cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Paraneoplastic and Therapy-Related Immune Complications in Thymic Malignancies.

The thymus is a key organ involved in establishing central immune tolerance. Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) include thymomas and thymic carcinomas. Thymomas, which are histologically distinct from thymic carcinomas, lead to dysregulated thymopoiesis via decreased thymic epithelial expression of AIRE and MHC Class II, as well as via alterations in thymic architecture, thereby resulting in autoimmune complications that manifest as paraneoplastic disorders (PNDs). Although progress has been made in elucidating the mechanisms underlying thymoma-associated PNDs, there remains a great need to further define the underlying mechanisms and to identify additional immune biomarkers, such as novel antibodies (in “seronegative“ cases) to facilitate diagnosis and monitoring of patients. In addition, a better understanding of the pathogenesis of PNDs could lead to improved treatment strategies for both thymomas and their immune complications. In advanced, refractory cases of TETs (both thymoma and thymic carcinoma), additional therapeutic approaches are needed. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment of several malignancies and hold promise in the treatment of TETs; however, the risks for immune-related adverse events (especially for inducing PNDs as well as in the setting of pre-existing PNDs) underscore the need to optimize patient selection and improve clinical management before there can be widespread acceptance of checkpoint inhibitor therapy in patients with TETs.
“We Bleed in Mestizaje”: Corporeal Utopias and Mestiza Futurities in Gloria E. Anzaldúa’s Light in the Dark/Luz en Lo Oscuro

This chapter engages with the entanglements of (bio)science, futurity, race mixture, and spirituality embodied by Latinx speculative fiction. Latinx speculative fiction writers such as Gloria Anzaldua repurpose—and strategically distort—racialized biological idioms for utopian ends. Anzaldua’s simultaneously cultural and genetic, biological and spiritual iteration of a specifically Mexican nationalist version of mestizaje shapes, however problematically, her forward-looking vistas of global struggles for racial justice and queer liberation. The representations of the ever-mutating (his)stories of mixed-race corporeality so endemic to the Americas are nowhere more evident than in the speculative fictions of mestiza writers like Anzaldua who have had to negotiate biologized and essentialist Latin American discourses of mestizaje or Indo-Hispanic race mixing, all laid over contending models of body and spirit.
Estimating the value of mangrove leaf litter in sesarmid crab diets:: the importance of fractionation factors

Sesarmid crabs play an important role in organic matter and carbon cycling of mangrove forests. Visual observations and gut content studies have verified that sesarmid crabs are feeding on mangrove leaves, yet stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen (13C and 15N) have indicated that leaf litter is not assimilated as a food source. Sesarmid crabs tend to be much more enriched in 13C than leaf litter (0.9‰ – 11.6‰) and have C values that are often more like microphytobenthos (MPB). General 13C trophic enrichment factors (TEF; 0.1‰ – 0.5‰) suggest crabs feed more heavily on MPB. Field and laboratory-based evidence reveal that general 13C TEF for crabs feeding on mangrove leaves may be incorrect and much greater than 0.1‰ – 0.5‰. A food web study conducted annually over 2 yrs revealed a shift in the δ13C and δ15N of Parasesarma sp. crabs similar to mangrove leaves also sampled. This suggested Parasesarma sp. may be feeding more heavily on mangrove leaves than previously reported despite crabs being 4.4‰ – 11.6‰ more enriched in 13C than mangrove leaves. A laboratory feeding study confirmed that average 13C TEF between Parasesarma sp. and decayed Rhizophora sp. leaves was 3.3‰ (SE 0.5). The Stable Isotope Analysis in R package (SIAR) used with our TEF and the general 0.5‰ 13C TEF revealed that published TEFs may underestimate mangrove leaf contributions to sesarmid crab diets on average by 33.3% (SE 0.1) and overestimate MPB and epiphytic algal contributions by 31.3% (SE 0.1). Food web studies in mangroves and other ecosystems will continue to inaccurately identify important food resources or food web structures unless more accurate and species-specific isotope fractionation values are determined.
On the response of the tropical atmosphere to large-scale deforestation

Recent studies on the Amazon deforestation problem predict that removal of the forest will result in a higher surface temperature, a significant reduction in evaporation and precipitation, and possibly significant changes in the tropical circulation. Here, we discuss the basic mechanisms contributing to the response of the tropical atmosphere to deforestation. A simple linear model of the tropical atmosphere is used in studying the effects of deforestation on climate. It is suggested that the impact of large-scale deforestation on the circulation of the tropical atmosphere consists of two components: the response of the tropical circulation to the negative change in precipitation (heating), and the response of the same circulation to the positive change in surface temperature. Owing to their different signs, the changes in predicted temperature and precipitation excite competing responses working in opposite directions. The predicted change in tropical circulation determines the change, if any, in atmospheric moisture convergence, which is equivalent to the change in run-off. The dependence of run-off predictions on the relative magnitudes of the predicted changes in precipitation and surface temperature implies that the predictions about run-off are highly sensitive, which explains, at least partly, the disagreement between the different models concerning the sign of the predicted change in Amazonian run-off.
A Fast and Accurate Algorithm for Spherical Harmonic Analysis on HEALPix Grids with Applications to the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation

Abstract The Hierarchical Equal Area isoLatitude Pixelation (HEALPix) scheme is used extensively in astrophysics for data collection and analysis on the sphere. The scheme was originally designed for studying the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation, which represents the first light to travel during the early stages of the universe's development and gives the strongest evidence for the Big Bang theory to date. Refined analysis of the CMB angular power spectrum can lead to revolutionary developments in understanding the nature of dark matter and dark energy. In this paper, we present a new method for performing spherical harmonic analysis for HEALPix data, which is a central component to computing and analyzing the angular power spectrum of the massive CMB data sets. The method uses a novel combination of a non-uniform fast Fourier transform, the double Fourier sphere method, and Slevinsky's fast spherical harmonic transform [38] . For a HEALPix grid with N pixels (points), the computational complexity of the method is O ( N log 2 ⁡ N ) , with an initial set-up cost of O ( N 3 / 2 log ⁡ N ) . This compares favorably with O ( N 3 / 2 ) runtime complexity of the current methods available in the HEALPix software when multiple maps need to be analyzed at the same time. Using numerical experiments, we demonstrate that the new method also appears to provide better accuracy over the entire angular power spectrum of synthetic data when compared to the current methods, with a convergence rate at least two times higher.
Disparities in neonatal abstinence syndrome and health insurance status: A statewide study using non-claims real-time surveillance data.

BACKGROUND Most studies examining the relationship between neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) and health insurance status in the United States (USA) have used administrative insurance claims data, which is subject to myriad limitations. We examined the association between NAS and health insurance status in a large geographically defined rural population in the United States, using non-claims data. METHODS We utilized data from a population-based cohort of all newborns born in 2017-2019 in the rural state of West Virginia (WV) and restricted analyses to WV residents' births (n = 46 213). NAS was defined as neonatal withdrawal from many substances, including opiates and not limited to those cases that require pharmacological treatment. RESULTS Medicaid covered more than half (52.6%) of all infants' births in the state of WV. The incidence of NAS was 85.8 and 12.7 per 1000 livebirths in the Medicaid and privately insured groups, respectively. Among all infants diagnosed with NAS, 86.1% were enrolled in the state's Medicaid programme. The risk of NAS in the Medicaid-insured newborns was higher than privately insured newborns in the unadjusted analysis (risk ratio (RR) 6.76, 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.95, 7.68) and the adjusted analysis RR 3.00, 95% CI 2.01, 4.49); adjusted risk difference 20.3 (95% CI 17.5, 23.1 cases per 1000 livebirths). CONCLUSIONS NAS is an important indicator of the immediate effect of the opioid crisis. This study shows the disparity in NAS by health insurance status for a large rural population in the United States, and its burden on the state's Medicaid programme. Providing timely and accurate estimates of NAS is important for public health policies and decision making.
Nanoporous multimetallic Ir alloys as efficient and stable electrocatalysts for acidic oxygen evolution reactions

Abstract The dearth of appropriate electrocatalysts for stable anodic water splitting, oxygen evolution reaction (OER), in acid has given rise to concerted efforts toward making iridium-based high aspect ratio nanomaterials, as iridium and its higher valent oxides have been shown time and again to exhibit the most optimal balance between activity and durability. Here, we show a dealloying strategy to synthesize free-standing 3D, oxide skinned nanoporous Ir electrocatalysts (np-Ir) with demonstrated enhanced activity and durability in comparison to more traditional IrOx nanoparticulate catalysts. The metallic core and absence of any binder/support result in low electrode and charge transfer resistance, ultimately giving rise to lower OER overpotentials and improved activity.
Schema representations in distinct brain networks support narrative memory during encoding and retrieval

Abstract Schematic prior knowledge can scaffold the construction of event memories during perception and also provide structured cues to guide memory search during retrieval. We measured the activation of story-specific and schematic representations using fMRI while participants were presented with 16 stories and then recalled each of the narratives, and related these activations to memory for specific story details. We predicted that schema representations in mPFC would be correlated with successful recall of story details. In keeping with this prediction, an anterior mPFC region showed a significant correlation between activation of schema representations at encoding and subsequent behavioral recall performance; however, this mPFC region was not implicated in schema representation during retrieval. More generally, our analyses revealed largely distinct brain networks at encoding and retrieval in which schema activation was related to successful recall. These results provide new insight into when and where event knowledge can support narrative memory.
Relationships among beech bark disease, climate, radial growth response and mortality of American beech in northern Maine, USA

A majority of beech forests across Maine first experienced beech bark disease (BBD) from 1935 to 1960 when sap feeding by an introduced beech scale insect, Cryptococcus fagisuga, allowed lethal fungal infections primarily by Neonectria ditissima and/or Neonectria faginata. Beech stands along the MaineâQuebec border in northern Maine were excluded from this initial killing phase presumably due to cold winter temperatures that inhibited scale survival. However, a sharp increase in beech mortality after 2002 occurred in previously uninfected border stands and stands long affected by BBD. Beech mortality averaged 50% across northern Maine during 2003â2006. To identify plausible stresses that could explain the mortality, a dendropathological study was conducted from 2005 to 2006 in northern Maine that quantified temporal and spatial relationships between possible stressors with beech mortality and growth decline. Nineteen sets of highâ and lowâmortality plots were located randomly across four bioregions. Increment cores were taken from both beech trees (nâ=â565) and associated tree species (nâ=â450). A growth change index of increments was used to evaluate beech responses to biotic and climatic stresses. A prolonged period of relatively mild winters without temperatures lethal to scale insect (<â34Â°C) from 2000 to 2004 coupled with low AugustâOctober precipitation from 2000 to 2003 may have provided ideal conditions initiating a widespread scale epidemic. A major drought period from 1999 to 2002 coincided with growth decline and a significant increase in beech mortality across all regions included in this study. Neonectria was found infecting weakened trees across the region. Drought, beech scale and Neonectria are plausible explanations for the episode of high beech mortality in northern Maine. This is the first report of a major killing phase of beech within the BBD âaftermathâ forests.
Array Decomposition‐Fast Multipole Method for finite array analysis

[1] An innovative approach is presented for analyzing finite arrays of regularly spaced elements. We review the recently proposed Array Decomposition Method, which exploits the block-Toeplitz property of regularly spaced arrays for significant storage reduction. To further reduce storage, in this paper we incorporate a multipole expansion to treat distant element interactions. The suggested approach overcomes the matrix storage bottleneck associated with integral equation methods, resulting in fixed and minimal matrix storage for any sized array (on the same order as the storage of a single array element). Hence, fast and rigorous analysis of very large finite arrays can be accomplished with limited resources.
Art and beauty in the Middle Ages

In this volume, the Italian novelist and playwright Umberto Eco aims to present a learned summary of mediaeval aesthetic ideas. Juxtaposing theology and science, poetry and mysticism, Eco explores the relationship that existed between the aesthetic theories and the artistic experience and practice of mediaeval culture.
Alterations in human lymphocyte DNA caused by sulfur mustard can be mitigated by selective inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase.

Abstract Changes in genomic DNA caused by exposure to the cytotoxic alkylating agent, 2,2′-dichlorodiethyl sulfide (sulfur mustard; HD), alone or in combination with selective inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), were analyzed as a function of HD concentration and post-exposure time. Preparations of human peripheral blood lymphocytes were exposed to HD (1×10 −8 M–1×10 −3 M), and incubated at 37°C for 0–24 h. Total genomic DNA was extracted from these cells and compared with DNA from control cells of the same donor using agarose gel electrophoresis. The effects of HD on genomic DNA depended on the HD concentration and the length of the post-exposure time interval. DNA fragmentation was detected as early as 2 h after exposure to 3×10 −4 M HD, or at 24 h after exposure to 6×10 −6 M HD. The qualitative DNA pattern, as well as the extent of DNA fragmentation, changed with post-exposure time. Exposure to HD caused a time-dependent shift in the DNA cleavage pattern from an oligonucleosome-sized ‘DNA ladder’ characteristic of apoptotic cell death, to a ‘broad band’ pattern characteristic of necrotic cell death. DNA fragmentation was not observed if cells were killed with heat or with Lewisite. Treatment of cells with selective PARP inhibitors consistently altered the DNA fragmentation caused by HD exposure. The inhibitors arrested DNA fragmentation at the DNA ladder stage. This effect only was observed if the PARP inhibitors were applied within 8 h of HD exposure. We conclude that early inhibition of PARP activity can induce a switch in the mechanism of cell death caused by HD. Such a switch may be useful therapeutically to convert a lytic, pro-inflammatory cell death that includes the disintegration of dying cells (necrosis), into a slower, programmed cell death that includes absorption of dying cells (apoptosis).
Recurrent critical points and typical limit sets of rational maps

We consider a rational map f : Ĉ→ Ĉ of the Riemann sphere with normalized Lebesgue measure μ and show that if there is a subset of the Julia set J(f) of positive μ-measure whose points have limit sets not contained in the union of the limit sets of recurrent critical points, then ω(x) = Ĉ = J(f) for μ-a.e. point x and f is conservative, ergodic and exact.
Theoretical characterization of charge transport in chromia (α-Cr2O3)

Transport of conduction electrons and holes through the lattice of α-Cr2O3 (chromia) is modeled as a valence alternation of chromium cations using ab initio electronic structure calculations and electron-transfer theory. In the context of the small polaron model, a cluster approach was used to compute quantities controlling the mobility of localized electrons and holes, i.e., the reorganization energy and the electronic coupling matrix element that enter Marcus’ theory. The calculation of the electronic coupling followed the generalized Mulliken-Hush approach using the complete active space self-consistent-field (CASSCF) method and the quasidiabatic method. Our findings indicate that hole mobility is more than three orders of magnitude larger than electron mobility in both (001) and [001] lattice directions. The difference arises mainly from the larger internal reorganization energy calculated for electron-transport relative to hole-transport processes while electronic couplings have similar magnitudes. T...
Exploring the measurement of end user computing success

As end user computing (EUC) becomes more pervasive in organizations, a need arises to measure and understand the factors that m ke EUC successful. EUC success is viewed as a subclass of organizational information system (IS) success, having distinct characteristics that distinguish it from other sources of organizational computing success. Namely, the success of applications developed by the information systems department (ISD), software vendors, or outsourcing companies. The literature shows that despite the volitional nature of end user computing, end user satisfaction is the most popular measure EUC success. Moreover, despite known limitations reported in the literature, self-reported scales are the instruments of choice by most researchers. This paper explores the literature on EUC success measurement and discusses the main issues and concerns researchers face. While alluding to the difficulty of devising economic and quantitative measures of EUC success, recommendations are made including the use of unobtrusive measures of success, take into account contextual factors, use well-defined concepts and measures and seek a comprehensive integrated model that incorporates a global view.
Epidemiologic typing of Staphylococcus aureus by DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms of rRNA genes: elucidation of the clonal nature of a group of bacteriophage-nontypeable, ciprofloxacin-resistant, methicillin-susceptible S. aureus isolates.

Abstract Analysis of DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms of rRNA genes (ribotyping) was employed to assist in the epidemiologic investigation of the emergence and spread of ciprofloxacin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus at the Atlanta VA Medical Center because many isolates of interest were nontypeable by phages and harbored few plasmids useful as strain markers. Chromosomal DNAs of selected S. aureus isolates were digested initially with 20 different restriction enzymes. EcoRI appeared to give the best discrimination of hybridization banding patterns (ribotypes) and was used with all study isolates. Overall, 15 different ribotypes were seen among the 50 S. aureus isolates studied (7 ribotypes among 13 methicillin-susceptible S. aureus [MSSA] isolates and 9 ribotypes among 37 methicillin-resistant S. aureus [MRSA] isolates). Seven of eight ciprofloxacin-resistant MSSA (CR-MSSA) patient isolates had identical antibiograms, were nontypeable by phages, and had a single 22-MDa plasmid. Six of these seven CR-MSSA isolates had an identical ribotype pattern. Ribotyping distinguished this CR-MSSA strain or clone from MRSA and other MSSA isolates, including nontypeable isolates that contained a 22-MDa plasmid. Five ciprofloxacin-susceptible MSSA isolates studied had five ribotypes; one pattern was identical to the CR-MSSA clone. Twenty-three CR-MRSA isolates recovered from the Atlanta VA Medical Center had four different ribotypes. Ribotyping proved to be a useful molecular epidemiologic tool in the study of S. aureus because it differentiated isolates which were indistinguishable by more traditional methods. In addition, this technique demonstrated that at our institution, ciprofloxacin resistance emerged in multiple strains of MRSA, as opposed to primarily a single strain or clone of MSSA.
John S. Dryzek with Simon Niemeyer, Foundations and Frontiers of Deliberative Governance

In its ascension to proverbial heights, the “deliberative turn” has profoundly altered democratic theory. While theorists continue to challenge the meanings behind this turn, deliberative concepts have rapidly proliferated across numerous academic fields. Consequently, the discombobulated efforts of these theorists, researchers, and practitioners underscore the importance of rhetorical scholarship. As deliberative democracy continues to influence a wide range of topics, the ability of rhetoricians to effectively translate competing deliberative perspectives in ways that inform attempts to turn theory into practice will become more important than ever.
Performance analysis of UNIX user datagram protocol implementations

As wired and wireless networks grow, underlying protocols need to be evaluated so that heterogeneous networks can be linked in an efficient manner. Among the transport layer protocols, user datagram protocol UDP is the only protocol that offers a fast and efficient mechanism to handle voice and video data traffic because it is a message based, connectionless service operating on the IP layer. In addition to the network conditions, it is observed that the performance also depends upon the implementation of the protocol. UNIX is one of the most widely used operating system in the networking world and different UNIX flavors have different UDP stack implementation. In this research work the performance of different UDP implementations were compared under different network conditions. It is observed that no UDP implementation dominates in all the tested network conditions. It is also observed that the selection of an appropriate datagram size had large impact on the overall performance.
Simulated watershed scale impacts of corn stover removal for biofuel on hydrology and water quality

Ethanol from corn stover is expected to play an important role in achieving the Energy Independence and Security Act 2007 target of 136.25 billion liters (36 billion gallons) of biofuel by 2022. The 2010 USDA biofuel strategic report estimates that 16.3 billion liters (4.3 billion gallons) of biofuel from crop residues such as corn stover and straw is possible. Corn stover is expected to provide the majority of the estimated biofuel from crop residues, especially from the Midwestern US Corn Belt. A major concern related to removing corn stover is potential negative hydrologic and water quality impacts. The overall goal of this study was to estimate the watershed scale environmental impacts of corn stover removal in an agricultural watershed in the Midwest US. Soil and Water Assessment Tool was used to simulate the impacts associated with three corn stover removal rates (38%, 52% and 70%). The stream flow, nitrate and mineral phosphorus loading were reduced, and sediment and organic nitrogen loading were increased at the watershed outlet with all three stover removal scenarios. The stream flow was reduced by 1.4%, 2.0% and 2.7% from the baseline scenario (no stover removed) at 38%, 52% and 70% stover removal rates, respectively. The sediment loading increased by 19.7%, 22.5% and 29.0%, organic nitrogen increased by 0.8%, 2.0% and 5.5%, mineral phosphorus decreased by 11.7%, 15.5% and 21.0%, and nitrate decreased by 2.0%, 3.2% and 5.3% from the baseline scenario at the watershed outlet with 38%, 52% and 70% stover removal rates, respectively. The model results also indicate that the watershed response to stover removal is sensitive to watershed characteristics and management inputs, such as, slope and amount of fertilizer applied. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
New method for extracting static equilibrium configurations in general relativity

We investigate the static equations of general relativity for spherical symmetry in Schwarzschild coordinates. A new formalism is discussed which allows integration of the equations for an isotropic fluid under a broad range of initial assumptions. We are able to derive many previous solutions using this technique, and find as well a number of new solutions to the equations. A process is discussed whereby already known solutions can be generalized to increase their flexibility and usefulness with regard to the mathematical modeling of ultradense objects such as neutron stars.
Antioxidants attenuate nuclear factor-kappa B activation and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production in alcoholic hepatitis patient monocytes and rat Kupffer cells, in vitro.

Abstract There is increased tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) activity in alcoholic hepatitis (AH). Objectives: To examine the effects of antioxidants and glutathione enhancing agents on NF-κB activation and TNF production in Kupffer cells and monocytes. Design and Methods: Isolated rat Kupffer cells and peripheral blood monocytes from AH patients were treated in vitro. NF-κB activation was assessed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and TNF was measured in cell culture supernatants. Results: Monocytes from AH patients had greater TNF production compared to normal volunteers. Pretreatment with antioxidants or gluathione enhancing agents inhibited TNF production and NF-κB activation in both monocytes from normal and AH patients as well as in rat Kupffer cells. Conclusions: There may be a therapeutic role for antioxidants or glutathione enhancing agents in disease states with increased TNF activity such as AH.
SIM Lite: ground alignment of the instrument

We present the start of the ground alignment plan for the SIM Lite Instrument. We outline the integration and alignment of the individual benches on which all the optics are mounted, and then the alignment of the benches to form the Science and Guide interferometers. The Instrument has a guide interferometer with only a 40 arc-seconds field of regard, and 200 arc-seconds of alignment adjustability. This requires each sides of the interferometer to be aligned to a fraction of that, while at the same time be orthogonal to the baseline defined by the External Metrology Truss. The baselines of the Science and Guide interferometers must also be aligned to be parallel. The start of these alignment plans is captured in a SysML Instrument System model, in the form of activity diagrams. These activity diagrams are then related to the hardware design and requirements. We finish with future plans for the alignment and integration activities and requirements.
External Isovolumic Contraction Times and Left Ventricular Ejection Time/External Isovolumic Contraction Time Ratios at Rest and After Exercise in Coronary Heart Disease

Twenty-one men with coronary heart disease had supine phonocardiograms and carotid pulse tracings at rest, immediately after upright bicycle exercise, and 3 min after exercise 1 day preceding left ventricular cineangiography. External isovolumic contraction times (EICT) and left ventricular ejection time/EICT (LVET/EICT) ratios were computed and correlated with ejection fractions and ventricular end-diastolic volumes determined from right anterior oblique cineangiograms. For the ejection fraction, the highest correlations were with the LVET/EICT ratios immediately after (r = 0.71) and 3 min after exercise (r = 0.69). For the end-diastolic volume, the highest correlations were with the LVET/EICT ratios immediately after (r = –0.79) and 3 min after exercise (r = –0.80). The LVET/EICT ratio immediately after exercise differentiated between 13 patients with an ejection fraction of 50% or greater and eight patients with an ejection fraction <50%. These data indicate that the LVET/EICT ratio after exercise is a...
Methylene blue staining of dysplastic and nondysplastic Barrett's esophagus: an in vivo and ex vivo study.

Background and study aims Methylene blue selectively stains specialized columnar epithelium in Barrett's esophagus with high accuracy. We prospectively evaluated the methylene blue staining properties of dysplastic and nondysplastic Barrett's esophagus and the association of these properties with the risk for dysplasia and cancer. Patients and methods In a ex vivo study, we mapped, photographed, and sampled esophagectomy specimens with high grade dysplasia and/or early adenocarcinoma before and after methylene blue staining. In a concurrent in vivo study, we performed methylene blue staining and characterized methylene blue stain characteristics. Pathologists estimated the proportion of specialized columnar epithelium in each specimen and graded dysplasia. Results We examined 551 biopsies from 47 patients with biopsy-proven Barrett's esophagus and 48 sections from five surgical specimens with Barrett's esophagus and dysplasia and early adenocarcinoma. The accuracy of ex vivo and in vivo methylene blue staining for specialized columnar epithelium was 87% and 90%, respectively. It was influenced by the length of Barrett's esophagus, biopsy location, and the presence of esophagitis and/or dysplasia. Light to absent staining (p = 0.01) and moderate to marked heterogeneity (p = 0.01) were significantly associated with high grade dysplasia or cancer in the univariate analysis and in a multivariate model that adjusted for the length of Barrett's esophagus and the presence of a lesion. These staining characteristics were present in all patients with severe dysplasia and/or adenocarcinoma. Conclusions Highly dysplastic or malignant Barrett's esophagus stains differently with methylene blue. Increased heterogeneity and decreased methylene blue stain intensity are significant independent predictors of high grade dysplasia and/or cancer. These features may help to direct biopsies in patients without a lesion.
Gas phase ozone decomposition catalysts

Catalytic ozone decomposition is of practical significance because ozone is a toxic substance commonly found or generated in human environments (aircraft cabins, offices with photocopiers, laser printers, sterilizers). Considerable work has been done on ozone decomposition, most of it reported in the patent literature. This review provides a comprehensive summary of this literature, concentrating on analysis of the composition, preparation procedure and performance of the catalysts. This is supplemented by experimental work on kinetics and catalyst characterization which ties together the previously reported results. It is found that p-type oxide semiconductors are the most active substances for ozone decomposition. Among these MnO2 has the highest activity, explaining its prevalence in patent disclosures. The kinetics of the reaction on MnO2 is zero order in oxygen and water vapor and two-thirds order in ozone, and is consistent with the existence of a peroxo or superoxo surface intermediate.
Design of a latent thermal energy storage system with embedded heat pipes

Abstract Thermal energy storage plays an important role in extending the operation of a concentrating solar power (CSP) plant to times when sufficient solar energy is unavailable for generation of electricity. Extending the CSP plant operation increases its capacity factor and can lead to reduction in the levelized cost of electricity equivalent to that of fossil-fueled power plants. In view of this, latent thermal energy storage (LTES) system embedded with gravity-assisted heat pipes is considered in the present study. Transient numerical simulations are presented and the influence of the design and operating parameters on the dynamic charge and discharge performance of the system is analyzed to identify operating windows that satisfy the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative targets, which include, storage cost less than $15/kWht, round-trip exergetic efficiency greater than 95% and charge time less than 6 h for a minimum discharge period of 6 h. Overall, this study illustrates a methodology for design and optimization of LTES with embedded gravity assisted heat pipes (HP-TES) for a CSP plant operation.
Myocardial Viability Testing and the Effect of Early Intervention in Patients With Advanced Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction

Background— The clinical value of revascularization and other procedures in patients with severe systolic heart failure is unclear. It has been suggested that assessing ischemia and viability by positron emission tomography (PET) with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) imaging may identify patients for whom revascularization may lead to improved survival. We performed a propensity analysis to determine whether there might be a survival advantage from revascularization. Methods and Results— We analyzed the survival of 765 consecutive patients (age 64±11 years, 80% men) with advanced left ventricular systolic dysfunction (ejection fraction ≤35%) and without significant valvular heart disease who underwent PET/FDG study at the Cleveland Clinic between 1997 and 2002. Early intervention was defined as any cardiac intervention (surgical or percutaneous) within the first 6 months of the PET/FDG study. In the entire cohort, 230 patients (30%) underwent early intervention (188 [25%] had open heart surgery, most commonly cor...
Preoperative assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma tumor grade using needle biopsy: implications for transplant eligibility.

Objective:To examine the diagnostic agreement of preoperative needle core biopsy (NCB) grading of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared with the final surgical pathologic tumor grade.Summary Background Data:Some centers have adopted protocols for selecting patients with HCC for transplantation bas
Practical analysis and design methods of mechanically-stabilized earth walls-II. Design comparisons and impact of LRFD method

A number of realistic mechanically-stabilized earth (MSE) wall systems are investigated using the general analysis/design procedure described in the companion paper (Part I). Comparisons among the various design methods are made. Impact of the new Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) method on MSE wall design is discussed. To ease the comparisons among the various design approaches, a unified notation is used to express all design parameters.
Direct minimization of the Hartree—Fock expectation value of the hamiltonian

Abstract The problem of direct minimization of the H—F energy expectation value is treated by introducing generalized eulerian angles in M dimensions. These are used to define Fermi spaces occupied by electrons with different spins. The common doubly occupied Fermi subspace can easily be determined in terms of these independent variables. The method involves no constraints other than those explicitly introduced for convenience, such as the symmtery of the solution. The study of closed and open shell systems and diradicals is possible. Examples of singlet and triplet molecular states and doublet states of radicals in the PPP model are presented. Crossing of the singlet and triplet energies as function of molecular geometry is shown. The method is directly applicable also to all-valence semi-empirical and ab-initio methods.
Rubber Elasticity and Fracture

Modele pseudo-amorphe de structure qui permet d'etendre des resultats d'etirage uniaxial contrainte vraie-deformation vraie a des etats plus complexes de contrainte. Rupture et criteres de rupture
Optimizing the number of tools and cutting parameters in multi-tool turning for multiple objectives through geometric programming

Abstract Multiple tool turning is often considered an economic alternative to single tool turning but for its rational application, however, accurate process planning is essential. This paper investigates the automatic (computerized) process planning for a multiple tool turning operation. A unified or multiple objective function based on cost of production and rate of production has been developed. The unified objective function is optimized, subject to constraints, such as component characteristics, machine power available, cutting speed, feed, and depth of cut rate. In all, 14 constraints are applied to the multiple objective function. During analysis, however, it was discovered that the integrality requirement on the number of tools, poses a great problem. Due to this constraint, the optimization problem became one of the ‘nonlinear mixed integer programming’ class. Nonlinear programming, coupled with integer programming, is always a complex problem and was tackled by suitably modifying the geometric programming technique. The mathematical model developed was further modified to include discrete steps of speed and feed on the machine. It was found that in discrete cases, the number of passes required for completing the job was more than in the continuous case. The approach has been demonstrated through an example.
The Effect of Prior Trabeculectomy on Refractive Outcomes of Cataract Surgery

Purpose To examine surgical and refractive outcomes of phacoemulsification with intraocular lens (IOL) implant in eyes with prior trabeculectomy. Design Retrospective observational case-control study. Methods The study compared eyes that underwent phacoemulsification with IOL implant at least 3 months post-trabeculectomy (n = 77) with eyes with either medically controlled glaucoma (n = 43) or no glaucoma (n = 50) at an academic institution. The main outcome measure was the difference between the expected and the actual postoperative refraction. Results Mean intraocular pressure (IOP) increased in trabeculectomy eyes from 8.7 ± 4.2 mm Hg to 10.7 ± 4.0 mm Hg ( P P = .003) and 2.1 mm Hg ( P P P P = .01, r = −0.20). Final visual acuity was not affected by the difference in refractive error. Conclusions The refractive surprise correlated to IOP change, with 2 mm Hg rise resulting in a −0.36 diopter shift between predicted and actual refraction. After cataract extraction, IOP decreased in controls and fewer drops were required, but IOP increased in the study group. Factors affecting refractive surprise in cataract surgery after trabeculectomy, especially IOP change and axial length, require further investigation.
A cytogenetic study of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma

Abstract In the cytogenetic analysis of an embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma after short-term culture, individual cells were found to contain multiple copies of chromosomes #2, #6, #8, #12, #13, #18, #20 and #21, and del(1)(:p21→qter). The tumor was hypotriploid (mode, 56 chromosomes). The relationship between these findings and published reports of karyotypes from rhabdomyosarcoma is discussed.
Accurate and Efficient Implementation of Pore-Morphology-based Drainage Modeling in Two-dimensional Porous Media

We have developed an efficient and accurate numerical implementation for pore-morphological modeling of drainage in two-dimensional, totally wetting porous media. The new numerical method uses level sets to describe the fluid distribution and polygons that can be defined with subgrid scale accuracy for the pore boundaries, while a previously developed approach represents the phases by pixels arranged on a square lattice. We analyze and compare the previous and new method. For both approaches, the simulated fluid saturations are first-order accurate. For the level-set approach, the simulated interfacial lengths converge to the real values, while the pixel approach yields biased results. The level-set method is orders of magnitudes faster than the pixel method.
Neuritin 1 promotes retinal ganglion cell survival and axonal regeneration following optic nerve crush

Neuritin 1 (Nrn1) is an extracellular glycophosphatidylinositol-linked protein that stimulates axonal plasticity, dendritic arborization and synapse maturation in the central nervous system (CNS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective and axogenic properties of Nrn1 on axotomized retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in vitro and on the in vivo optic nerve crush (ONC) mouse model. Axotomized cultured RGCs treated with recombinant hNRN1 significantly increased survival of RGCs by 21% (n=6–7, P<0.01) and neurite outgrowth in RGCs by 141% compared to controls (n=15, P<0.05). RGC transduction with AAV2-CAG–hNRN1 prior to ONC promoted RGC survival (450%, n=3–7, P<0.05) and significantly preserved RGC function by 70% until 28 days post crush (dpc) (n=6, P<0.05) compared with the control AAV2-CAG–green fluorescent protein transduction group. Significantly elevated levels of RGC marker, RNA binding protein with multiple splicing (Rbpms; 73%, n=5–8, P<0.001) and growth cone marker, growth-associated protein 43 (Gap43; 36%, n=3, P<0.01) were observed 28 dpc in the retinas of the treatment group compared with the control group. Significant increase in Gap43 (100%, n=5–6, P<0.05) expression was observed within the optic nerves of the AAV2–hNRN1 group compared to controls. In conclusion, Nrn1 exhibited neuroprotective, regenerative effects and preserved RGC function on axotomized RGCs in vitro and after axonal injury in vivo. Nrn1 is a potential therapeutic target for CNS neurodegenerative diseases.
Source and regulation of testosterone secretion in pregnant and pseudopregnant rats.

Testosterone concentrations were measured in the ovarian, uterine, and jugular venous plasma of pregnant, ordinary pseudopregnant, decidua-bearing, and hysterectomized pseudopregnant rats. Throughout pseudopregnancy and in early pregnancy, testosterone levels in the ovarian vein were approximately 10-fold higher than in either the jugular or the uterine venous plasma. However, while ovarian production of testosterone remained constant through day 18 in decidua-bearing pseudopregnant rats, testosterone secretion by ovaries of pregnant rats dropped to a nadir on day 12. A slight recovery was observed thereafter. However, until day 18, the ovaries produced significantly less testosterone than in the first half of pregnancy. Concomitant to the decline in ovarian production of testosterone was a dramatic rise in uterine secretion of testosterone. Between days 14–22 of pregnancy, testosterone levels in the uterine vein were 4- to 9-fold higher than in the peripheral circulation. In contrast, testosterone concen...
Journeys through the Offset World: Global Travel Narratives and Environmental Crisis

����� ��� In his classic Postmodernism, or, The Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism, Fredric Jameson explores the challenge that globalization poses for individuals’ sense of situatedness through contemporary architecture. In a chapter entitled “Spatial Equivalents in the World System,” he focuses on the Frank Gehry House in Santa Monica, a building that consists of a new architectural envelope superimposed on an older structure so as to create spaces not adequately defined as either “inside” or “outside” in the conventional sense. These unsettling transitional spaces, Jameson argues, provide a metaphor for a broader shift in spatial experience as global networks of commerce, media, politics and culture make it increasingly difficult for individuals and communities fully to inhabit a single place. [I]n that simpler phenomenological or regional sense, place in the United States today no longer exists, or, more precisely, it exists at a much feebler level, surcharged by all kinds of other more powerful but also more abstract spaces. By these last I mean not only Los Angeles itself, as some new hyperurban configuration, but also the increasingly
Compact Expressions for Supply Noise Induced Period Jitter of Global Binary Clock Trees

Period jitter plays a critical role in global clock distribution design, because it directly impacts the time available for logic operations between sequential elements. Moreover, time-varying supply noise injected in global clock drivers can worsen the timing margin of critical paths by modulating period jitter. In the planning stage of global clock distribution for a high-end microprocessor, it is very critical to differentiate and understand the impacts of different design parameters on period jitter. However, it is hard to achieve due to complex relationship among different independent/dependent design parameters: supply noise amplitude, supply noise frequency, clock driver size, physical structures of interconnects, number of clock stages, temperature, process corners, etc. In this paper, we propose sets of analytical expressions which accurately model the behavior of supply noise induced period jitter of global binary clock trees without losing the details of clock distribution design parameters. These accurate expressions and their derivation process are used to provide detailed insight into the relationships between period jitter of binary clock distribution and distribution design parameters with several examples. Also detailed design guidelines for binary clock trees are presented.
Standardized Assessment of the HER2 Status in Breast Cancer by Immunohistochemistry

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is widely used in surgical pathology, but it has been plagued by problems with reproducibility and lack of standardization resulting in poor concordance between laboratories. In particular, inaccuracy of routine human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) testing in breast cancer patients has been a major issue. In 2006 this led the American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO) and College of American Pathologists (CAP) to charge an expert panel with developing recommendations for HER2 testing. After subsequent publication and adoption of these guideline recommendations through dissemination of best practices, variation in clinical practice is expected to diminish and result in improved accuracy. In this article, we review the role of genomic HER2 alterations in the development and treatment of breast cancer, highlight the importance of accurate and reproducible HER2 testing, and discuss practical approaches to standardize HER2 testing by IHC. Pre-analytic and analytic variables are addressed, and a practical algorithm for test interpretation is introduced. * IHC : immunohistochemistry HER2 : human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 ASCO : American Society of Clinical Oncologists CAP : College of American Pathologists ER : estrogen receptor FISH : fluorescence in situ hybridization PR : progesterone receptor H&E : hematoxylin and eosin staining
The central ratio of a graph

We examine several graph equations involving the center, C(G), of a graph G. The central ratio of G, denoted c(G), is the ratio of |C(G)| to |V(G)|. We show that for any rational number r, where 0 < r =< 1, there is a graph G with c(G) = r. For all such r, we describe a corresponding minimal graph. Graphs for which c(G) = 1 are called self-centered. We give the range of values for |E(G)| for self-centered connected graphs on n vertices. We then characterize all trees whose center vertices get interchanged under complementation.