cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
11 GASTRIC ACTINOMYCOSIS.

Gastric actinomycosis constitutes a rare but treatable cause of gastric outlet obstruction. When encountered clinically, it is a difficult diagnosis to make before obtaining a surgical specimen, as exemplified by the following case. A 49-year-old Egyptian male with a history of hypertension and ventral hernia repair presented to the emergency room with a complaint of postprandial vomiting for 6 months that progressed from a coffee-ground appearance to bilious. The patient also reported a 45-pound weight loss during this time. He denied any use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. He had been incarcerated for 3 months in a federal penitentiary. On physical exam, the patient was afebrile with stable vital signs. Physical exam was significant for the presence of normal bowel sounds with mild epigastric tenderness on palpation. His abdomen was nondistended with no guarding, rebound, or hepatosplenomegaly. There was no stool in the vault on rectal exam. The remainder of his exam was unremarkable. Laboratory studies showed a white blood cell count of 6,900 cells per microliter with 55% segmented cells and hemoglobin of 17.4 g per deciliter. Chemistries showed evidence of metabolic alkalosis, mild prerenal azotemia, and normal liver studies. Abdominal radiograph was normal. Computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis with contrast revealed a dilated stomach with the remaining bowel loops normal in caliber. An upper endoscopy performed the day following admission showed a thickened gastric outlet possibly secondary to edema versus a mass. Biopsies were obtained that showed intestinal metaplasia and chronic gastritis. The patient was initially treated conservatively with a clear liquid diet and a proton pump inhibitor twice a day. When his symptoms did not improve, he again underwent upper endoscopy with an unsuccessful balloon dilatation of the pyloric channel. Following 2 more weeks with little clinical improvement, the patient underwent a distal gastrectomy with Bilroth I reconstruction. Pathology of the surgical specimen showed necrosis, abscess, and sulfur granules consistent with Actinomyces infection. The patient was started on 24 million units of intravenous penicillin every day for 6 weeks, to be followed by a planned course of 10 months of oral penicillin. The patient9s symptoms had resolved by the end of his intravenous penicillin course. This case illustrates both the diagnostic difficulties and the effective response to therapy of this rare gastric infection. An extensive review of the literature revealed 28 other cases of gastric actinomycosis, with numerous reports of infection throughout other regions of the gastrointestinal tract. Less than 10% of the reviewed cases included a diagnosis of actinomycosis made pre-operatively. In both our case and the reviewed cases, the diagnosis was only made with histopathologic evaluation of a surgical specimen. Although this diagnosis is typically delayed, the recognition of actinomycosis is crucial as this is a directly treatable cause of gastric outlet obstruction.
Latina/o Youths Gangs in Spain in Global Perspective

On 28 October 2003, 15-year-old Ronny Tapias was gunned down in the late afternoon outside his school in Barcelona, Spain. News of his death sent Shockwaves throughout the Catalonian city and beyond. Alarmed about the growing skirmishes involving youths in the region, the press dubbed it a gang-related killing. The public, in turn, became incensed about the crime, attributing it to the recent waves of Latin American immigrants to Barcelona specifically and Spain generally. Ronny Tapias, you see, was not a native-born Catalonian or Spanish youth, but rather a “Latino” youth of Colombian origin.1 Reportedly, the Ne tas, a gang in Barcelona with ties to Latin America and the US, killed him because they believed he was a member of los Latin Kings, a rival Latino and Latina (or Latina/o) gang originating in the US, specifically in Chicago and, later, New York City. Tapias was not a member of either group, however. His murder, the police reported, was a case of mistaken identity.2
Segmental Osteotomies of the Maxilla

Segmental maxillary osteotomies have evolved from isolated anterior or posterior osteotomies of the maxilla to multiple segment Le Fort I osteotomies. The versatility of these procedures allows for simultaneous correction of multidimensional maxillomandibular deformity. Surgical techniques are detailed. Suggestions for minimizing the risk of potential complications are included.
Geodesic Distances to Landmarks for Dense Correspondence on Ensembles of Complex Shapes

Establishing correspondence points across a set of biomedical shapes is an important technology for a variety of applications that rely on statistical analysis of individual subjects and populations. The inherent complexity (e.g. cortical surface shapes) and variability (e.g. cardiac chambers) evident in many biomedical shapes introduce significant challenges in finding a useful set of dense correspondences. Application specific strategies, such as registration of simplified (e.g. inflated or smoothed) surfaces or relying on manually placed landmarks, provide some improvement but suffer from limitations including increased computational complexity and ambiguity in landmark placement. This paper proposes a method for dense point correspondence on shape ensembles using geodesic distances to a priori landmarks as features. A novel set of numerical techniques for fast computation of geodesic distances to point sets is used to extract these features. The proposed method minimizes the ensemble entropy based on these features, resulting in isometry invariant correspondences in a very general, flexible framework.
The Central Role of Information Theory in Ecology

Information theory (IT) is predicated upon that which largely eludes physics – the absence of something. The capacity for IT to portray both presence and absence in comparable quantitative fashion makes it indispensable to ecology. IT has been applied to ecology along two separate lines: (1) it has been used to quantify the distribution of stocks and numbers of organisms and (2) it has been used to quantify the pattern of interactions of trophic processes. By and large, the first endeavor has resulted in relatively few insights into ecosystem dynamics and has generated much ambiguity and disappointment, so that most ecologists remain highly skeptical about the advisability of applying IT to ecology. By contrast, the second (and less well-known) application has shed light on the possibility that ecosystem behavior is the most palpable example of a purely natural “infodynamics” that transcends classical dynamics, but remains well within the realm of the quantifiable.
Polarization switchable origami helical antenna

A novel polarization switchable antenna is explored. The antenna has two stable states, right-hand circular polarization (RHCP) state and left-hand polarization (LHCP) state. The sense of polarization of this antenna can be switched easily by mechanical rotation. The proposed antenna is analyzed using simulations and measurements.
Treatment of Peripheral Talus Fractures

Peripheral talus fractures include injuries to the lateral process, posteromedial talar body, and talar head. These injuries are rare and are often missed. Nonunion with conservative treatment is high and excision can lead to joint instability, rapid arthrosis, and earlier need for arthrodesis. Open reduction internal fixation of most peripheral talus fractures is critical to achieving a good outcome. Open reduction leads to more rapid union and ability to mobilize the ankle and subtalar joints, quicker revascularization of the talus, and lower rates of arthrosis. Surgical treatment can lead to substantial functional improvement and a slowing of the degenerative process.
Nephron number, hypertension, and CKD: physiological and genetic insight from humans and animal models

The kidneys play a vital role in the excretion of waste products and the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, regulation of blood pressure, and production of several hormon...
RAPAMYCIN INCREASES LENGTH AND MECHANOSENSORY FUNCTION OF PRIMARY CILIA IN RENAL EPITHELIAL AND VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL CELLS

Primary cilia arebiophysically-sensitive organelles responsible for sensing fluid-flow and transducing this stimulus into intracellular responses. Previous studies have shown that the primary cilia mediate flow-induced calcium influx, and sensitivity of cilia function to flow is correlated to cilia length. Cells with abnormal cilia length or function can lead to a host of diseases that are collectively termed as ciliopathies. Rapamycin, a potent inhibitor of mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin), has been demonstrated to be a potential pharmacological agent against the aberrant mTOR signaling seen in ciliopathies such as polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Here we look at the effects of rapamycin on ciliary length and function for the first time. Compared to controls, primary cilia in rapamycin-treated porcine renal epithelial and mouse vascular endothelial cells showed a significant increase in length. Graded increases in fluid-shear stress further indicates that rapamycin enhances cilia sensitivity to fluid flow. Treatment with rapamycin led to G0 arrest in porcine epithelial cells while no significant change in cell cycle were observed in rapamycin-treated mouse epithelial or endothelial cells, indicating a species-specific effect of rapamycin. Given the previousin vitro and in vivo studies establishing rapamycin as a potential therapeutic agent for ciliopathies, such as PKD and TSC, our studies show that rapamycin enhances ciliary function and sensitivity to fluid flow. The results of our studies suggest a potential ciliotherapeutic effect of rapamycin.
Epilogue: Learning from Plato’s Socrates

Bringing this analysis to a conclusion, we consider the following issues that emerge from and are influenced by our non-doctrinal reading of Plato’s Socrates and his unique practice of a philosophical-education: First, we set Socrates within the age of New Learning in ancient Athens, drawing out for analysis his close but contentious relationship with this movement in the intellectual and social development of the changing and evolving polis. Second, we briefly examine the contemporary crisis in the humanities in relation to what we learn is the unfortunate and inevitable decline of authentic Socratic argumentation in education—perhaps Socrates is unfit for our contemporary classrooms just as our classrooms are unsuited for Socrates? Finally, we consider the potential positive pedagogical inspiration that might be drawn from our non-doctrinal reading of Plato’s Socrates in terms of intimated lessons, which although resisting systematization or formalization as a mode of “Socratic” learning, hold open new possibilities for expanding our vision and practice of pedagogy for the betterment of our students and future learners.
A longitudinal study on risk factors of grade retention among elementary school students using a multilevel analysis: Focusing on material hardship and lack of school engagement

Abstract Given the recent skyrocketing rates of grade retention and their adverse effects, better understanding is needed to identify intervention practices that ameliorate risk factors across school and family domains. This prospective, longitudinal study examines the relationship between material hardship, school engagement, and grade retention among at-risk elementary school children (N = 4329) from 410 public elementary schools in Louisiana. The study utilized multilevel logistic regressions with a two-level hierarchical structure to address the nesting effects of children within schools. Baron and Kenny's mediation analysis approach was used to identify the mediating effect of school engagement on the relationship between material hardship and grade retention. Results show that 42.34% of children in the sample repeated at least one grade over the four school years examined in this study. Material hardship was associated with a greater likelihood of grade retention, and this association was partially mediated by levels of school engagement. This study suggests that children in families experiencing material hardship need interventions not only for basic needs, but also for interventions that increase levels of engagement in school. Addressing material hardship and low levels of school engagement may have profound implications on school success.
Filovirus contamination of cell cultures.

The filoviruses Marburg and Ebola comprise a newly recognized family of viruses. The first filovirus to be isolated was Marburg virus in 1967. This virus was imported in shipments of African green monkeys from Uganda and infected several cell-culture technicians, with serious illness resulting. The rarity of Marburg and Ebola virus transmission, decreasing use of imported African monkeys, and quarantine efforts have presumably been responsible for the lack of additional episodes until 1989, when a new filovirus related to Ebola was isolated from quarantined monkeys in Reston, Virginia. This virus was imported on multiple occasions from a Philippine supplier of cynomolgus macaques as a consequence of an epidemic of acute infections in the foreign holding facility. While quarantine procedures prevented the use of any of these animals in research and the three human infections that occurred were asymptomatic, this episode emphasizes that these little understood viruses have considerable potential for mischief. The finding of antibodies reacting with Ebola viruses in many biomedically important Old World primates, including colonized monkeys in the U.S., emphasizes the need for more research to understand the specificity of the antibodies, spectrum of filovirus strains in nature, potential hosts, and true distribution of the family. The filoviruses grow well in primary and established cell strains and cell lines, and cytopathogenic effects may be absent or require several days to be manifest, leading to the possibility of occult contamination. The known viruses are readily detected by polyclonal and monoclonal antibody staining of cells and by electron microscopy; nucleic acid probes exist to develop more sensitive techniques if warranted.
Identifying Product Portfolio Architecture Modularity Using Function and Variety Heuristics

This paper proposes a method for identifying product portfolio architecture alternatives based upon customer needs , and product function. Customer needs and uses are interpreted according to the variation in performance target values across the market and within the' set of individual customer uses. Product uses are represented by function structures consisting of the functions necessary for achieving the use. These individual product use function structures are combined into a irionolithic function structure to represent the entire product portfolio. This monolith is then partitioned according to function and product variety heuristics into function clusters that anticipate product modules, candidate modularity can then be used to deliver product variety across the product portfolio given functional constraints. A portfolio of xerographic products is used as die working example.
The internet of wasted things (IoWT)

Office buildings, schools, stores, hotels, restaurants and other commercial, and institutional buildings generate significant amounts of waste. While buildings are becoming increasingly aware of their energy and water usage, the capability to track waste and material use with the same ease has remained beyond the reach of most building facilities managers [1,2]. Studies have focused on the use of sensors for garbage collection at a city level [3]. However, these studies consider waste as bulk and do not itemize and differentiate between their types and amounts [4]. In addition, to achieve the recycling goals, the facilities management offices have to manually or semi-automatically sort through the waste in order to separate the recycle waste apart manually.
Preliminary Impact of the weCare Social Media Intervention to Support Health for Young Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Women with HIV

Young racial/ethnic minority men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women with HIV often have poor health outcomes. They also utilize a wide array of social media. Accordingly, we developed and implemented weCare, a social media intervention utilizing Facebook, texting, and GPS-based mobile social and sexual networking applications to improve HIV-related care engagement and health outcomes. We compared viral load suppression and clinic appointment attendance among 91 participants during the 12-month period before and after weCare implementation. McNemar's chi-square test analyses were conducted comparing the pre- and postintervention difference using paired data. Since February 2016, intervention staff and 91 intervention participants (79.1% African American and 13.2% Latino, mean age?=?25) exchanged 13,830 messages during 3,758 conversations (average: 41.3 conversations per participant) across a variety of topics, including appointment reminders, medication adherence, problem solving, and reducing barriers. There were significant reductions in missed HIV care appointments (68.0% vs. 53.3%, p?=?0.04) and increases in viral load suppression (61.3% vs. 88.8%, p?<?0.0001) 12 months postimplementation. Our results highlight the initial success of weCare in improving care engagement and viral suppression. Social media is an important tool, especially for young MSM and transgender women, to support individual- (e.g., viral suppression) and community- (e.g., reduced transmission efficiency) level health. It may also be a useful tool for improving engagement with biomedical HIV prevention tools (e.g., PrEP use).
An alternative approach to measuring demand changes in meat markets

Commodity groups, academics, government agencies, and marketing analysts often have strong interests in understanding changes in demand for products. It is often the case, however, that only equili...
Are Robots Stealing Our Jobs

The media and popular business press often invoke narratives that reflect widespread anxiety that robots may be rendering humans obsolete in the workplace. However, upon closer examination, many ar...
Cacao agroforestry in Belize: Effects on soil nematode community structure

Cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) is a shade tolerant crop that can be grown beneath the rainforest canopy rather than in a conventional monoculture. Cacao agroforestry has been proposed as a more sustainable method of farming to mitigate climate change and protect above-ground biodiversity, yet impacts on soil biodiversity and function have rarely been investigated. Our goal was to study how the diversity and community structure of soil nematodes are impacted by planting the rainforest understory with cacao. At field sites in southern Belize and during two growing seasons, nematodes were extracted from soil from cacao agroforestry plots, undisturbed rainforests, and a banana plantation. Nematodes were enumerated and visually identified, and communities were analyzed using several community and diversity indices. In both the dry and wet seasons, soils from cacao plots contained similar nematode communities to the rainforest with respect to all measured variables, including the abundance of nematodes from each trophic group, the Bongers Maturity and Plant-Parasite indices, and the Shannon and Simpson’s diversity indices. In contrast, the banana plantation soils were dominated by plant-parasitic nematodes with lower Shannon and Simpson’s diversity indices. Overall, it appears that cacao agroforestry plots maintain nematode community structure relative to the undisturbed rainforest they were created from, suggesting that soil health is not compromised by this land-use strategy.
Pain Mitigation Through Virtual Reality Applications

In the world of medicine, pain can affect various aspects of the human body. There are many different forms in which pain can be interpreted throughout the body, resulting in either physical or mental trauma. This research project is studying the mitigation of minor acute pain like but not limited to cuts, scrapes, bruises, and soreness through the use of virtual reality (VR) technology and different types of VR games. This research study focuses on a video game genre that is based on puzzle games involving math. Other game genres, including action and relaxing games, will also be looked at. Furthermore, the experimental data will only test puzzle VR games for their pain mitigation effects. VR can be a useful tool to use in the fight against pain strictly because of a known theory called the Gate Theory of Attention. This theory states that by diverting the attention away from the source of the pain, the mind can effectively reduce the perception of that pain [1]. A VR headset called the Oculus Rift is being used to set up pain-related experiments, determining if a puzzle VR game called Math N’ Grab is effective at mitigating pain. With the use of this immersive VR game, currently being developed by the researchers, the user can potentially divert their attention away from their pain with such a degree that it can effectively be mitigated in most circumstances. The results of this experiment could offer up new ways to better manage pain.
Spectral beam splitting retrofit for hybrid PV/T using existing parabolic trough power plants for enhanced power output

Abstract Conversion of sunlight into electricity is the fastest growing commercial means of deploying renewable energy at utility scale. The two primary methods for conversion are photovoltaics and concentrating solar thermal power. The complimentary advantages of these two methods motivates interest in hybridizing the two. Here, a spectral beam splitting approach is designed and tested for application as a retrofit in existing parabolic trough concentrating solar power facilities, the first large scale test using such an approach with low-cost silicon photovoltaic cells. Such an approach leverages the existing capital cost of the plant with the potential to boost plant output. The novel on-sun testing here focused on the electrical performance of a silicon photovoltaic module integrated into the most common parabolic trough geometry with a net aperture area of 1.7 m2. The spectral beam splitter has a solar weighted reflectance of 71.2%, and delivered an average flux to the cells of 17,828 W/m2 representing a concentration ratio of 25×, within 10% of the prediction of the optical ray tracing model. The two photovoltaic modules achieved an average efficiency - based upon measured irradiance delivered to the cells - of 12.4% (or 3% if normalized to the total aperture of the area of the mirror). A corresponding decrease in thermal performance was observed when the retrofit was added. Overall the design is capable of providing a path to retrofit existing parabolic trough powerplants to provide a 13% increase in power output using commercially available photovoltaic technology.
Subgoals, Problem Solving Phases, and Sources of Knowledge

Educational researchers have increasingly drawn attention to how students develop computational thinking (CT) skills, including in science, math, and literacy contexts. A key component of CT is the process of abstraction, a particularly challenging concept for novice programmers, but one vital to problem solving. We propose a framework based on situated cognition that can be used to document how instructors and students communicate about abstractions during the problem solving process. We develop this framework in a multimodal interaction analysis of a 32-minute long excerpt of a middle school student working in the PixelBots JavaScript programming environment at a two-week summer programming workshop taught by undergraduate CS majors. Through a microgenetic analysis of the process of teaching and learning about abstraction in this excerpt, we document the extemporaneous prioritization of subgoals and the back-and-forth coordination of problem solving phases. In our case study, we identify that (a) problem solving phases are nested with several instances of context-switching within a single phase; (b) the introduction of new ideas and information creates bridges or opportunities to move between different problem solving phases; (c) planning to solve a problem is a non-linear process; and (d) pedagogical moves such as modeling and prompting highlight situated resources and advance problem solving. Future research should address how to help students structure subgoals and reflect on connections between problem solving phases, and how to help instructors reflect on their routes to supporting students in the problem solving process.
Coverage of Transmission of COVID-19 Information on Successive Samples of YouTube Videos.

Mitigating transmission of SARS-Co-2 virus is critical to stopping the COVID-19 pandemic. Messages about the pandemic on YouTube reach millions of people and should be a part of a more comprehensive strategy for educating the public to reduce transmission. We examined successive samples of the 100 most widely viewed YouTube videos regarding COVID-19 at three time points between January and June 2020 and examined characteristics of videos that specifically mentioned COVID-19 transmission. We described the cumulative and mean number of views, video length, and video source and assessed differences across the samples. Historical events and confirmed worldwide cases are compared with cumulative views of videos mentioning disease transmission over time. Across the three successive samples, views for all videos increased from ~ 125 million to over 560 million views, and from ~ 63 million to more than 273 million for those videos specifically mentioning disease transmission, respectively. This increase coincided with the increase in the worldwide number of cases and the occurrence of COVID-19 transmission informational milestones. Despite its importance for community mitigation, the majority of the widely viewed videos we sampled did not specifically mention disease transmission. Because of its very widespread reach, YouTube can be an effective way to communicate with the public, especially to those who have lower levels of reading literacy and who may be inclined to search for information on YouTube. Greater efforts are needed to more fully realize the potential of YouTube for educating the public about COVID-19 transmission.
Chemical Ecology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology of Insect Hydrocarbons

Insect cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) consist of complex mixtures of straight-chain alkanes and alkenes, and methyl-branched hydrocarbons. In addition to restricting water loss through the cuticle and preventing desiccation, they have secondarily evolved to serve a variety of functions in chemical communication and play critical roles as signals mediating the life histories of insects. In this review, we describe the physical properties of CHCs that allow for both waterproofing and signaling functions, summarize their roles as inter- and intraspecific chemical signals, and discuss the influences of diet and environment on CHC profiles. We also present advances in our understanding of hydrocarbon biosynthesis. Hydrocarbons are biosynthesized in oenocytes and transported to the cuticle by lipophorin proteins. Recent work on the synthesis of fatty acids and their ultimate reductive decarbonylation to hydrocarbons has taken advantage of powerful new tools of molecular biology, including genomics and RNA interference knockdown of specific genes, to provide new insights into the biosynthesis of hydrocarbons.
The “Century of Humiliation,” Then and Now: Chinese Perceptions of the International Order

Chinese elites today draw on the “Century of Humiliation” (1839–1949) as a starting point for their views on how China should interact with other nations. Arguments about the nature of international competition, about the reasons that nations succeed or fail in the international arena, and about the prospects for long-term global peace and cooperation draw not just on China's experiences during that period, but on the vocabulary and debates that Qing- and republican-era intellectuals developed to understand the modern international system. Today there are at least three views among Chinese elites of the international system and China's role in it. All three start from the implicit premise that today's international system has not changed in its essence from the 19th century: the world is composed of strong and weak nation-states that vie for dominance on the global stage. They differ, however, on whether this state of affairs is permanent and on what global role China should seek. Some assert that the international system still revolves around Western interests that aim to subjugate and humiliate weaker nations, and that China's bitter experiences during the Century of Humiliation should provide a cautionary tale about the dangers of this system. A second viewpoint suggests that the current system is acceptable now that China can play a prominent role in it. They assert that China's period of humiliation has ended, and that China should now seek to ensure the stability of the system and to assure other nations of its commitment to doing so. This view suggests that the potential dangers of a competitive international system can be mitigated by adapting existing institutions and practices. A third line of reasoning suggests that China is in a unique position to fundamentally remake the international system because its experiences of shame and subjugation have given the Chinese people an alternative vision of how international relations can and should be conducted.
The IRS Can’t Use a Notice to Change Statutory Meaning in an Anti-Taxpayer Way: Feigh v. Commissioner

The Tax Court, in Feigh v. Commissioner, decided in May 2019, had interesting things to say about whether the Internal Revenue Service can take away otherwise available tax benefits by issuing a notice and whether any deference should be accorded statutory interpretation contained in a notice.
The World Bank and the Right to Health: A Study of the Institution's Rights-Based Discourse

While the World Bank has integrated rights-based principles in the implementation of some health programs that it finances, it continues to deny a formal legal obligation for human rights. Employing thematic and discourse analyses, this study analyzes the ways in which rights-based approaches are incorporated into World Bank health development discourse, examining achievements, obstacles, and opportunities. We describe the evolution of human rights discourses in the World Bank’s health engagement, beginning at the time of its establishment before it was formally involved in health sector lending. We find five key institutional factors that challenge the advancement of rights-based approaches in the World Bank’s health work: unresolved legal obligations stemming from the institution’s founding documents, the World Bank’s economist-dominated culture, its staff’s lack of knowledge about human rights application and policy, opposition by some country stakeholders, and competition with emerging development banks. Despite this, there are three opportunities for integrating right to health approaches within the World Bank: internal research activity supporting human rights commitments in development, pressure exerted by NGOs and civil society through their monitoring of the institution, and the establishment of the Nordic Trust Fund, which serves to increase staff awareness of human rights and its application to their work. Given the World Bank’s historical legal resistance to a rights-based approach, we end by arguing for an ethical demand for health equity, which may be effectuated by a policy framework rather than a legal “right to health” approach.
Scale and skill in active management

Abstract We empirically analyze the nature of returns to scale in active mutual fund management. We find strong evidence of decreasing returns at the industry level. As the size of the active mutual fund industry increases, a fund׳s ability to outperform passive benchmarks declines. At the fund level, all methods considered indicate decreasing returns, though estimates that avoid econometric biases are insignificant. We also find that the active management industry has become more skilled over time. This upward trend in skill coincides with industry growth, which precludes the skill improvement from boosting fund performance. Finally, we find that performance deteriorates over a typical fund׳s lifetime. This result can also be explained by industry-level decreasing returns to scale.
On the Consistency Strength of Projective UNI Formization

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the consistency strength of projective uniformization. Familiarity with the fundamentals of descriptive set theory in the context of determinacy is assumed. It discusses two consequences of Projective Determinacy (PD) for the projective sets: (1) every projective set has the property of Baire and is Lebesque measurable and (2) every projective subset of the plane can be uniformized by a projective function—that is, a function whose graph is projective. Most of the remarks related to forcing are of “two-valued” form—that is, it is pretended that generic objects exist for conceptual simplicity.
Meat as an early complementary food for infants: implications for macro- and micronutrient intakes.

Optimal complementary feeding is recognized to be critical for prevention of infectious morbidity and mortality and for optimal growth and development. The nutrients which become limiting in human m
The United States energy dilemma: How can we solve it?

The basis for the present energy dilemma is described. The current solution to the inadequate petroleum and natural gas supplies and possible long-term solutions are developed. Current efforts within ERDA and by industry and the public to help solve the problem are considered. An important element in solving the problem is the establishment of platforms where effective dialogue can be developed between those concerned with the environment and those trying to produce energy. There the necessary tradeoffs can be discussed and an action plan developed. Finally, possible mechanisms for moving toward energy independence are suggested.
Implementation and application of adaptive mesh refinement for thermochemical mantle convection studies

Numerical modeling of mantle convection is challenging. Owing to the multiscale nature of mantle dynamics, high resolution is often required in localized regions, with coarser resolution being sufficient elsewhere. When investigating thermochemical mantle convection, high resolution is required to resolve sharp and often discontinuous boundaries between distinct chemical components. In this paper, we present a 2-D finite element code with adaptive mesh refinement techniques for simulating compressible thermochemical mantle convection. By comparing model predictions with a range of analytical and previously published benchmark solutions, we demonstrate the accuracy of our code. By refining and coarsening the mesh according to certain criteria and dynamically adjusting the number of particles in each element, our code can simulate such problems efficiently, dramatically reducing the computational requirements (in terms of memory and CPU time) when compared to a fixed, uniform mesh simulation. The resolving capabilities of the technique are further highlighted by examining plume‐induced entrainment in a thermochemical mantle convection simulation.
Heterogeneous hydrolysis of poly(aryl ether ketimine)s — an alternative synthetic route to semicrystalline poly(aryl ether ketone)s

Etude de l'effet des conditions d'hydrolyse heterogene des polymeres amorphes [O-X-OPh-C(=NPh)Ph] n (X=Ph,Ph-Ph) sur les transitions thermiques des poly(aryl ethercetone)s en resultant
RIO: Analyzing proteomes by automated phylogenomics using resampled inference of orthologs

When analyzing protein sequences using sequence similarity searches, orthologous sequences (that diverged by speciation) are more reliable predictors of a new protein's function than paralogous sequences (that diverged by gene duplication). The utility of phylogenetic information in high-throughput genome annotation ("phylogenomics") is widely recognized, but existing approaches are either manual or not explicitly based on phylogenetic trees. Here we present RIO (Resampled Inference of Orthologs), a procedure for automated phylogenomics using explicit phylogenetic inference. RIO analyses are performed over bootstrap resampled phylogenetic trees to estimate the reliability of orthology assignments. We also introduce supplementary concepts that are helpful for functional inference. RIO has been implemented as Perl pipeline connecting several C and Java programs. It is available at http://www.genetics.wustl.edu/eddy/forester/ . A web server is at http://www.rio.wustl.edu/ . RIO was tested on the Arabidopsis thaliana and Caenorhabditis elegans proteomes. The RIO procedure is particularly useful for the automated detection of first representatives of novel protein subfamilies. We also describe how some orthologies can be misleading for functional inference.
Diagnostic implications of markedly elevated MMPI Sc scale scores for nonhospitalized clients

Evaluated the personal adjustment of counseling center clients (N = 60) whose MMPI's highest scale score was a Sc over 70. Analysis of case notes showed that while these clients posed more difficult counseling problems than the average client, the severity of disturbance was markedly less than one would expect from a sample with a mean Sc score of 91. An exploratory stepwise regression analysis indicated that chronic adjustment correlated significantly, R = .79, to an equation in which Sc, MA, R, DY, and Do had positive coefficients and HY, ES and CN negative coefficients. This regression equation also related significantly to the incidence of role identity problems, p less than .01; counselor judgment of client improvement, p less than .001; and bizarre ideation, p less than .001. Consideration of present client stress and prior adjustment factors was discussed as important in formulating less psychopathological interpretations for MMPI profiles with markedly elevated Sc scores.
VACTERL/VATER Association

VACTERL/VATER association is typically defined by the presence of at least three of the following congenital malformations: vertebral defects, anal atresia, cardiac defects, tracheo-esophageal fistula, renal anomalies, and limb abnormalities. In addition to these core component features, patients may also have other congenital anomalies. Although diagnostic criteria vary, the incidence is estimated at approximately 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 40,000 live-born infants. The condition is ascertained clinically by the presence of the above-mentioned malformations; importantly, there should be no clinical or laboratory-based evidence for the presence of one of the many similar conditions, as the differential diagnosis is relatively large. This differential diagnosis includes (but is not limited to) Baller-Gerold syndrome, CHARGE syndrome, Currarino syndrome, deletion 22q11.2 syndrome, Fanconi anemia, Feingold syndrome, Fryns syndrome, MURCS association, oculo-auriculo-vertebral syndrome, Opitz G/BBB syndrome, Pallister-Hall syndrome, Townes-Brocks syndrome, and VACTERL with hydrocephalus. Though there are hints regarding causation, the aetiology has been identified only in a small fraction of patients to date, likely due to factors such as a high degree of clinical and causal heterogeneity, the largely sporadic nature of the disorder, and the presence of many similar conditions. New genetic research methods offer promise that the causes of VACTERL association will be better defined in the relatively near future. Antenatal diagnosis can be challenging, as certain component features can be difficult to ascertain prior to birth. The management of patients with VACTERL/VATER association typically centers around surgical correction of the specific congenital anomalies (typically anal atresia, certain types of cardiac malformations, and/or tracheo-esophageal fistula) in the immediate postnatal period, followed by long-term medical management of sequelae of the congenital malformations. If optimal surgical correction is achievable, the prognosis can be relatively positive, though some patients will continue to be affected by their congenital malformations throughout life. Importantly, patients with VACTERL association do not tend to have neurocognitive impairment.
A multiple criteria approach to aggregate industrial capacity expansion

Abstract This paper is concerned with a multiproduct, multiregion, multiperiod capacity expansion problem involving both the expansion of existing facilities and the development of new facilities. An input- output model structure is used to describe the flows of products through regions over time. Multiple objectives are incorporated into the analysis and an interactive multiple objective solution procedure is employed. The model and the solution procedure are illustrated with an example.
Validity of the spring-backed membrane model for bubble–wall interactions with compliant walls

A numerical study was conducted to investigate the validity of using the spring-backed membrane model for compliant walls (CWs), and to explain the failure of the reference study (Duncan and Zhang, 1991) to reproduce the bubble behavior near moderately elastic CWs. The same mathematical models used in the reference study were employed in our work. The bubble was created from its minimum-volume state, and the initial liquid pressure on the CWs was computed, rather than artificially prescribed. Our predicted bubble behavior in the vicinity of moderately elastic CWs agrees qualitatively well with experimental observations. The spring-backed membrane model was demonstrated to be capable of enabling the correct behavior of CWs and the correct bubble dynamics in their vicinity. The improper choice/specification of the initial conditions in the reference study was determined to be responsible for the failure to reproduce the bubble dynamics near moderately elastic CWs.
Thyrotoxicosis, atrial fibrillation, and embolism, revisited.

Thyrotoxicosis may be complicated by atria1 fibrillation in 10% to 30% of patients, and the management of such patients often includes consideration of anticoagulants for the prevention of systemic embolism. Recently, Petersen and Hansen’ in a retrospective study of patients with thyrotoxicosis concluded that the risk of cerebrovascular events in patients with atria1 fibrillation was not significantly increased compared with that in age-matched control subjects with thyrotoxicosis who were in sinus rhythm. This conclusion differs from that of other available studies2-5 and, hence, management considerations remain controversial. This brief report critically analyzes the available literature on the incidence of systemic embolism in patients with thyrotoxic atrial fibrillation and emphasizes the difficulties in assessing the embolic risk in this condition. The majority of studies investigating the incidence of systemic embolism in patients with thyrotoxic atria1 fibril-
Expression of catalase and glutathione peroxidase in renal insufficiency.

Abstract Chronic renal failure (CRF) is associated with oxidative stress, the precise mechanism of which is yet to be elucidated. The present study was undertaken to investigate in renal insufficiency the expression of catalase and glutathione peroxidase, which play a critical role in antioxidant defense system by catalyzing detoxification of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and organic hydroperoxides. Rats were randomly assigned to the CRF (5/6 nephrectomized) and sham-operated control groups and observed for 6 weeks. Renal and thoracic aortic catalase and glutathione peroxidase protein abundance was measured by Western blotting. The enzyme activities in the renal and aortic extracts, hepatic glutathione levels, blood pressure and urinary nitric oxide metabolites (NO x ) excretion were also measured. Blood pressure and urinary nitric oxide metabolite (NO x ) excretion were also measured. The CRF group showed a significant down-regulation of both immunodetectable catalase and glutathione peroxidase proteins in the remnant kidney. Catalase activity was also significantly decreased in the remnant kidney whereas glutathione peroxidase activity was not significantly affected. Furthermore, the protein abundance of catalase was unchanged whereas the enzyme activity was significantly decreased in the thoracic aorta of CRF animals compared to the sham-operated controls. By contrast, both the protein abundance and the enzyme activity of glutathione peroxidase were not significantly affected in the aorta of CRF animals compared to the sham-operated controls. This was coupled with marked arterial hypertension, significant reduction of hepatic glutathione levels and urinary NO x excretion pointing to increased inactivation and sequestration of NO by superoxide. These events point to the role of impaired antioxidant defense system in the pathogenesis of oxidative stress in CRF.
Methods for Enhanced Culture Recovery of Francisella tularensis

Francisella tularensis is found in a wide variety of hosts and extrahost environments, making culture recovery a diagnostic challenge. Here we demonstrate improved recovery times and good sensitivity (90%) when cultures were inoculated on the site of an investigation using fresh tissues. For contaminated specimens, antibiotic supplementation of enriched cysteine heart agar blood culture medium improved recovery of F. tularensis by 81.1%. For transport of tissues, immediate freezing yielded culture recovery rates as high as 94%.
Release of plasminogen activator from rat liver lysosomes induced by stress related enzymes.

SummaryDifferent groups of rats were injected with acid phosphatase, beta glucuronidase, and serotonin in the study. An hour after injection the levels of plasminogen activator and acid phosphatase activity were significantly increased above those of saline-injected control rats with the exception of acid phosphatase activity in sera of beta glucuronidase-injected rats. Simultaneously, the lysosomal fractions isolated from the liver of these rats showed a significant decrease in plasminogen activator and acid phosphatase activity as compared with those of saline-injected controls. These enzymes may be helpful as experimental inducers of plasminogen activator release from cellular lysosomes into the blood vascular system in higher animals.
Maximum independent sets of circular-arc graphs : Simplified algorithm and proofs

We present a simple optimal algorithm for the problem of finding maximum independent sets of circular-arc graphs. Given an intersection model S of a circular-arc graph G, our algorithm computes a maximum independent set of G in O(n) space and O(n) or O(n log n) time, depending on whether the endpoints of arcs in S are sorted or not. The proofs of the correctness and the complexities of the algorithm are straightforward, and the techniques used can be generalized to solve other problems on circular-arc graphs efficiently.
Role of programmed cell death in carcinogenesis.

Cells possess within their repertoire of genetic programs the ability not only to proliferate and be functionally active, but also to activate and undergo a process of self-induced destruction. Thi...