cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Magnetically nanostructured state in a Ni-Mn-Sn shape-memory alloy

For certain compositions Ni-Mn-Sn and related magnetic shape-memory alloys undergo a martensitic transition at temperatures in the range 300--400 K, with the emergence of novel magnetic properties below the transition. While $\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{i}}_{50}\mathrm{M}{\mathrm{n}}_{50}$ is an antiferromagnet, substitution of Sn on some fraction of the Mn sites in $\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{i}}_{50}\mathrm{M}{\mathrm{n}}_{50\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{n}}_{x}$ leads to competing ferromagnetic (F) and antiferromagnetic (AF) phases at low temperatures. Details of this magnetic phase coexistence are, however, significantly lacking, particularly with respect to the AF phase. The present investigations use zero applied magnetic field $^{55}\mathrm{Mn}$ NMR as a local probe of the magnetic properties of the alloy $\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{i}}_{50}\mathrm{M}{\mathrm{n}}_{50\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{n}}_{x}$ with $x=10$. Rich multipeak spectra are observed, and the various components are definitively assigned to nanoscale F or AF regions. Measurements of the static nuclear hyperfine field distributions as a function of temperature, and in small applied fields, together with nuclear relaxation rates provide detailed information on the size distributions, relative concentrations, and physical natures of these F and AF regions. The results show that the nanoscale magnetic features of the $x=10$ system are substantially more complex than previous studies have suggested. We argue that the general approach used in these experiments is applicable to other such complex metal alloys, and could yield many additional insights.
Review for Superplasticity in Ceramics

It is now recognized that superplasticity is a potential deformation process in ceramics. This review summarizes the major characteristics of superplasticity and examines the reports of both transformation and structural superplasticity in ceramic and other non-metallic materials. It is shown that there are both similarities to and differences from metals. Similarities include the variation of strain rate with stress and grain size, but an important difference is the necessity to consider the role of intergranular glassy phases in ceramics. Superplasticity is also important in intermetallic compounds, and in geological materials where there is evidence for superplastic deformation both in laboratory experiments and in natural deformation.
GPER/GPR30, a membrane estrogen receptor, is expressed in the brain and retina of a social fish (Carassius auratus) and colocalizes with isotocin

Estradiol rapidly (within 30 minutes) influences a variety of sociosexual behaviors in both mammalian and nonmammalian vertebrates, including goldfish, in which it rapidly stimulates approach responses to the visual cues of females. Such rapid neuromodulatory effects are likely mediated via membrane-associated estrogen receptors; however, the localization and distribution of such receptors within the nervous system is not well described. To begin to address this gap, we identified GPER/GPR30, a G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor, in goldfish (Carassius auratus) neural tissue and used reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ hybridization to test if GPR30 is expressed in the brain regions that might mediate visually guided social behaviors in males. We then used immunohistochemistry to determine whether GPR30 colocalizes with isotocin-producing cells in the preoptic area, a critical node in the highly conserved vertebrate social behavior network. We used quantitative (q)PCR to test whether GPR30 mRNA levels differ in males in breeding vs. nonbreeding condition and in males that were socially interacting with a female vs. a rival male. Our results show that GPR30 is expressed in the retina and in many brain regions that receive input from the retina and/or optic tectum, as well as in a few nodes in the social behavior network, including cell populations that produce isotocin. J. Comp. Neurol. 525:252-270, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Febrile Morbidity Following Hysterosalpingography: Identification of Risk Factors and Recommendations for Prophylaxis

Although previous large series have reported that from 0.3% to 1.3% of patients undergoing hysterosalpingography (HSG) develop infectious morbidity, our impression was that the incidence was higher among our patients. Therefore the records of 448 consecutive healthy women who underwent HSG were examined. Within 24 hours after the HSG, 14 of these 448 patients (3.1%) developed fever and pelvic peritonitis requiring hospitalization and treatment with parenteral antibiotics, a significantly greater frequency than reported elsewhere (P less than 0.01). Traditional laboratory tests failed to predict patients at risk, and prophylactic antibiotics effective against aerobic organisms could not protect against this complication. However, it was possible to design a scoring system based on specific findings in the history and previous physical examinations that was capable of identifying patients who would subsequently become infected. The clinical sensitivity of this scoring technique is 57%, clinical specificity 99%, and test efficiency 97%. It is suggested that in view of the major risk of post-HSG infection in certain identifiable women and because of the impact of this complication on their future fertility, hysterosalpingography should not be performed in those patients determined to be at high risk. In women at lowest risk, the procedure is safe. Finally, in patients assigned an intermediate risk-score, the risk-benefit ratio must be carefully weighed and discussed with the patient, and prophylactic antibiotics with anaerobic coverage should be considered.
Costs of Clostridium difficile infection in pediatric operations: A propensity score-matching analysis.

Background The purpose of this analysis was to assess the burden of Clostridium difficile infection in the hospitalized pediatric surgical population and to characterize its influence on the costs of care. Methods There were 313,664 patients age 1–18 years who underwent a general thoracic or abdominal procedure in the Kids’ Inpatient Database during 2003, 2006, 2009, and 2012. Logistic regression was used to model factors associated with the development of C difficile infection. A propensity score–matching analysis was performed to evaluate the influence of C difficile infection on mortality, duration of stay, and costs in similar patient cohorts. Population weights were used to estimate the national excess burden of C difficile infection on these outcomes. Results The overall prevalence of C difficile infection in the sampled cohort was 0.30%, with an increasing trend of C difficile infection over time in non–children's hospitals (P Conclusion C difficile infection is a relatively uncommon but costly complication after pediatric operative procedures. Given the increasing trend of C difficile infection among hospitalized surgical patients, there is substantial opportunity for reduction of inpatient burden and associated costs in this potentially preventable nosocomial infection.
Pathogenic mechanisms of acute pancreatitis.

Purpose of reviewIn this article, recent advances in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis have been reviewed.Recent findingsPathologic intra-acinar trypsinogen activation had been hypothesized to be the central mechanism of pancreatitis for over a century. This hypothesis could be explored for the
Comparison of pre-contact joint kinematics and vertical impulse between vertical jump landings and step-off landings from equal heights.

Although impact phase differences between vertical jump landings (VJL) and step-off landings (STL) may be related to task-specific pre-contact strategies, pre-contact mechanics are rarely examined. Thus, pre-contact kinematics and vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) impulse were examined between VJL and STL. Ten health adults (20.9 ± 1.6 yrs; 167.8 ± 4.2 cm; 68.5 ± 7.15 kg) performed 15 VJL and 15 STL from equal heights. Limb (lead; trail) by task (VJL; STL) ANOVAs (α = 0.05) compared hip, knee, and ankle joint angles 150 ms pre-contact, 100 ms pre-contact, 50 ms pre-contact, and at ground contact. Joint angular displacement was also evaluated between 150 ms pre-contact and ground contact. vGRF impulse was compared during the loading (ground contact to peak vGRF) and attenuation (peak vGRF to end of impact) phases. Greater hip flexion angles occurred during STL versus VJL at each event except 150 ms pre-contact (p ≤ .004). Trail limb knee flexion angles were greater at each event when compared to the lead limb during STL (p ≤ .019). Greater trail limb knee flexion angles occurred during STL versus VJL at all four events (p ≤ .018), while greater plantarflexion angles occurred at all four events during VJL versus STL (p ≤ .034). During STL, greater trail limb plantarflexion angles were detected at each event versus the lead limb (p < .001). Lesser hip, lead and trail limb knee displacement occurred during STL versus VJL (p < .05). Greater vGRF impulse was detected during the loading phase of VJL (<.001), while greater vGRF impulse occurred during the attenuation phase of STL (p = .025). These tasks are characterized by distinct pre-contact kinematic strategies and post-contact kinetics. The task utilized in practice should reflect the requirements of the population of interest.
Accessing an Expanded Exposure Science Module at the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database.

Summary: The Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD; http://ctdbase.org) is a free resource that provides manually curated information on chemical, gene, phenotype, and disease relationships to a...
Artificial intelligence: Why we must get it right

Cognitive computers have the intelligence to solve many of humanity’s most pressing problems, from fighting disease to cutting road deaths and coping with climate change. However, it can only do so if people trust AI’s practitioners.
Political and legal antecedents of affirmative action: a comparative framework

Much of the literature on affirmative action is normative. Further, in scholarship that takes an empirical approach to examine this topic, the object of inquiry is typically the ramifications of such provisions – most notably the extent to which they foster social transformation. Yet, we know surprisingly little about the antecedents of affirmative action. This work examines what variables systematically predict affirmative action. We focus on the policy feedback literature and compensatory justice frameworks to examine the effects of democracy, modernisation and globalisation on affirmative action programmes. Time-series cross-sectional analyses of data for hundreds of groups from all over the globe for the period 1985–2003 confirm our hypotheses. This is the first work to examine affirmative action programmes in a large-N framework of such scale. We find that such programmes systematically correlate with democracy, modernisation and globalisation.
Coupled thermo-mechanical analysis of mass reduced silicon micromirrors

This work examines the impact of two-dimensional mass reduction patterning, as compared to solid plate geometries, on metallic coated single-crystal silicon micromirrors under the additional thermal stress induced by optical illumination. A centrally anchored hexagonal plate geometry is used to quantitatively examine the impact of radiant heat flux on the mass-curvature design tradespace. Steady-state coupled thermal-mechanical simulation results, generated using commercial finite element software, show that 2D patterned mass reduced designs under certain boundary conditions, can be superior when compared to equivalent mass solid plate structures by offering reduced curvature variation (−0.25 m V(W/cm2) an 86% improvement over a near equivalent mass solid plate design) across a range of effective incident surface heat flux (0–15.52 W/cm2) without compromising maximum surface temperatures. Impact to far-field diffraction is discussed and optical simulation results of an incident gaussian beam on a 7-element hexagonal array for both uniform and non-uniform element curvature cases are also presented to show the optical performance impact of localized curvature variation.
NK ACTIVITY OF TUMOR INFILTRATING AND LYMPH NODE LYMPHOCYTES IN HUMAN PULMONARY TUMORS

Publisher Summary This chapter explores the natural killer (NK) activity of tumor infiltrating and lymph node lymphocytes in human pulmonary tumors. In a study described in the chapter, 53Cr-release assays against K562 targets showed low activity among tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) from pulmonary tumors of a variety of histologic types. The TIL was obtained by mechanical disaggregation, fractionated by filtration through nylon monofilament mesh to remove tumor cells. The removal of residual tumor cells did not result in improvement of NK activity, indicating that the low NK activity is not because of cold target competition by residual tumor cells. TIL obtained from tumors injected two weeks prior to surgery with intralesional BCG exhibited higher levels of NK activity than TIL from uninjected tumors. Similarly, hilar lymph node lymphocytes and peripheral blood lymphocytes from the same patients showed modestly higher NK activity. In three cases, BCG-injected TIL and uninjected TIL from the same patients. These patients had multiple pulmonary metastases, only one of which was BCG injected. It was found that in these cases, the NK activity of uninfected TIL remained low while the NK activity of TIL from the adjacent BCG-injected tumors were high.
Loss of SETDB1 decompacts the inactive X chromosome in part through reactivation of an enhancer in the IL1RAPL1 gene.

The product of dosage compensation in female mammals is the inactive X chromosome (Xi). Xi facultative heterochromatin is organized into two different types, one of which is defined by histone H3 trimethylated at lysine 9 (H3K9me3). The rationale for this study was to assess SET domain bifurcated 1 (SETDB1) as a candidate for maintaining this repressive modification at the human Xi. Here, we show that loss of SETDB1 does not result in large-scale H3K9me3 changes at the Xi, but unexpectedly we observed striking decompaction of the Xi territory. Close examination revealed a 0.5 Mb region of the Xi that transitioned from H3K9me3 heterochromatin to euchromatin within the 3′ end of the IL1RAPL1 gene that is part of a common chromosome fragile site that is frequently deleted or rearranged in patients afflicted with intellectual disability and other neurological ailments. Centrally located within this interval is a powerful enhancer adjacent to an ERVL-MaLR element. In the absence of SETDB1, the enhancer is reactivated on the Xi coupled with bidirectional transcription from the ERVL-MaLR element. Xa deletion of the enhancer/ERVL-MaLR resulted in loss of full-length IL1RAPL1 transcript in cis, coupled with trans decompaction of the Xi chromosome territory, whereas Xi deletion increased detection of full-length IL1RAPL1 transcript in trans, but did not impact Xi compaction. These data support a critical role for SETDB1 in maintaining the ERVL-MaLR element and adjacent enhancer in the 3′ end of the IL1RAPL1 gene in a silent state to facilitate Xi compaction.
Sonography of active rheumatoid arthritis during pregnancy: a case report and literature review.

Abstract Disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis usually subsides in pregnancy, however a subset of patients have worsened symptoms with joint pain and swelling. Monitoring and mitigating disease activity in pregnancy is important for preventing deforming structural changes which can affect the ability of the patient to care for themselves and the newborn. Ultrasound is a safe and low-cost imaging modality for detecting active changes from an inflammatory arthritis, which can help guide management. We describe a case of an acute disease flare during pregnancy, readily detected with ultrasound, and present a review of sonographic evaluation of rheumatoid arthritis in pregnancy.
Zero Sequence Circulating Current Analysis and Reduction in Paralleled Three-level Active Neutral Point Clamped Inverters

Zero sequence circulating current (ZSCC) exists when paralleled inverters have common dc and ac sides without isolation. Most of the prior work on the ZSCC analysis and suppression depended on paralleled two-level inverters. The scenarios involved in the three-level converters are more complicated. This paper investigates the ZSCC in paralleled three-level active neutral point clamped (ANPC) inverters. The mechanisms causing potential ZSCC jump in three-level paralleled ANPC inverters are analyzed. The ZSCC patterns of different interleaved modulation schemes for three-level converters are illustrated. Then, the active vector dividing concept is extended to three-level converters, and a modulation scheme is proposed to reduce the high frequency ZSCC in three-level converters. Experiments have been conducted on two paralleled three-level inverters. The current jump in ZSCC is observed and mitigated. The ZSCC with proposed modulation scheme is reduced to less than half of the ZSCC with conventional continuous space vector modulation (CSVM) scheme.
Technical and Financial Analysis for a 50MW Wind Farm in Pasni, Balochistan

Given the current power outages in Pakistan, renewable energy is a basic national need and for this purpose determining potentials of alternative energies is important. Purpose of this study is to analyze the technical feasibility of wind power at Pasni, a city of Gwadar district, Balochistan. Financial aspects of a 50 MW wind farm are also determined using Minitab, Stats Graphics, and EViews. Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models and Neural Network Back propagation methods are used to forecast the four years real time data of wind speed to explore the power potential. A performance comparison of both forecasting models has been done. A total of 317 different wind turbines of various ratings and distinct heights (60m, 80m and 100m) were examined to select the appropriate turbine. Maximum capacity factor was the analysis criteria for optimum height and model selection of the turbine. RETScreen software was used to validate the results obtained from the study. The results show that maximum capacity factor of 16.2% and annual wind energy production of 72.5 GWh/year was achieved when wind turbine with hub height of 100m was used.
On the nonrealizability of braid groups by homeomorphisms

We show that the projection Homeo_+(D²_n)→B_n does not have a section for n ≥ 6; ie the braid group B_n cannot be geometrically realized as a group of homeomorphisms of a disk fixing the boundary pointwise and n marked points in the interior as a set. We also give a new proof of a result of Markovic (2007) that the mapping class group of a surface of genus g cannot be geometrically realized as a group of homeomorphisms when g ≥ 2.
Reduction in Routine Labs in the Inpatient BMT Setting: A Quality Improvement Initiative

Introduction Common labs, such as a daily complete blood count (CBC) or a daily basic metabolic panel (BMP), represent possible healthcare waste. The Global Aim of this quality improvement initiative was to reduce lab draws and overall healthcare costs through implementation of routine standardized lab practices for patients undergoing bone marrow transplant (BMT). Our Smart Aim was to decrease the median number of labs per hospitalized BMT patient per week by 10%. Methods Using the Model for Improvement, we identified several opportunities to decrease the frequency of routine labs. This included: 1) daily CBC and BMP were obtained on all patients from the start of the preparative regimen through discharge; 2) daily CBC and BMP were obtained on all patients upon readmission; 3) there was no standardized process to clinically evaluate lab frequency. We addressed these opportunities through Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) testing. Interventions included: 1) implementing a mindful mechanism to determine lab frequency prior to the start of chemotherapy; 2) weekly scheduled assessment and discussion of lab frequency during rounds; 3) implementation of a readmission order set with decreased frequency of lab monitoring. Finally, we used standardized run charts to measure the impact of the interventions. Results From January 2019 to June 2019, the median number of weekly labs for patients admitted to the BMT unit decreased from 54 to 49. These gains have been sustained for an additional four months. Discussion Using standardized processes, we demonstrated a substantial decrease in the number of weekly labs obtained on patients admitted to the BMT unit. We believe these interventions and measurements can be used in all transplant centers and can influence outcomes.
Higher Order Derivatives of Lyapunov Functions for Stability of Systems with Inputs

In this paper we study an alternative method for determining stability of dynamical systems by inspecting higher order derivatives of a Lyapunov function. The system can be time invariant or time varying; in both cases we define the higher order derivatives when there are inputs. We then claim and prove that if there exists a linear combination of those higher order derivatives with non-negative coefficients (except that the coefficient of the 0-th order term needs to be positive) which is negative semi-definite, then the system is globally uniformly asymptotically stable. The proof involves repeated applications of comparison principle for first order differential relations. We also show that a system with inputs whose auxiliary system admits a Lyapunov function satisfying the aforementioned conditions is input-to-state stable.
Deindustrialization of rural America: Economic restructuring and the rural ghetto

Since 2000, there has been a significant decline in the number of manufacturing jobs in the US. The manufacturing sector has provided good jobs and benefits, and it has a stronger multiplier effect...
Climate Ethics and Climate Politics: Current Challenges and Potential Solutions

Climate change is not only one of the major (economic-)ethical issues of the 21st century; it is also an existential threat for many populations around the world. Yet, climate action and politics – both at the individual, corporate, and government levels – are oftentimes considered to be lagging behind and/or being inadequate and inefficient. What are the main reasons for this so-called ‘promise-performance gap’ or ‘disconnect’ and what could be done to overcome this social dilemma? The following paper explores both the ethical and politico-economic aspects and implications of climate change and provides a novel look at climate change from a business- and climate-ethics perspective. It does so by providing, first of all, an overview of the latest research findings of climate science. It examines then the socio-economic and especially the ethical implications of climate change and analyzes the most prevalent socio-economic and political challenges of climate action and politics at the micro (individual), meso (corporate), and macro (governmental) levels. The paper ends with a couple of suggested reform measures that could help to resolve the promise-performance gap and the ‘climate (action) dilemma’.
Advance Care Planning For Medicare Beneficiaries Increased Substantially, But Prevalence Remained Low

In 2016 fee-for-service Medicare began reimbursing physicians for advance care planning conversations with enrollees during outpatient visits and waived the copayment for advance care planning when...
A Mark-Up Language and Interpreter for Interactive Scenes for Embodied Conversational Agents

Our research seeks to provide embodied conversational agents (ECAs) with behaviors that enable them to build and maintain rapport with human users. To conduct this research, we need to build agents and systems that can maintain high levels of engagement with humans over multiple interaction sessions. These sessions can potentially extend to longer periods of time to examine long-term effects of the virtual agent’s behaviors. Our current ECA interacts with humans in a game called “Survival on Jungle Island.” Throughout this game, users interact with our agent across several scenes. Each scene is composed of a collection of speech input, speech output, gesture input, gesture output, scenery, triggers, and decision points. Our prior system was developed with procedural code, which did not lend itself to rapid extension to new game scenes. So to enable effective authoring of the scenes for the “Jungle” game, we adopted a declarative approach. We developed ECA middleware that parses, interprets, and executes XML files that define the scenes. This paper presents the XML coding scheme and its implementation and describes the functional back-end enabled by the scene scripts.
The Preparation of Aromatic Arsonic and Arsinic Acids by the Bart, Bechamp, and Rosenmund Reactions

Arsonic acids may be regarded as derived from orthoarsenic acid, by replacement of one of the hydroxyl groups with an organic residue, the arsenic acids are similarly derived by replacement of the two hydroxyl groups. The preparation of aromatic arsenic acids is described in this chapter. The most widely used is the Bart reaction, which involves the interaction of a diazonium salt with an inorganic arsenic compound. Arsenic acids are also obtained as by-products in the Bechamp synthesis. In the Rosenmund synthesis, salts of arsenic acids are obtained by treatment of aryl halides with sodium or potassium arsenite. Keywords: aromatic arsenic acid; arsinic acid; Bart reaction; Bechamp reaction; Rosenmund reaction; limitations; side reactions; procedures; arsonation
Luxury fashion consumption and Generation Y consumers

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate Generation Y consumers’ luxury fashion consumption. Generation Y is becoming a very important segment for the luxury market in the USA. Specifically, this study is designed to investigate Generation Y consumers’ consumption of luxury fashion products from the following perspectives: the influence of self-related personality traits on their brand consciousness; and the influence of brand consciousness on consumption behaviours in terms of consumption motivations, purchase intention, and brand loyalty. Design/methodology/approach – A conceptual model was developed to represent the proposed relationships among the related variables. An online survey was conducted and 305 valid surveys were collected. The proposed hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling (SEM) analyses. Findings – From the perspective of self-concept, this research shed some light on the luxury fashion consumption behaviour of Generation Y consumers. Public self-conscious...
Abstract 17453: Clinical Features of Peripartum Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection

Background: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is the principal cause of peripartum myocardial infarction (MI). Clinical features remain incompletely understood. Methods: Medical records of all women enrolled in a SCAD registry at the Mayo Clinic were reviewed to identify those who were either pregnant or ≤12 weeks postpartum at time of initial event. Diagnosis of SCAD was confirmed with coronary angiography in all cases. Obstetrical outcomes and incidence of recurrent SCAD events were assessed. Results: In total, 38 of 363 women enrolled in the registry met criteria for peripartum MI due to SCAD. Mean age at time of SCAD was 36±3 (range 27-42) years; 3 patients were pregnant at the time of initial event, and all pregnancies except 2 resulted in a live birth. Ten (26%) were diagnosed with multivessel SCAD (MV-SCAD). Most (60%) postpartum events occurred within 30 days of delivery. Antecedent co-morbidities included gestational hypertension/preeclampsia (9), fibromuscular dysplasia (7), gestational diabetes (4), and mixed connective tissue disease (1). Compared to US population birth data, women with peripartum SCAD were more likely to be ≤ 30 years at the time of first delivery (60% vs 42%) and more often multiparous (80% vs 59%). On long-term follow-up (median 3.7 years, IQR 1.1-7.1), 5 (13%) women experienced recurrent SCAD, with one episode occurring following a subsequent pregnancy. MV-SCAD was not associated with increased risk of recurrence (p=0.44). Conclusion: Women with peripartum SCAD are both older than the general obstetrical population at the time of first pregnancy and frequently multiparous at time of initial SCAD event. The highest frequency of SCAD was encountered during the first postpartum month, suggesting variations in hormonal and hemodynamic factors may contribute to SCAD events in susceptible women.
Correspondence, Constructs, and Qualification in World War I

Abstract: This paper examines the archival correspondence of Vera Brittain and three companions to demonstrate the workings of censorship and self-censorship in wartime. Using Mikhail Bakhtin's notion of dialogism, I replace the traditional active soldier-writer/passive civilian-reader model with a model that envisions both reader and writer as active and influential, and as shaped by past and future discussions and "worldviews." Censorship thus becomes a site of active subversion, and self-censorship becomes a site of complexity, both subject to the construction of the audience and the relationship between the writer and reader. Finally, this exploration demonstrates the importance of archival work, where signatures, stamps, handwriting, enclosures, and corrections become significant clues to the writers' and readers' intentions. Resume: L'analyse de la correspondance de Vera Brittain permet d'expliquer le fonctionnement de la censure et de l'autocensure en temps de guerre. La notion de dialogisme de Mikhail Bakhtine permet de remplacer la conception traditionnelle du « soldat-redacteur actif » et du « civil-lecteur passif » par un modele qui accorde a chacun des correspondants un role actif et influent. En outre, le modele propose de la correspondance de guerre reconnait l'importance des discussions anterieures et futures, ainsi que des visions du monde de chacun des participants. Cela permet de considerer la censure comme lieu de subversion active et l'autocensure comme un lieu de complexite, toutes deux sujettes a la construction d'un public et a la relation entre redacteur et lecteur. Enfin, cette etude temoigne de l'importance de l'analyse de textes d'archives, en ce sens ou les signatures, les timbres, le texte manuscrit, les pieces jointes et les ratures constituent autant d'indices quant aux intentions des auteurs et de leurs lecteurs.
Eocene exhumation and basin development in the Puna of northwestern Argentina

[1] The Puna is part of the larger Puna-Altiplano Plateau (also known as the Central Andean Plateau), characterized by high elevation, low relief, and aridity, located in the central Andes of Bolivia and Argentina. Tertiary sedimentary rocks preserved within the Puna contain a unique archive of information regarding the paleogeography, depositional environments, and timing of sediment source exhumation during the early stages of Andean mountain building. The Eocene Geste Formation in the Salar de Pastos Grandes area (within the central Puna of northwestern Argentina) consists of deposits that are the result of confined to unconfined flows in a sandy to gravelly, braided fluvial system and alluvial fans proximal to the source terrane. Paleocurrent data document an overall eastward flow direction. Up-section coarsening of the Geste Formation suggests that topographic relief in the source area increased through time, possibly owing to enhanced tectonic activity and source terrane unroofing. Sandstone petrography and conglomerate clast-count data document quartzose and phyllitic compositions typical of Ordovician rocks preserved just west of the Salar de Pastos Grandes area. Paleocene-Eocene detrital apatite fission track age populations (P1: ∼35–52 Ma; P2: ∼52–65 Ma) of the Geste Formation and their consistent trends up-section suggest moderate to rapid (∼0.4 mm/a to >1 mm/a) exhumation of western sediment sources during the early to mid-Tertiary stages of Andean mountain building. Sedimentation rates increase up-section from ∼0.1 mm/a to 1 mm/a. Our data, when combined with other structural, stratigraphic and seismic evidence from surrounding regions, suggest that the Geste Formation was deposited in response to crustal shortening and resulting erosion and sedimentation, which started as early as Cretaceous in the Chilean Cordillera de Domeyko and in the Salar de Pastos Grandes area by Eocene time. The Geste Formation could be interpreted either as a local wedge-top accumulation on the eastward propagating central Andean orogenic wedge, or as a local intermontane basin. The similarities between wedge-top deposits preserved in Bolivia and Eocene deposits in northwestern Argentina, south of ∼25°S, lead us to favor the wedge-top scenario for the Geste Formation. If correct, this implies that the deformation front of the Andean orogenic wedge incorporated both thin- and thick-skinned structures as it migrated, possibly unsteadily, from the Cordillera de Domeyko during the Cretaceous-Paleocene to areas within the Puna and Eastern Cordillera by mid-late Eocene time. Contemporaneously, a regional-scale foreland basin system developed over an along-strike distance of at least 650 km.
The maxillary resection and its prosthetic replacement.

Abstract The surgical anatomy of a maxillary resection has been described. The osseous structures involved have been identified, and the residual anatomic structures correlated with replacement prostheses. The prosthetic rehabilitation of a patient with a resected maxilla has been discussed.
An Element-Specific, Dual-Channel, Flame Infrared Emission, Gas Chromatography Detector for Chlorinated and Fluorinated Hydrocarbons

A flame infrared emission (FIRE) gas chromatography (GC) detector for organofluorine and organochlorine compounds has been developed and evaluated. The element-specific GC-FIRE detector makes use of a beamsplitter to divide the source radiation into two optical paths. The divided radiation passes through appropriate notch filters to isolate the background and analyte emission, which are each monitored by separate lead selenide detectors that form part of a Wheatstone bridge network. The output from the Wheatstone bridge is fed into the differential mode (A-B) input of a lock-in amplifier (LIA). In the chlorine mode of operation, a 3.7-μm optical notch filter is used in the analytical channel to isolate a portion of the HCl emission that results when organochlorine compounds are combusted in the hydrogen/air flame. In the fluorine mode of operation, a 2.35-μm optical notch filter in combination with a 2.55-μm short-pass filter is used to isolate a portion of the HF emission that results when organofluorine compounds are combusted. With the use of the dual-channel system, selectivity ratios of at least 760 (F) and 100 (Cl) were obtained, respresenting improvements by factors of about 104 (F) and 30 (Cl) in comparison with results from the single-channel mode of operation. With the use of Freon-113® (C2Cl3F3) as a representative analyte, detection limits in both the chlorine- and fluorine-selective modes were 200 ng s−1, representing improvements by factors of about 9.5 (F) and 4.5 (Cl), in comparison with results from the single-channel mode of operation.
Semiparametric frailty models for clustered failure time data.

Summary We consider frailty models with additive semiparametric covariate effects for clustered failure time data. We propose a doubly penalized partial likelihood (DPPL) procedure to estimate the nonparametric functions using smoothing splines. We show that the DPPL estimators could be obtained from fitting an augmented working frailty model with parametric covariate effects, whereas the nonparametric functions being estimated as linear combinations of fixed and random effects, and the smoothing parameters being estimated as extra variance components. This approach allows us to conveniently estimate all model components within a unified frailty model framework. We evaluate the finite sample performance of the proposed method via a simulation study, and apply the method to analyze data from a study of sexually transmitted infections (STI).
Effect of environmental pretreatment on tolerance to copper and zinc in the moss funaria hygrometrica

The effect of pretreatment on zinc- and copper-enriched media on subsequent tolerance of F. hygrometrica to these metals was tested in three individuals each from a tolerant and a nontolerant population. Some individuals showed a significant response to pretreatment and some did not, and those that did varied in both intensity and direction. In general, pretreatment affected protonemal growth more than stem production. Although pretreatment effects were demonstrated, genetic differences between individuals and populations were more important determinants of the level of tolerance.
Development and current applications of assisted fertilization

Since the very early establishment of in vitro insemination, it became clear that one of the limiting steps is the achievement of fertilization. Among the different assisted fertilization methods, intracytoplasmic sperm injection emerged as the ultimate technique to allow fertilization with ejaculated, epididymal, and testicular spermatozoa. This work describes the early steps that brought forth the development of intracytoplasmic sperm injection and its role in assisted reproductive techniques. The current methods to select the preferential male gamete will be elucidated and the concerns related to the offspring of severe male factor couples will be discussed.
Characterization of the Cell-Wall Polysaccharides of Arabidopsis thaliana Leaves

The cell-wall polysaccharides of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves have been isolated, purified, and characterized. The primary cell walls of all higher plants that have been studied contain cellulose, the three pectic polysaccharides homogalacturonan, rhamnogalacturonan I and rhamnogalacturonan II, the two hemicelluloses xyloglucan and glucuronoarabinoxylan, and structural glycoproteins. The cell walls of Arabidopsis leaves contain each of these components and no others that we could detect, and these cell walls are remarkable in that they are particularly rich in phosphate buffer-soluble polysaccharides (34% of the wall). The pectic polysaccharides of the purified cell walls consist of rhamnogalacturonan I (11%), rhamnogalacturonon II (8%), and homogalacturonan (23%). Xyloglucan (XG) accounts for 20% of the wall, and the oligosaccharide fragments generated from XG by endoglucanase consist of the typical subunits of other higher plant XGs. Glucuronoarabinoxylan (4%), cellulose (14%) and protein (14%) account for the remainder of the wall. Except for the phosphate buffer-soluble pectic polysaccharides, the polysaccharides of Arabidopsis leaf cell walls occur in proportions similar to those of other plants. The structure of the Arabidopsis cell-wall polysaccharides are typical of those of many other plants.
The role of the Japanese masu form in caregiver-child conversation☆

Abstract Using naturally occurring data, this paper examines in detail the masu form used by caregivers and children in interaction at home. The following questions are addressed: (i) Are addressee honorifics used in family conversation as a marker of politeness?; (ii) If not, what social meanings do they index in family conversation?; and (iii) What effects can we speculate that caregivers' use of addressee honorifics has on the socialization of children? The findings based on qualitative and quantitative analysis of the data show that the social meaning of the addressee honorifics used in interactions between caregivers and children is not that of politeness but that of presentation of public self. It is suggested that the children's understanding of the masu form as a marker of presentation of public self is crucial in interpreting this form as a marker of polite speech later in their life. The paper speculates that the use of the masu form in family conversation socializes children into the culturally important concept of omote ‘front’ as well as attention to form.
Activation of components of the alternative pathway of complement by Propionibacterium acnes cell wall carbohydrate.

The trichloroacetic acid (TCA) extractable molecules in Propionibacterium acnes cell wall were tested for the ability to activate the alternative pathway of complement in human serum treated with ethyleneglycol-bis (β-aminoethyI ether) N,N1-tetracetie and (KGTA). The extracted molecules failed to consume hemolytic activity against antibody-coated sheep erythrocytes but gave a dose-dependent consumption of rabbit erythrocyte (RE) lytic activity. Similarly, the extract produced significant cleavage of Factor B, but failed to cleave C3, as detected by immunoelectrophoresis. Adsorption of the extracted material to sheep erythrocytes did not render the cells susceptible to lysis via the alternative pathway. Sephadex G-25 chromatography yielded several fractions which were able to consume RE lytic activity from EGTA-treated serum. These fractions were analyzed and found to contain glucose, mannose, and galactose. No teichoic acid or protein was detected. The alternative pathway activator in P. acnes is thus a nonteichoic acid cell wall carbohydrate which, in its extractable form is capable of activating only alternative pathway reactants prior to C3.
Characterization of pitting damage and prediction of remaining fatigue life

Abstract Quantification of corrosion and modeling of subsequent fatigue crack growth have been the focus of much intense inquiry in recent years. In previous work, the present authors proposed a crack growth model for this fatigue damage scenario that incorporated recent laboratory observations and built upon the approaches of other researchers. Here this model is extended to establish fatigue life prediction distributions for pre-corroded 2024-T3 aluminum using random cross-sectional plane micrographs as the damage quantification means. First, using automated image analysis, metrics are extracted from these micrographs that are shown to bear relevance to the fatigue performance of the material. Insight was gained by studying this pitting from a number of different perspectives, including analysis of spatial distribution and morphology. Based on the observation that the failure of individual, pre-corroded, fatigue specimens often results from the simultaneous nucleation of several cracks, a life prediction method is presented. Here, multiple crack evolution scenarios are simulated with the understanding that the distribution of lowest resulting lives will be limiting and thus representative of the experimentally observed lives. The resulting life predictions are shown to compare well against experimental values. Model sensitivities are addressed and the merits and limitations of the proposed methodology are discussed.
Hepatocyte growth factor inhibits intrinsic antibacterial activity of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells.

Abstract We investigated whether or not polarized renal epithelial cells produce antibacterial factors, which aid in host defense at the cell surface of renal epithelium. A model of polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells grown on filters was used to test for the presence of apically or basolaterally secreted factors on the growth of non-virulent (XL1-Blue) and uropathogenic (J96) strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli). Growth of both XL1-Blue and J96 strains of E. coli in medium on the apical and basolateral surface of MDCK cells was inhibited as compared to bacterial growth in medium not exposed to MDCK cells. The inhibition of bacterial growth was similar in both apical and basolateral surface medium. Pretreatment of MDCK cells with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) blunted the inhibition of XL1-Blue and J96 growth in apical and basolateral surface medium as compared to growth in medium on the surfaces of untreated MDCK cells. Immunofluorescent analysis demonstrated the presence of β-defensin isoforms 1–3 in MDCK cells, with isoform 1 being the most prevalent form observed. HGF treatment reduced the amount of immunoreactive β-defensin-1 in MDCK cells. These data demonstrate that polarized renal epithelium produce antibacterial factors. The renotropic growth factor HGF inhibits these antibacterial factors. β-defensins may contribute to this antibacterial activity and play an important role in renal epithelial resistance to bacterial infections.
B-cell count and survival: differentiating chronic lymphocytic leukemia from monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis based on clinical outcome.

The diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in asymptomatic patients has historically been based on documenting a characteristic lymphocyte clone and the presence of lymphocytosis. There are minimal data regarding which lymphocyte parameter (absolute lymphocyte count [ALC] or B-cell count) and what threshold should be used for diagnosis. We analyzed the relationship of ALC and B-cell count with clinical outcome in 459 patients with a clonal population of CLL phenotype to determine (1) whether the CLL diagnosis should be based on ALC or B-cell count, (2) what lymphocyte threshold should be used for diagnosis, and (3) whether any lymphocyte count has independent prognostic value after accounting for biologic/molecular prognostic markers. B-cell count and ALC had similar value for predicting treatment-free survival (TFS) and overall survival as continuous variables, but as binary factors, a B-cell threshold of 11 × 109/L best predicted survival. B-cell count remained an independent predictor of TFS after controlling for ZAP-70, IGHV, CD38, or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) results (all P < .001). These analyses support basing the diagnosis of CLL on B-cell count and retaining the size of the B-cell count in the diagnostic criteria. Using clinically relevant criteria to distinguish between monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL) and CLL could minimize patient distress caused by labeling asymptomatic people at low risk for adverse clinical consequences as having CLL.
Metadata practices for consumer photos

Digital image metadata plays a crucial role in managing digital image repositories. It lets us catalog and maintain large image collections as well as search for and find relevant information. Moreover, describing a digital image with defined metadata schemes lets multiple systems with different platforms and interfaces access and process image metadata. Metadata's wide use in commercial, academic, and educational domains as well as on the Web has propelled the development of new standards for digital image data schemes. The Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association has proposed the Exchangeable Image File Format (EXIF) as a standard for storing administrative metadata in digital image files during acquisition. The International Press Telecommunications Council (IPTC) has developed a standard for storing descriptive metadata information within digital images. These metadata schemas, as well as other emerging standards, provide a standard format for creating, processing, and exchanging digital image metadata and enable image management, analysis, indexing, and search applications.
Synthesis and characterization of dihydrobis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate complexes of gallium(III) and indium(III)

Abstract The reaction of MeGaCl 2 with one equivalent of K[H 2 B(3,5-Me 2 pz) 2 ] yields [H 2 B(3,5-Me 2 pz) 2 ]GaMeCl. The structure of [H 2 B(3,5-Me 2 pz) 2 ]GaMeCl has been determined crystallographically. The molecular unit is monomeric with a distorted tetrahedral geometry around gallium. The reaction of GaCl 3 with two equivalents of MeLi followed by one equivalent of K[H 2 B(3,5-Me 2 pz) 2 ] yields [H 2 B(3,5-Me 2 pz) 2 ]GaMe 2 . Similar reactions starting with MeInCl 2 or Me 2 InCl yield [H 2 B(3,5-Me 2 pz) 2 ]InMeCl and [H 2 B(3,5-Me 2 pz) 2 ]InMe 2 , respectively. The reaction of MeInCl 2 with two requirements of K[H 2 B(3,5-Me 2 pz) 2 ] in refulxing THF yields [H 2 B(3,5-Me 2 pz) 2 ]InMe. In low-temperature NMr spectra of this complex (−40°C), each of the three types of hydrogen atom positions shows as two sharp, equally intense resonances. Each of the pairs of resonances coalesce at higher temperatures.