cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of ventral plates for cervical arthrodesis.

Objective Ventral cervical plates are used to increase the immediate postoperative rigidity of the spine after decompressive and reconstructive procedures. The evidence supporting this practice is reviewed. Methods A computerized literature search of the database of the National Library of Medicine was conducted using PubMed. All relevant articles were reviewed and a critique was performed to explore the utility of ventral cervical plating. Results Several randomized controlled trials of ventral cervical discectomy versus ventral cervical discectomy and fusion were identified. Three randomized controlled trials that included a differentiation between anterior cervical decompression and fusion, with and without plating, were identified. Many retrospective series, technical reports, and topical reviews were also identified. Conclusion There is little support in the literature for the medical usefulness of ventral cervical plates after single-level cervical fusion. There may, however, be a cost-benefit advantage to the use of such devices. In multilevel procedures and in the setting of traumatic instability, there seems to be an advantage to the use of cervical plates.
The effect of maternal obesity on outcomes in patients undergoing tertiary or higher cesarean delivery.

AbstractObjective: To estimate the association between maternal obesity and adverse outcomes in patients without placenta previa or accreta undergoing a tertiary or higher cesarean delivery.Study design: Retrospective cohort of patients cared for by a single MFM practice undergoing a tertiary or higher cesarean delivery from 2005 to 2013. Patients attempting vaginal delivery and patients with placenta accreta and/or placenta previa were excluded. We estimated the association of maternal obesity (prepregnancy BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) and maternal outcomes. The primary outcome was a composite of severe maternal morbidity (uterine rupture, hysterectomy, blood transfusion, cystotomy requiring repair, bowel injury requiring repair, intensive care unit admission, thrombosis, re-operation, or maternal death).Results: Three hundred and forty four patients met inclusion criteria, 73 (21.2%) of whom were obese. The composite outcome was significantly higher in the obese group (6.8% versus 1.8%, p = 0.024, aOR 4.36, 95% CI 1...
Outcomes of Behavior Support Training to an Agency Providing Residential and Vocational Support to Persons with Developmental Disabilities

The development of behavior support strategies in the homes and workplaces of persons with disabilities remains a challenge. This report presents a study of behavior support training for a resident...
Improving E-Business with A Baldrige-Based Methodology

Abstract The dot.com crash has caused confusion about the practices and potential of E-business. IT managers are at a loss for practical methods that integrate strategic and operational efforts into a systematic E-business strategy, which is hindering the effective use of the E-business model. This article presents a Baldrige-based, rapid assessment implementation methodology for directing and integrating the different facets of E-business activities, resources, and decisions into a practical organizational strategy. the results from two pilot programs illustrate that this methodology is practical and contributes to the success and viability of E-business initiatives.
166 Er Mössbauer and X-ray diffraction study of ErMn2 hydrides

Abstract The pressure-composition isotherm at 22 °C for ErMn2Hx between 1 and 104 Torr shows the formation of two hydride phases with compositions x = 4.6 andx = 4.0 and with equilibrium hydrogen pressures of 15 Torr and less than 1 Torr respectively. Both hydrides are expanded versions of the C14 hexagonal Laves structure of ErMn2 with volume expansions of 23% and 37% for the lower and higher order phases respectively. A slight preferential expansion parallel to the c0 axis is observed. The 166 Er Mossbauer results show that the magnetic moment of erbium in both hydride phases is below the free-ion value measured for ErMn2. The ferromagnetic ordering present in ErMn2 and ErMn2H4 is absent in ErMn2H4.6 down to 1.5 K. Two erbium sites are detected in ErMn2H4 instead of the one expected for the C14 structure. The origin of these sites is discussed in terms of possible configurations of hydrogen site occupancy.
Chromium-bearing olivine in the St. Mesmin chondrite

Olivine phenocrysts in microporphyritic xenoliths in the St. Mesmin chondrite (LL-breccia) show parallel rimward variations of FeO (10 to > -30wt.%), CaO (0·1–0·4%), MnO (0·2–0·8%) and Cr2O3 (0·2–0·7%). Aluminum is near background levels and does not vary systematically with iron. Titanium, sodium and nickel are below the limit of detection. Covariation of Fe and Cr in this olivine distinguishes it from the olivines in lunar mare basalts, in which Cr varies inversely with Fe. Transmission electron microscopy of the St. Mesmin olivine suggests that it is free of submicroscopic inclusions and exsolution lamellae and that the chromium present occurs in solid solution in the olivine. Charge balance and ionic radius considerations suggest that it occurs as Cr2+, whose effective ionic radius is nearly identical to that of Mn2+. The different Fe-Cr relationships observed in the lunar basaltic and St. Mesmin olivines reflect different crystallization sequences. Chromian spinel coprecipitated with olivine in the lunar basalts, reducing the activity of chromium in the melt and leading to the observed anticorrelation of Fe and Cr in olivine (butler, 1972). By contrast, olivine precipitated first in the St. Mesmin microporphyry and was the only solid phase present until more than half of the rock had crystallized. Parallel variation of Fe and Cr reflects crystallization from a melt in which the activity of chromium was increasing.
The Consequences of Fatherhood for Men's Lives

This essay introduces an issue of Research in Human Development devoted to understanding “The Consequences of Fatherhood for Men's Lives,” highlighting its often counterintuitive findings and explanations. The opening field-building article (by Richard A. Settersten, Jr. and Doris Cancel-Tirado) is followed by three empirical articles built around the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth and its offshoots. These articles explore the consequences of fatherhood for relationships with partners and parents (by Jaslean J. La Taillade, Sandra Hofferth, and Vanessa R. Wight), employment (by Kevin Roy, Colleen K. Vesely, Megan Fitzgerald, and Nicolle Buckmiller Jones), and assets (by Jeffrey Dew and David J. Eggebeen).
Monitoring World Society: The Convention on the Rights of the Child in Cameroon

This paper examines the significance of the treaty monitoring process that is routinely prescribed by international human rights treaties. The authors employ world society theory to claim that the monitoring process simultaneously reflects world cultural principles and promotes the diffusion of cultural scripts. To illustrate these claims, the paper integrates examples of the monitoring process of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and its application in the state of Cameroon. The convention is the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history and symbolizes the global commitment to protect and promote the rights of children, while Cameroon exhibits typical ongoing challenges of treaty implementation. The paper situates the monitoring process within world society as a manifestation and agent of its characteristic practices and values, shedding light on the taken-for-granted nature of the process, despite known problems of decoupling.
Force measurement and design of a torquing high-pull headgear.

Abstract The dynamic extraoral force analyzer (DEFA) was found to be capable of measuring linear deflection as a function of force created by a headgear. Ten standard nontorqued face-bows with a cervical and a high-pull direction were tested to determine the reliability of the DEFA. Statistical analysis showed the DEFA to be reliable and accurate in differentiating various directions and deflections of maxillary molars. Doubled-over distal ends of the inner bow with 0 ° of torque and a parietal direction of pull were used as controls. The same face-bows with 9 ° of buccal root torque were tested on the DEFA. These face-bows were tested to determine whether transverse translation without buccal crown tipping of the maxillary first molar will occur. Statistical analysis showed that transverse translation occurred at a force of 200 to 347 gm.
Hypoxia and TGF-β Drive Breast Cancer Bone Metastases through Parallel Signaling Pathways in Tumor Cells and the Bone Microenvironment

Background Most patients with advanced breast cancer develop bone metastases, which cause pain, hypercalcemia, fractures, nerve compression and paralysis. Chemotherapy causes further bone loss, and bone-specific treatments are only palliative. Multiple tumor-secreted factors act on the bone microenvironment to drive a feed-forward cycle of tumor growth. Effective treatment requires inhibiting upstream regulators of groups of prometastatic factors. Two central regulators are hypoxia and transforming growth factor (TGF)- β. We asked whether hypoxia (via HIF-1α) and TGF-β signaling promote bone metastases independently or synergistically, and we tested molecular versus pharmacological inhibition strategies in an animal model. Methodology/Principal Findings We analyzed interactions between HIF-1α and TGF-β pathways in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Only vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), of 16 genes tested, were additively increased by both TGF-β and hypoxia, with effects on the proximal promoters. We inhibited HIF-1α and TGF-β pathways in tumor cells by shRNA and dominant negative receptor approaches. Inhibition of either pathway decreased bone metastasis, with no further effect of double blockade. We tested pharmacologic inhibitors of the pathways, which target both the tumor and the bone microenvironment. Unlike molecular blockade, combined drug treatment decreased bone metastases more than either alone, with effects on bone to decrease osteoclastic bone resorption and increase osteoblast activity, in addition to actions on tumor cells. Conclusions/Significance Hypoxia and TGF-β signaling in parallel drive tumor bone metastases and regulate a common set of tumor genes. In contrast, small molecule inhibitors, by acting on both tumor cells and the bone microenvironment, additively decrease tumor burden, while improving skeletal quality. Our studies suggest that inhibitors of HIF-1α and TGF-β may improve treatment of bone metastases and increase survival.
Ignorance is Bliss: The Effect of Increased Knowledge on Privacy Concerns and Internet Shopping Site Personalization Preferences

Studies have shown that people claim that privacy matters to them but then they often do things while browsing that are risky in terms of privacy. The seeming inconsistency between professed privacy concerns and risky behavior on the Internet may be more a consequence of ignorance rather than irrationality. It is possible that many people simply donâ€™t understand the technologies, risks, and regulations related to privacy and information gathering on the Web. In this study, we conducted an experiment to determine the answer to the following question: If people understood the risks and technology, would that knowledge alter their level of privacy concern and their preferences concerning e-commerce Web site personalization? Results indicate that increased awareness of information gathering technology resulted in significantly higher levels of privacy concern and significantly reduced preferences for Web site personalization. Implications of the findings are discussed.
No androgen in corn pollen.

SummaryExtraction of corn pollen and assay of the extracts according to procedures commonly used on animal materials failed to yield any evidence of androgenic substances.
A numerical investigation of penetration in multilayered material/structure systems

Abstract The response of multilayered ceramic/steel targets to high velocity impact and penetration has been investigated through finite element simulations. A multiple-plane microcracking model has been used to describe the inelastic constitutive behavior of ceramics in the presence of damage. The model has been integrated into the finite element code EPIC95, which possesses contact and erosion capabilities particularly suitable for ballistic simulations. The integrated code has been used to analyze the depth of penetration (DOP) and interface defeat (ID) ceramic target configurations. Parametric analyses have been carried out to establish the effect of ceramic materials, target configuration design for ceramic confinement, diameter/length ( d/L ) ratio of the penetrator, material erosion threshold levels and the use of a shock attenuator on the response of multilayered targets subjected to high velocity impact. The response characteristics are established in terms of the parameters which can be measured experimentally. The analyses show that the integrated code is able to predict the response of ceramic targets in confirmation with experimental findings reported in the literature. The penetration process is found to be less dependent on the ceramic materials as usually assumed by most investigators. By contrast, the penetration process is highly dependent on the multilayered configuration and the target structural design (geometry, and boundary conditions). From a simulation standpoint, it has been found that the erosion parameter plays an important role in predicting the deformation history and interaction of the penetrator with the target. These findings show that meaningful lightweight armor design can only be accomplished through a combined experimental/numerical study in which relevant ballistic materials and structures are simultaneously investigated.
Detection of tidal dissipation in the solid Earth by satellite tracking and altimetry

THE rate at which tidal energy is dissipated in the solid Earth can constrain the anelastic properties of the Earth at frequencies much lower than those accessible with seismology. The dissipative properties of a system are usually expressed as a 'quality factor', Q; estimates1–7 of the semi-diurnal solid-Earth Q range from 90 to 500. But observational constraints on this quantity are difficult to obtain, because dissipation by the body tide is masked by the much greater dissipation that occurs in the oceans8,9. Here we show that recent accurate measurements of the ocean tide obtained by the Topex/Poseidon satellite altimeter10, combined with nearly two decades of laser tracking of satellite orbit perturbations11 (which are sensitive to the total planetary dissipation rate), permit an estimate of the solid-Earth dissipation rate at semi-diurnal period. We find that the body tide lags the principal lunar tidal potential by 0.16±0.09°, implying a dissipation rate of 83±45 gigawatts and a solid-Earth Q of 370 at a period of 12.4 hours. The observed lag agrees well with Zschau's 'most probable' lag1 of 0.21° (deduced from observations of the Chandler wobble), and favours the higher values of Q estimated theoretically.
Role of ethnicity in the expression of features of hot flashes

Abstract The overall goal of this study was to determine the role of ethnicity on features of hot flashes (HFs) in a population of menopausal women in North Central Texas. A total of 397 ethnically diverse menopausal women from North Central Texas were administered our Menopausal Vasomotor Symptoms (MVS) survey to ascertain accurate information about number, length, intensity and behaviorally disruptive effects of hot flash episodes for subsequent analysis for the role of ethnicity in the occurrence of hot flashes. The mean (SD) age for participants was 50.2 (5.3) years; 40% were Caucasian, 38% were African-American and 22% were Hispanic. To evaluate and identify potential associations of hot flash (HF) features, ethnicity, and other independent variables, ordinal/multinomial/binary logistic regression models were used to calculate crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The analysis demonstrates strong associations with ethnicity and the number of HF's/day, the length of each HF episode, the intensity of HFs, and the interruption of daily activities and sleep. Ethnicity was important in the crude and adjusted model describing the association between the number of HFs per day and ethnicity. African-American women were 2.22 (95% CI, 1.38–3.56) times and Hispanic women were 1.85 (95% CI, 1.08–3.18) times more likely to experience more frequent HFs per day than Caucasian women. In contrast, Hispanic women were less likely than Caucasian women to experience sweating and disruption of both daily activities and sleep. Collectively, our results show more frequent and more bothersome HFs in African-American women and more frequent, but less intense and bothersome HFs in Hispanic women in comparison to Caucasian women.
Effect of Substrate Interferences from High‐Density Polyethylene on Association of Simulated Ignitable Liquid Residues with the Corresponding Liquid

The effect of substrate interferences from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) on the ability to associate an ignitable liquid residue with the corresponding liquid standard, using statistical procedures, is demonstrated. Gasoline, kerosene, and lighter fluid, at three different evaporation levels, were spiked onto HDPE and subsequently burned to generate simulated ignitable liquid residues (ILRs). Samples were extracted using a passive headspace procedure and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The total ion chromatograms were subjected to data pretreatment procedures prior to principal components analysis and Pearson product moment correlation. Using the combination of these statistical procedures, simulated ILRs were successfully associated with the corresponding liquid type, despite the presence of compounds inherent to the HDPE substrate, as well as those resulting from pyrolysis of the substrate.
Analysis of the fluid flow and heat transfer in a thin liquid film in the presence and absence of gravity

The hydrodynamic and thermal behavior of a thin liquid film flowing over a solid horizontal surface is analyzed for both plane and radially spreading flows. The situations where the gravitational force is completely absent and where it is significant are analyzed separately and their practical relevance to a micro-gravity environment is discussed. In the presence of gravity, in addition to Reynolds number, the Froude number of the film is found to be an important parameter that determines the supercritical and subcritical flow regimes and any associated hydraulic jump. A closed-form solution is possible under some flow situations, whereas others require numerical integration of ordinary differential equations. The approximate analytical results are found to compare well with the available two-dimensional numerical solutions.
Unified Model of Synaptic Transmission

Learning and memory are two of the most fundamental and widely studied processes which underlie neuroscience. The mechanisms facilitating these processes are collectively known as synaptic plasticity. Through the modulation of synapse strength depending on the activity of neurons, synaptic plasticity reshapes the neural network over time. Synaptic plasticity is caused by the release of glutamate from pre-synaptic neurons and the activity of the synapse is mediated by glutamate receptors (AMPA and NMDA), excitatory amino acid transporters (EAAT), Calmodulin (CAM) and related protein kinases (CAMKII) and phosphatases (PP1). The crucial mechanism is that the ion transport into the post-synaptic compartment through ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) modulates the level of Na+ and Ca++ conductance as well as the number of iGluRs that migrate to the postsynaptic cell membrane. In this study, a unified model incorporating pre-synaptic and post-synaptic transport is developed. The limitations on the simulations due to the complexity and the size of the model are eliminated by coarse-graining in the model and by using hybrid particle/population simulation tools. The effects of different initial concentrations of Na+ and Ca++ and neurotransmitters (glutamate) in different compartments are examined in order to understand how this variables, which may be altered in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Huntington's, affect synaptic transmission. Overall, the model and simulations are expected to provide insight into new therapeutic strategies.
Short- and long-term reproducibility of autonomic measures in supine and standing positions

Autonomic nervous tests and heart rate variability (HRV) have been used to assess cardiac autonomic function and to evaluate long-term prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term reproducibility of HRV parameters and autonomic nervous tests according to body position (supine or standing). The study group consisted of 26 healthy subjects. Autonomic nervous tests and HRV were performed twice during the day and the results were averaged. The protocol was then repeated 3 days after each examination and also after 6 and 24 months. Autonomic nervous tests included deep breathing, Valsalva manoeuvre and isometric muscle exercise (handgrip), as well as blood pressure and heart rate in response to standing. ECG recordings were taken for 10 min during spontaneous breathing for HRV analysis. We found that the reproducibility of some parameters of the autonomic nervous test were independent of body position [E/I ratio (heart rate response to deep breathing)], whereas other parameters were dependent on body position (Valsalva manoeuvre and blood pressure response to sustained handgrip). In addition, within-day measurements of those parameters varied from non-reproducible (Valsalva ratio, handgrip and blood pressure response to standing) to moderately reproducible [E/I ratio and 30/15 ratio (heart rate response to standing)]. Among the HRV parameters, we found that total power (TP), low (LF)- and high (HF)-frequency were reproducible not only for measurements made within the same day, but also during short- and long-term observations, and only the LF/HF ratio was dependent on body position. We conclude that only a few autonomic nervous tests are reproducible in the short- and long-term. Because HRV parameters obtained during spontaneous respiration showed high reproducibility for measurements made within the same day as well as in the short- and long-term, they should be used instead of autonomic nervous tests when long-term observations are carried out in a healthy population.
Microscopic look at the nuclear twist

For /sup 90/Zr and /sup 208/Pb a microscopic one-particle-one-hole plus two-particle-two-hole calculation examines fluid dynamical predictions about a collective twist resonance in finite nuclei at Eapprox.45A/sup -1/3/ MeV. A spin flip mode which strongly competes with the twist in experiments is heavily fragmented, thus allowing experimental detection of the twist.
Non-Heart-Beating Organ Donation: Personal and Institutional Conflicts of Interest

While procurement of organs from donors who are not "brain dead" does not appear to pose insurmountable moral obstacles, the social practice may raise questions of conflict of interest. Non-heart-beating organ donation opens the door for pressure on patients or families to forgo possibly beneficial treatment to provide organs to save others. The combined effects of non-heart-beating donation and organ shortages at major transplant centers brought about by the 1991 United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) local-use organ allocation policy created potential conflicts, including the fact that candidates for organs become potential donors far more frequently than previously. Hospitals with a major emphasis on transplantation have economic and academic interests that may have been hurt by the relative organ shortage. Some may view non-heart-beating organ donation as a way to restore weakened programs and thus unconsciously compromise recognition of problems associated with non-heart-beating donation.
Generalized scoring rules: a framework that reconciles Borda and Condorcet

Generalized scoring rules [Xia and Conitzer 08] are a relatively new class of social choice mechanisms. In this paper, we survey developments in generalized scoring rules, showing that they provide a fruitful framework to obtain general results, and also reconcile the Borda approach and Condorcet approach via a new social choice axiom. We comment on some high-level ideas behind GSRs and their connection to Machine Learning, and point out some ongoing work and future directions.
Cataracts, bilateral macular holes, and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment induced by lightning

Abstract PURPOSE: To report ocular injuries, including a unilateral rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, induced by lightning. METHOD: Case report. A 30-year-old man was injured by lightning. RESULTS: The patient developed a severe decrease in visual acuity in both eyes, an afferent pupillary defect in his left eye, bilateral cataracts, posterior vitreous detachments, macular holes, and an inferotemporal retinal detachment with an associated flap retinal tear in his left eye. CONCLUSIONS: This is a case of bilateral cataracts, posterior vitreous detachments, macular holes, and a unilateral retinal detachment associated with lightning. We postulate that the heating of the retinal surface, the concussive forces on the eye, and a sudden lateral contraction of the attached vitreous resulted in bilateral posterior vitreous detachments and a unilateral peripheral retinal break.
Gauge theories of massive vector fields without scalar fields

We show that it is possible to formulate gauge theories of massive vector fields without introducing physical scalar fields. Examples of such gauge theories are provided by applications of our treatment to the massive Yang-Mills field, a charged vector field interacting with the photon field, and a model of weak and electromagnetic interactions. One-loop renormalizability of each of these systems is discussed. It is suggested that instead of postulating the existence of hypothetical particles to obtain renormalizable gauge theories, it might be worthwhile to construct gauge theories with limited renormalizability by using the formalism described here.
An adaptive spiking neural network with Hebbian learning

This paper will describe a numerical approach to simulating biologically-plausible spiking neural networks. These are time dependent neural networks with realistic models for the neurons (Hodgkin-Huxley). In addition the learning is biologically plausible as well, being a Hebbian approach based on spike timing dependent plasticity (STDP). To make the approach very general and flexible, neurogenesis and synaptogenesis have been implemented, which allows the code to automatically add or remove neurons (or synapses) as required.
Risk to consumers from mercury in bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) from New Jersey: Size, season and geographical effects

Relatively little attention has been devoted to the risks from mercury in saltwater fish, that were caught by recreational fisherfolk. Although the US Food and Drug Administration has issued advisories based on mercury for four saltwater species or groups of fish, there are few data on how mercury levels vary by size, season, or location. This paper examines total mercury levels in muscle of bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) collected from coastal New Jersey, mainly by recreational fishermen. Of primary interest was whether there were differences in mercury levels as a function of location, weight and length of the fish, and season, and in what risk mercury posed to the food chain, including people. Selenium was also measured because of its reported protective effects against mercury. Mercury levels averaged 0.35+/-0.02 (mean and standard error)ppm, and selenium levels averaged 0.37+/-0.01ppm (N=206). In this study, 41% of the fish had mercury levels above 0.3ppm, 20% had levels above 0.5ppm, and 4% had levels above 1ppm. Size was highly correlated with mercury levels, but not with selenium. While selenium levels did not vary at all with season, mercury levels decreased significantly. This relationship was not due to differences in the size of fish, since the fish collected in the summer were the smallest, but had intermediate mercury levels. Mercury levels declined from early June until November, particularly for the smaller-sized fish. While there were significant locational differences in mercury levels (but not selenium), these differences could be a result of size. The levels of mercury in bluefish are not sufficiently high to cause problems for the bluefish themselves, based on known adverse health effects levels, but are high enough to cause potential adverse health effects in sensitive birds and mammals that eat them, and to provide a potential health risk to humans who consume them. Fish larger than 50cm fork length averaged levels above 0.3ppm, suggesting that eating them should be avoided by pregnant women, children, and others who are at risk.
Intractable bladder hemorrhage requiring cystectomy after use of intravesical thiotepa

A case of nearly exsanguinating bladder hemorrhage, occurring six months after intravesical thiotepa administration, is reported. The hemorrhage was not attributable to myelosuppression. This case also demonstrates the hazard of using formalin to control such hemorrhage.
Biodegradation of metolachlor in a soil perfusion experiment

Degradation of the herbicide metachlor [2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide] was studied in a soil perfusion system. After 28 days of perfusion, the 14CO2 evolved from a Virginia soil (soil A), which had been previously treated with metolachlor (Dual) for 5 years, accounted for 18.4% of the added 14C-metolachlor, while only 3.5% of the 14C was liberated as 14CO2 from a soil of the same field which had no history of Dual treatment (soil B). No 14CO2 was liberated from γ-irradiated soil A. After incubation, metolachlor constituted almost all the extractable 14C in sterile soil A, while about 20% of the added 14C extracted from non-sterile soil A consisted of products of metolachlor; 14.8% was identified as dechlorinated metolachlor. No mineralization occurred in actinomycete-inoculated sterile soil A, but 30% of the added 14C was recovered in the form of transformation products of metolachlor. Our results demonstrate clearly that microbial activity is responsible for the mineralization of metolachlor, and that degradation is enhanced in herbicide-acclimated soils.
Influence of tumors on liver concentration of radioactive stilbamidine.

SummaryA series of normal and tumor mice were injected with stilbamidine-amidine-C214. After 96 hours organs were removed and analyzed for radioactivity. Much higher and distinctly abnormal concentrations of C14 were found in the livers of tumor-bearing A and dba strain mice as compared to the controls. Some data for C57, Bagg and McDonnell strains are also given. The relation of this phenomenon to possible abnormalities in nucleic acids in tumor-bearing mice is discussed.
Evolution of a Terrestrial Multiple-Moon System

The currently favored theory of lunar origin is the giant-impact hypothesis. Recent work that has modeled accretional growth in impact-generated disks has found that systems with one or two large moons and external debris are common outcomes. In this paper we investigate the evolution of terrestrial multiple-moon systems as they evolve due to mutual interactions (including mean motion resonances) and tidal interaction with Earth, using both analytical techniques and numerical integrations. We find that multiple-moon configurations that form from impact-generated disks are typically unstable: these systems will likely evolve into a single-moon state as the moons mutually collide or as the inner moonlet crashes into Earth.
Comprehensive mutation scanning of the dystrophin gene in patients with nonsyndromic X-linked dilated cardiomyopathy

Abstract Objectives The goal of this study was to perform comprehensive mutation analysis of the dystrophin gene in patients with X-linked dilated cardiomyopathy (XLCM). Background X-linked dilated cardiomyopathy is a familial disease that is characterized by congestive heart failure without clinical signs of skeletal myopathy. Mutations in the dystrophin gene have been associated with the X-linked form of dilated cardiomyopathy. However, the fraction of XLCM with dystrophin mutations and the distribution of those mutations is not clear. Technical difficulties previously limited comprehensive mutation analysis of this very large gene. Methods The Detection Of Virtually All Mutations-Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism (SSCP) (DOVAM-S), a robotically enhanced multiplexed scanning method that is a highly sensitive modification of SSCP, has successfully detected all of 240 mutations and polymorphisms in three blinded analyses of the factor VIII, factor IX, and ATM genes. Utilizing this method all 79 coding exons and splice junctions for the muscle dystrophin gene, along with six alternative exon 1 sequences, were scanned in eight patients with XLCM. Results This is the first comprehensive scanning of the dystrophin gene in XLCM. Three of eight patients have putative mutations, including two splicing mutations and a missense mutation at a highly conserved amino acid. Conclusions Mutations within the coding regions and splice junctions in the dystrophin gene only account for some cases of XLCM. Genetic heterogeneity and/or undetected mutations in auxiliary regulatory regions or deep within introns may occur in XLCM.
Regulation of a controlled Burgers' equation: Tracking and disturbance rejection for general time dependent signals

In this paper we describe a significant extension of our earlier work on design of feedback laws for regulation of nonlinear distributed parameter systems. In our previous work we presented a technique that was primarily applicable for set-point control. This method was based on the geometric theory of output regulation. In this paper we show that a generalization, motivated by the same theory, can be derived to design feedback laws for solving regulation problems for very general time dependent reference and disturbance signals. In this work the usual assumptions used in the geometric theory do not strictly apply, but nevertheless, we show that some analogs of the regulator equations from the geometric theory can be derived and used to obtain accurate approximations of the control inputs. We note that this methodology is not a simple extension of the set point tracking problem. In particular the infinite dimensional controller involves the solution of a singular DAE. An important part of this work is the development of an iterative regularization scheme that is used to obtain a sequence of time dependent control laws which provide an approximate solution of the regulation problem. Rather than attempt to address the general abstract theory, we demonstrate the method for a multi-input multi-output regulation problem which involves a tracking/disturbance rejection problem for a nonlinear distributed parameter system governed by a one dimensional viscous Burgers' equation. This work represents a significant advance over our earlier work, allowing tracking and disturbance rejection for very general time dependent signals.
Physical model and experimental results of cathode erosion related to power supply ripple

This paper discusses the physical effects of power supply ripple on cathode erosion and cathode arc attachment in a water-cooled, 30 kW nitrogen arcjet. Experimental results are presented for 2 percent thoriated tungsten, which show that the long-term cathode erosion rate is a decreasing function of current ripple over the range 1-13 percent. Above this range, the cathode discharge becomes unstable, and the erosion rate rapidly increases. A qualitative model of this effect is given in terms of a magnetically induced radial motion of the arc column, and an overall increase in the cathode spot radius due to the higher peak current associated with higher ripple. The most important effect of power supply ripple is therefore shown to be its ability to collectively drive the cathode attachment away from the cathode center. This leads to an increase in the cathode attachment area, and a subsequent decrease in the cathode erosion rate.
Abstract 4449: Initial medical attention on patients with stage I or II non-small cell lung cancer

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Background Unlike advanced LC where detection is thought to be always triggered by symptoms, detection of early stage NSCLC patients is commonly believed to be incidental. This is because symptoms at an earlier stage of LC are considered rare and not related to tumor and are largely ignored.Understanding the reasons that caused initial detection of these patients is important for early diagnosis. However, these reasons are not well studied. Methods We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients diagnosed with stage I or II NSCLC between 2000 and 2009 at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center. Suggestive LC-symptoms or other reasons that caused detection were extracted from patients’ medical records. We applied univariate and multivariate analysis to evaluate the association of suggestive LC-symptoms with tumor size and patient survival. Results Of the 1396 early stage LC patients, 733 (52.5%) presented with suggestive LC-symptoms as chief complaint. 347 (24.9%) and 287 (20.6%) were diagnosed because of regular check-ups and evaluations for other diseases, respectively. In particular, for the stage IA patients, 43.1% went to doctors because of suggestive LC-symptoms. The most common complaints were cough (with or without blood), dyspnea (shortness of breath), pain (scapula and chest). No difference in the proportion of suggestive LC-symptom-caused detection was observed by sex and ethnicity. Younger patients (age ≤ 68, median) were diagnosed because of symptoms more often than did older patients (age > 68, P 0.85) when compared with the other (non-symptom-caused) detection. Conclusion Symptoms suggestive of LC are the number one reason that led to detection in early NSCLC. They were also associated with tumor size at diagnosis, suggesting early stage LC patients are developing symptoms. Presence of symptoms in early stages did not compromise survival. Although the clincial usefulness of this information is not determined and the results need to be verified by other independent preferably prospective studies, our data indicates that the general belief on asymptomatic early stage LC may have to be reconsidered. A symptom-based alerting system or guidelines may be worth of further study to benefit for NSCLC high risk individuals. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4449. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4449
The asthma phenotype in the obese: distinct or otherwise?

Asthma is a heterogenous disorder that can be classified into several different phenotypes. Recent cluster analyses have identified an “obese-asthma” phenotype which is characterized by late onset, female predominance and lack of atopy. In addition, obesity among early-onset asthmatics clearly exists and heightens the clinical presentation. Observational studies have demonstrated that asthma among the obese has a clinical presentation that is more severe, harder to control, and is not as responsive to standard controller therapies. While weight loss studies have demonstrated improvement in asthma outcomes, further studies need to be performed. The current knowledge of the existence of two obesity-asthma phenotypes (early- versus late-onset asthma) should encourage investigators to study these entities separately since just as they have distinct presentations, their course, response to therapies, and weight loss strategies may be different as well.
Efficient solid-phase synthesis of peptides with tripodal side-chain bridges and optimization of the solvent conditions for solid-phase cyclizations

Abstract Problems of cyclodimerization during the synthesis of two large-ring monocyclic peptides have allowed us to identify optimized solvent conditions for solid-phase cyclizations. These conditions combine high solvent polarity with excellent peptide-resin swelling. Using this newly optimized solvent system for the cyclizations, we have employed standard Boc Benzyl methods and orthogonal Fmoc OFm and Alloc OAl protection to construct a novel type of bicyclic peptide with a tripodal side-chain bridge. The bridge, which links three amino-acid side chains to one trifunctional template, illustrates a new approach to peptide scaffolding for α-helix stabilization that might readily be applied to more complex structures.
Interorgan transport of lipids in the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus.

Abstract 1. 1. Total lipid expressed in mg/dl of whole coelomic fluid of sexually mature Strongylocentrotus purpuratus was divided between plasma, 1.05; red coelomocytes, 23.53; and white coelomocytes, 12.30. 2. 2. Sexually unripe animals had higher plasma lipid concentrations and lower coelomocyte packed cell volumes and total lipids. 3. 3. Triglycerides comprised from 25 to 50 per cent of the plasma lipids. Coelomocyte lipids consisted mainly of phospholipids and sterols. 4. 4. As many as twelve protein-staining bands could be resolved in serum samples by disc electrophoresis. One of the twelve bands stained with Sudan black B and may be a lipoprotein. 5. 5. When urchins were fed 1- 14 C-palmitate the labeling pattern of the acyl lipid classes of the several organs and the coelomic fluid suggested transport of lipid from the gut to other organs via the agency of the free fatty acid fraction of the coelomocyte lipids.
Personality Dominance and Preferential Use of the Vertical Dimension of Space Evidence From Spatial Attention Paradigms

Previous research has shown that dominant individuals frequently think in terms of dominance hierarchies, which typically invoke vertical metaphor (e.g., “upper” vs. “lower” class). Accordingly, we predicted that in spatial attention paradigms, such individuals would systematically favor the vertical dimension of space more than individuals low in dominance. This prediction was supported by two studies (total N = 96), which provided three tests involving two different spatial attention paradigms. In all cases, analyses controlling for speed of response to horizontal spatial probes revealed that more dominant individuals were faster than less dominant individuals to respond to probes along the vertical dimension of space. Such data support the metaphor-representation perspective, according to which people think in metaphoric terms, even in on-line processing tasks. These results have implications for understanding dominance and also indicate that conceptual metaphor is relevant to understanding the cogniti...
Influenza-associated acute necrotizing encephalopathy in a 2-year-old American child

Abstract Increasing numbers of cases of children with encephalopathy, associated with influenza virus infection, have recently been reported from Japan. A subset of these cases demonstrates imaging findings of bilateral thalamic and deep cerebellar nuclei necrosis consistent with acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE). This case report describes such a case of ANE in an American child.
Tight-binding theory for the thermal evolution of optical band gaps in semiconductors and superlattices

A method to handle the variation of the band gap with temperature in direct band-gap III--V semiconductors and superlattices using an empirical tight-binding method has been developed. The approach follows closely established procedures and allows parameter variations which give rise to perfect fits to the experimental data. We also apply the tight-binding method to the far more complex problem of band structures in type-II infrared superlattices for which we have access to original experimental data recently acquired by our group. Given the close packing of bands in small band-gap type-II designs, $\mathrm{kP\vec}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}\mathrm{pP\vec}$ methods become difficult to handle, and it turns out that the ${\mathit{sp}}^{3}{s}^{*}$ tight-binding scheme is a practical and powerful asset. Other approaches to band-gap shrinkage explored in the past are discussed, scrutinized, and compared. This includes the lattice expansion term, the phonon softening mechanism, and the electron-phonon polaronic shifts calculated in perturbation theory.
Teaching Children to Read : The Fragile Link Between Science & Federal Education Policy

Teaching Children to Read (TCR) has stirred much controversy among reading experts regarding the efficacy of phonics instruction. This report, which was conducted by the National Reading Panel (NRP), has also played an important role in subsequent federal policy regarding reading instruction. Using meta-analysis, the NRP found that systematic phonics instruction was more effective than alternatives in teaching children to read. In the present study, the findings and procedures leading to TCR were examined. We concluded that the methodology and procedures in TCR were not adequate for synthesizing the research literature on phonics instruction. Moreover, we estimated a smaller though still substantial effect (d = .24) for systematic phonics, but we also found an effect for systematic language activities (d = .29) and tutoring (d = .40). Systematic phonics instruction when combined with language activities and individual tutoring may triple the effect of phonics alone. As federal policies are formulated around early literacy curricula and instruction, these findings indicate that phonics, as one aspect of the complex reading process, should not be over-emphasized.
Epiblast origin and early migration of neural crest cells in the chick embryo

Abstract Chick embryos carrying transplants labeled with tritiated thymidine demonstrate that the neural crest originates in the anterior epiblast, at the junction of areas destined for epidermis and neural tube. As the neural tube begins to fold and the axis lengthens, cells along this junction are drawn dorsomedially; at the seven-somite stage they begin to separate from the epithelium of the head, and migrate into the angle between the epidermis and the neural tube. The paraxial mesoderm already populating this angle originates in more posterior and medial portions of the epiblast than do the neural crest cells; after invagination at the primitive streak, it migrates anterolaterally, ventral to the ectoderm layer, until it too is folded dorsomedially into the angle between the epidermis and the neural tube.
Characterization for Organic Ion-Sensitive Field Effect Transistor response for measurement of physiological potassium ion-concentration measurement

Potassium ion monitoring, in human body, is important for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The dynamic response of potassium selective ISFET sensors is instrumental in formulating calibration schema and signal compensations to correct systematic errors. In the research reported here, response characteristics of potassium selective ISFETs were studied. The range of detection was set between 1mM and 25mM to cover all the physiological potassium concentrations. The signals were obtained from an array of sensors, with different aspect ratios, by varying potassium ion concentrations in a time dependent fashion. Normalization of the drain current was used to compensation for variance in order of magnitude observed in different sensors. Sensor response time and linear response range were analyzed, in relation to difference in aspect ratios. Probable modifications in calibration scheme and compensation technique, subjective to the findings, have been suggested.