institutional Corruption in corporations and other non-elected bodies or domains, and by redefining what are now dichotomies (good-evil, corrupt-not corrupt) as the ends of continua. Second, the case is made for drawing on empirical research to develop a matrix measuring the extent, types and degrees of corruption or corrupting behavior, so that IC theory matures from illustrative examples to results from qualitative and quantitative research. Third, the institutional corruption of language, knowledge, and constructions of reality is a special focus, which complements studies of institutions themselves that greatly affects policy and chances for reform.
A Review of “Constructing Grievance: Ethnic Nationalism in Russian Republics”

Constructing Grievance is a very well-written comparative study of nationalist movements in sixteen autonomous regions and republics in Russia. While the main analytical focus is on the post-Soviet...
Comparison of thalidomide and lenalidomide as therapy for myelofibrosis.

With the use of the International Working Group for Myelofibrosis Treatment and Research consensus criteria, we re-assessed the efficacy of thalidomide and lenalidomide in 125 patients with myelofibrosis treated in 3 consecutive phase 2 trials: 44 received single-agent thalidomide, 41 single-agent lenalidomide, and 40 a combination of lenalidomide plus prednisone. The thalidomide group included significantly more untreated patients and patients with performance status of 2. The Lenalidomide-based therapy produced higher efficacy (34%-38%) than thalidomide (16%; P = .06). Responses to thalidomide were seen within 3-15 weeks, whereas responses to the lenalidomide-based therapy were also seen after a prolonged course of therapy (range, 2-45 weeks). Lenalidomide plus prednisone therapy resulted in significantly longer response duration (median, 34 months) than single-agent lenalidomide or thalidomide (median, 7 and 13 months, respectively; P = .042). Fewer patients (P = .001) discontinued the lenalidomide plus prednisone therapy (13%) because of side effects then patients on single-agents therapy (32%-39%). In conclusion, the combination of lenalidomide plus prednisone appears to be more ef-fective and safer than single-agent thalidomide or lenalidomide.
Determination of the secondary structure of Drosophila melanogaster 5 S RNA by hydroxymethyltrimethylpsoralen crosslinking.

Abstract The secondary structure of Drosophila melanogaster 5 S RNA was probed by 4′-hydroxymethyl-4,5′,8-trimethylpsoralen crosslinking. 5 S RNA was found to have a stable conformation in solution over a wide range of salt conditions. The structure was not affected by the intercalation of HMT. After HMT-crosslinks were formed, oligonucleotides containing the crosslinks were separated by gel electrophoresis and analyzed. Two different crosslinks were identified unambiguously. These crosslinks lead to a model very similar to that already proposed on the basis of evolutionary and enzymatic digestion data. The model proposed is in excellent agreement with all available data on eukaryotic 5 S RNA.
Advanced glycation end products of DNA: quantification of N2-(1-Carboxyethyl)-2'-deoxyguanosine in biological samples by liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

Methylglyoxal (MG) and related α-oxoaldehydes react with proteins, lipids, and DNA to give rise to covalent adducts known as advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Elevated levels of AGEs have been implicated in the pathological complications of diabetes, uremia, Alzheimerʼs disease, and possibly cancer. There is therefore widespread interest in developing sensitive methods for the in vivo measurement of AGEs as prognostic biomarkers and for treatment monitoring. The two diastereomeric MG-DNA adducts of N2-(1-carboxyethyl)-2′-deoxyguanosine (CEdG) are the primary glycation products formed in DNA; however, accurate assessment of their distribution in vivo has not been possible since there is no readily available quantitative method for CEdG determination in biological samples. To address these issues, we have developed a sensitive and quantitative liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry assay using the stable isotope dilution method with an 15N5-CEdG standard. Methods for CE...
Prehistoric Use of Fur Seals: Evidence from the Olympic Coast of Washington

Archeological excavations on the Olympic Coast of Washington provide evidence that marine mammals, particularly fur seals, constituted a major source of food for inhabitants of this region for more than 2000 years. A recent change in the migratory pattern of the fur seals is suggested by the high percentage of mature males present in prehistoric populations.
Investigation of blue phosphorescent organic light-emitting diode host and dopant stability

Abstract By incorporating prospective materials for blue PHOLED emissive layers into model OLEDs, we have investigated how hole transport in a prototypical blue phosphorescent emitter, FIrpic (bis(4,6-difluorophenyl-pyridinato- N ,C2) picolinate Iridium) doped mCBP (4′-bis(3-methylcarbazol-9-yl)-2,2′-biphenyl), can impact PHOLED device operational stability. We found the host mCBP to be stable in supporting hole transport, but unstable with respect to electron–hole recombination. As a dopant, FIrpic was found to be unstable with respect to both hole transport and charge recombination processes. Our results indicate that FIrpic doped mCBP is unsuitable for use as an emissive layer in OLED devices and we provide a general strategy to screen materials and better understand their stability.
Photosensitized polystyrene as a high efficiency relief hologram medium

The ideal holographic material would have the sensitivity and spatial resolution of silver halide emulsion, the efficiency of dichromated gelatine, the self developing feature of photorefractive crystals, and useful at all laser wavelengths. Unfortunately, no such material exists; those that do exist are characterized in the table below. Photoresist materials have proved especially disappointing. In spite of years of effort, the sensitivity, resolution, efficiency and ease of processing leave almost everything to be desired!
SU-F-BRCD-03: Dose Calculation of Electron Therapy Using Improved Lateral Buildup Ratio Method.

Purpose: To calculate the percentage depth dose of any irregular shape electron beam using modified lateral build‐up‐ratio method.Method and materials: Percentage depth dose (PDD) curves were measured using 6, 9, 12, and 15MeV electron beam energies for applicator cone sizes of 6×6, 10×10, 14×14, and 14×14cm2. Circular cutouts for each cone were prepared from 2.0cm diameter to the maximum possible size for each cone. In addition, three irregular cutouts were prepared. The scanning was done using a water tank and two diodes ‐ one for the signal and the other a stationary reference outside the tank. The water surface was determined by scanning the signal diode slowly from water to air and by noting the sharp change of the percentage depth dose curve at the water/air interface.Results: The lateral build‐up‐ratio (LBR) for each circular cutout was calculated from the measured PDD curve using the open field of the 14×14 cm2 cone as the reference field. Using the LBR values and the radius of the circular cutouts, the corresponding lateral spread parameter (sigma) of the electron shower was calculated. Unlike the commonly accepted assumption that sigma is independent of cutout size, it is shown that the sigma value increases linearly with circular cutout size. Using this characteristic of sigma, the PDD curves of irregularly shaped cutouts were calculated. Finally, the calculated PDD curves were compared with measured PDD curves. Conclusions: In this research, it is shown that sigma increases with cutout size. For radius of circular cutout sizes up to the equilibrium range of the electron beam, the increase of sigma with the cutout size is linear. The percentage difference of the calculated PDD from the measured PDD for irregularly shaped cutouts was under 1.0%. Similar Result was obtained for four electron beam energies (6, 9, 12, and 15MeV).
Dermatitis Herpetiformis: Immunoelectronmicroscopic And Ultrastructural Studies Of A Patient With Linear Deposition Of Iga

Using immunoelectronmicroscopic techniques, we have demonstrated three distinct patterns of IgA deposition in the skin of patients with dermatitis herpetiformis. The least common of these patterns is the localization of reaction products to the lamina lucida. As this is the location of the immunoreactants in bullous pemphigoid and herpes gestationis and because the ultrastructural findings in our patient's early lesional skin differ from those usually seen in patients with dermatitis herpetiformis, we herein detail this patient's clinical, histologic, immunologic, and ultrastructural findings. The most prominent findings are (1) IgA deposition in the lamina lucida, (2) vesicle formation between basal lamina and the basal cells, and (3) fibrin-like material in the epidermis with showering into the dermis.
Effect of different release rates ofPhytoseiulus persimilis [Acarina: Phytoseiidae] on the twospotted spider mite on strawberry in southern California

The effect of different release rates of a predaceous mite,Phytoseiulus persimilisAthias-Henriot, on the twospotted spider mite,Tetranychus urticaeKoch, on strawberry was investigated in southern California in 1970–71. The spider mite population reached a peak of 206.3 active stages/leaflet in the low-rate (5/plant) release plot on May 4 and 169.1/leaflet in the high-rate (10/plant) release plot on May 18, compared to a peak of 433.4/leaflet in the control (no release) plot on May 11. The mean numbers of spider mites in the low-, and high-rate release plots were significantly different from the control from April 6 through June 15, but were never significantly different from each other. The predator population reached a peak of 13.1 and 23.8 active stages/leaflet in the low-, and high-rate release plots, respectively, on May 25 which was 3 weeks and 1 week after the spider mite population reached its peak in these plots. The seasonal mean numbers of spider mite active stages in the low-, and high-rate release plots were significantly different (P=0.05) from the control, but were not significantly different from each other. There were no significant differences in fruit yield (g/plant) or fruit size between the low-, and high-rate release and control plots.
An integrated transcriptome-wide analysis of cave and surface dwelling Astyanax mexicanus.

Numerous organisms around the globe have successfully adapted to subterranean environments. A powerful system in which to study cave adaptation is the freshwater characin fish, Astyanax mexicanus. Prior studies in this system have established a genetic basis for the evolution of numerous regressive traits, most notably vision and pigmentation reduction. However, identification of the precise genetic alterations that underlie these morphological changes has been delayed by limited genetic and genomic resources. To address this, we performed a transcriptome analysis of cave and surface dwelling Astyanax morphs using Roche/454 pyrosequencing technology. Through this approach, we obtained 576,197 Pachon cavefish-specific reads and 438,978 surface fish-specific reads. Using this dataset, we assembled transcriptomes of cave and surface fish separately, as well as an integrated transcriptome that combined 1,499,568 reads from both morphotypes. The integrated assembly was the most successful approach, yielding 22,596 high quality contiguous sequences comprising a total transcriptome length of 21,363,556 bp. Sequence identities were obtained through exhaustive blast searches, revealing an adult transcriptome represented by highly diverse Gene Ontology (GO) terms. Our dataset facilitated rapid identification of sequence polymorphisms between morphotypes. These data, along with positional information collected from the Danio rerio genome, revealed several syntenic regions between Astyanax and Danio. We demonstrated the utility of this positional information through a QTL analysis of albinism in a surface x Pachon cave F2 pedigree, using 65 polymorphic markers identified from our integrated assembly. We also adapted our dataset for an RNA-seq study, revealing many genes responsible for visual system maintenance in surface fish, whose expression was not detected in adult Pachon cavefish. Conversely, several metabolism-related genes expressed in cavefish were not detected in surface fish. This resource will enable powerful genetic and genomic analyses in the future that will better clarify the heritable genetic changes governing adaptation to the cave environment.
DEVELOPMENT OF SUCROSE INVERSION KINETICS UNDER CONTINUOUS FLOW CONDITIONS

Reaction kinetic data for the acid hydrolysis of sucrose were generated during continuous flow thermal treatment. Predicted levels of hydrolysis were calculated using batch-generated kinetic parameters and the equivalent point method of thermal evaluation. Actual and simulated levels of hydrolysis were linearly correlated (r > 0.98). Evaluation of hydrolysis data for isothermal and non-isothermal operations, using the equivalent point method supported first order kinetics, and yielded Arrhenius parameters resembling batch generated values. Experimental activation energy, Ea, values ranged from 100.2 to 119.7 kJ/mole, which is in agreement with literature values which range from 99 to 106 kJ/mole.
The Impact of Gender on Use of Pelvic Lymphadenectomy at the Time of Radical Cystectomy

AbstractIntroduction: Although women are less likely to be diagnosed with bladder cancer than men, they experience a disproportionally high rate of cancer specific mortality. Underuse of evidence-based processes of care may contribute to this mortality difference. We explored variation in the use of pelvic lymphadenectomy at the time of radical cystectomy between men and women, and determined if this was impacted by surgeon or hospital volume.Methods: We identified all patients with bladder cancer who underwent radical cystectomy from 1996 to 2009 in the New York, Maryland and Florida State Inpatient Databases. The effect of gender on the use of pelvic lymphadenectomy was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression models.Results: Approximately 25% of our cohort was female. Compared to men, women were less likely to be treated with pelvic lymphadenectomy (54% vs 60%, p <0.001), and tended to be treated by lower volume surgeons and at lower volume hospitals. Women had 21% lower odds (95% CI 5–35) of un...
Plasmonic and surface wave propagation in boundary layers in the microwave, THz, and optical regimes

We investigate transverse electromagnetic (TM) wave propagation on the surface of dielectric-metal, air-dielectric-metal and air-ice-ocean boundaries. The analysis is carried out by means of the canonical problem of a magnetic line source on a planar boundary between two mediums. This formulation at THz and optical frequencies reveals the existence of an initial space wave decaying as x−1/2, a plasmon surface wave, and at large distances x from the source a x−3/2 behavior commonly associated with a lateral wave. We address the controversy concerning the existence of Zenneck waves and confirm the analysis of Collin. We also address the controversy concerning the purported existence of trapped surface waves in sea ice at microwave frequencies.
Do Chinese banks perform better after IPOs

Purpose – As part of the banking reform, major commercial banks in China went through initial public offerings (IPOs) in the past two decades. Has this change in the ownership structure led to improvement in their performance? With a comprehensive data set of Chinese banks over 1999-2010, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of IPOs on bank performance in China. Design/methodology/approach – The authors employ a stochastic frontier approach (SFA) to measure bank efficiency and assess the selection and dynamic effects of public listing. Findings – The authors find strong selection effects. That is, banks that choose to go public are significantly more efficient than those that do not. However, the analysis of the dynamic effects shows no evidence that bank efficiency improves after going public, either in the short run or in the long run. The authors further look into bank performance around IPO events with non-parametric analysis and find that banks significantly outperform their counte...
Comparative Autoignition Trends in Butanol Isomers at Elevated Pressure

Autoignition experiments of stoichiometric mixtures of s-, t-, and i-butanol in air have been performed using a heated rapid compression machine (RCM). At compressed pressures of 15 and 30 bar and ...
Selective Vasodilator Effects of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide in the Human Placental Vasculature

Objective:To determine whether atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) attenuates the vasocon-strictor effects of angiotensin II (AII), a thromboxane mimetic (U46619), and endothelin-1 in the human fetal-placental vasculature and to determine whether nitric oxide (NO) has a role in the vasodilator activity of ANP.Methods:Isolated placental cotyledons were dually perfused, with fetal perfusion pressure used as an index of vascular response. The effects of AII (10-10-10-6 mol/L bolus injection), endothelin-1 (10-7 mol/L bolus), and U46619 (10-9-10-6 mol/L bolus or 10-8 mol/L infusion) were established in the absence or presence of ANP (10-8 mol/L). The role of NO as a mediator of ANP action was investigated by perfusion with n-nitro-L-arginine (NNLA, 10-3 mol/L), an inhibitor of NO synthase. Statistical significance was determined by analysis of variance.Results:Atrial nutriuretic peptide caused significant attenuation of vasoconstrictor responses to AII, but weak attenuation of endothelin-1 and no attenuation of ...
Lindhard Dielectric Functions with a Finite Electron Lifetime

The finite-electron-lifetime expressions for the longitudinal and transverse dielectric functions of a free-electron gas obtained by Lindhard in the self-consistent-field approximation are examined. It is shown that these results are incorrect, and appropriate expressions are developed for the case where the system can be characterized by a single relaxation time.
Re-(en)visioning “the vanishing of the past”: Myth, Art, and Women in A. S. Byatt’s “Medusa’s Ankles” and “Art Work”

In her essay “True Stories and the Facts in Fiction” from On Histories and Stories, A. S. Byatt discusses “the relations of precise scholarship and fiction—largely historical fiction” (92) and expl...