cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Isoflurane on Human Median Nerve Evoked Potentials

This paper reviews the recent literature dealing with effect of isoflurane on different components of human median nerve evoked potentials. These effects are compared to effects of other intravenous and inhalation anesthetics. Changes in peak latencies and amplitude of EP (N9), N13, N20 and conduction times EP-N13 and EP-N20 after administration of 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% end-tidal concentration of isoflurane have been studied. Peak latencies of all components increased after all concentrations of isoflurane. No significant change in EP-N13 conduction time was noted, while N13-N20 conduction time increased significantly and this increase was dose related. Amplitude of EP and N13 did not show significant change with 1% and 1.5% isoflurane when compared to control values. Amplitude of N20 decreased significantly following isoflurane anesthesia when compared to control values and this amplitude reduction was dose related. With 2% isoflurane, amplitude reduction is so great that in a significant number of patients N20 may not be discernible. When compared to other commonly used inhalation anesthetics, effect of isoflurane on amplitude of cortical components of MN-SSEP’s is similar to that produced by halothane, less marked than that produced by enflurane anesthesia. When compared to commonly used intravenous anesthetics, effect of 1% isoflurane on latency and amplitude of N20 is comparable to that produced by 75µg/ml of thiopental, but is more marked when compared to 55–63µg/kg fentanyl given intravenously.
Communication-Efficient Distributed Optimization of Self-concordant Empirical Loss

We consider distributed convex optimization problems originating from sample average approximation of stochastic optimization, or empirical risk minimization in machine learning. We assume that each machine in the distributed computing system has access to a local empirical loss function, constructed with i.i.d. data sampled from a common distribution. We propose a communication-efficient distributed algorithm to minimize the overall empirical loss, which is the average of the local empirical losses. The algorithm is based on an inexact damped Newton method, where the inexact Newton steps are computed by a distributed preconditioned conjugate gradient method. We analyze its iteration complexity and communication efficiency for minimizing self-concordant empirical loss functions, and discuss the results for ridge regression, logistic regression and binary classification with a smoothed hinge loss. In a standard setting for supervised learning where the condition number of the problem grows with square root of the sample size, the required number of communication rounds of the algorithm does not increase with the sample size, and only grows slowly with the number of machines.
Feasibility of Plasma Actuators for Active Flow Control over Wind Turbine Blades

*Attempting to increase the power generated by wind turbines in order to meet a greater percentage of electrical demand has created new challenges in the area of flow control. It is hoped that plasma actuators will not only provide a feasible alternative to traditional mechanisms for flow control but actively aid in increasing power generation. The ability of plasma actuators to produce the necessary aerodynamic responses of active flow control in two potential applications was experimentally assessed. In the first application, an actuator was placed at the trailing edge in order to shift the lift slope of a blade section. This would be used as a means of severe gust alleviation in large turbines. Without any optimization, a single crude actuator produced a noticeable aerodynamic response for all small positive angles typical of large wind turbines tested. In fact, the single actuator’s response already exceeded the estimated required response based on a simple analytical model of an actual wind turbine. In the second application, aimed at smaller turbines, a leading edge actuator was utilized in an effort to delay and control the stall behavior allowing higher angles of attack to be utilized without increasing the chances of stall. Sensitivity studies were performed on both the applied voltage and the location of the actuator. While the actuator could increase the coefficient of pressure at high angles of attack and generate slightly more lift, there was little observable benefit in controlling stall behavior. In only one configuration did the actuator delay stall, while two configurations actually hastened the onset of stall. More precise experimental testing in the stall regime is required, but, the actuator in this application was largely unsuccessful in producing the desired aerodynamic response.
Treatment of Acute Otitis Media and Its Complications

Acute otitis media is extremely common in children under 6 years of age. This article reviews the pathogenesis and epidemiology of this problem. Treatments are outlined, including choice of antibiotics, decision-making for tympanocentesis, and approaches to recurrent otitis media. Complications such as mastoiditis, although rare, still occur and are discussed. Prevention of acute otitis media also is reviewed, including information on vaccines.
Extended aortic root replacement with aortic allografts.

Complex left ventricular outflow tract obstruction after operation for subaortic stenosis or with hypoplastic aortic anulus remains a challenge for pediatric cardiac surgeons. We have recently applied a new technique of extended aortic root replacement using a cryopreserved aortic allograft to treat two patients who had previously been operated on for subaortic stenosis and a third who had aortic stenosis with a hypoplastic aortic anulus. This new procedure combines the concept of aortoventriculoplasty with aortic root replacement and coronary artery reimplantation. The valved aortic homograft is used in place of an aortic valve prosthesis and the attached anterior mitral leaflet augments the interventricular septum to relieve the subvalvular left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. The coronary ostia are then reimplanted into the allograft and an anastomosis between the distal graft and the ascending aorta is completed. Allograft aortic tissue is then used to patch the right ventricular outflow tract One patient had aortic stenosis with annular hypoplasia and did well after extended root replacement Two patients had previous operations for subaortic stenosis before undergoing extended aortic root replacement One required mediastinal exploration and drainage at 2 weeks for Serratia marcescens mediastinitis and bacteremia, but uncomplicated recovery followed. The other patient had complete heart block for 2 days, but normal sinus rhythm resumed and convalescence was benign. This modified technique with the aortic allograft was very helpful in treating these difficult problems, and the lack of mortality, limited morbidity, and good functional results are encouraging.
Application of Digital Subtraction Angiography in Neurological Disorders

The introduction of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) into clinical practice is one of the recent advancements in neuroimaging resulting from the new developments in computer science and applied mathematics. The main impetus for its construction was the need for a less complex and safer modality for the imaging of the vascular system. Although the use of subtraction in cerebral angiography is not a new technique [6, 7], its interface with a digital computer is, however, a novelty of high medical technology. DSA provides dynamic imaging of the brain blood flow through the use of logarithmic enhancement of the iodine signal and digital processing of images. The improved contrast resolution is the major advancement in the digital processing of images, which makes possible the visualization of the brachiocephalic vessels containing a concentration of iodine as low as 2% or even less, contrary to the 40%–60% needed for the standard cerebral angiography [3, 5, 17]. Due to these properties, DSA allows imaging of brain arteries following not only an intraarterial, but also an intravenous injection of contrast media.
Immunologic and Genetic Aspects of Type 1 Narcolepsy

Abstract In international classifications, narcolepsy is subdivided into types 1 and 2. Type 1 narcolepsy is caused by the destruction of about 70,000 hypothalamic neurons that produce the wake-promoting neurotransmitter hypocretin (orexin). Symptoms include daytime sleepiness, abnormalities in sleep architecture and REM sleep, and episodes of loss of muscle tone triggered by positive emotions (cataplexy). The diagnosis of type 1 narcolepsy can often be made based on the presence of cataplexy alone, which is almost pathognomonic for the disorder. Sleep tests such as nocturnal polysomnography followed by the multiple sleep latency test are typically performed to confirm the diagnosis. In difficult cases, measuring hypocretin-1 in the cerebrospinal fluid can also be conducted, with low (≤110-pg/mL) levels indicating hypocretin deficiency. Patients with type 2 narcolepsy are not associated with hypocretin abnormalities but have abnormal REM sleep patterns. Indirect evidence suggests that type 1 narcolepsy is an autoimmune disease targeting hypocretin cells. First, as for many other autoimmune diseases, narcolepsy is strongly associated with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) polymorphisms. Most strikingly, about 97% of patients carry a specific HLA class II allele, HLA-DQB1∗06:02 , compared with 25% of the general population. Additional effects of other HLA-DQ alleles and of HLA-DP and class I alleles modulate susceptibility. Second, although these associations are weak comparison with HLA-DQB1∗06:02 , genome-wide association studies have identified polymorphisms known to be involved in HLA-mediated adaptive immune responses (T-cell receptor [TCR] α and TCRβ) or in susceptibility to other autoimmune diseases (CTSH, TNFSF4, ZF365, and IL10RB-IFNAR1) as susceptibility risks. Finally, as suspected for many other autoimmune diseases, narcolepsy onset can be precipitated by infections, notably Streptococcus pyogenes and seasonal influenza infections. This was mostly notably shown after the 2009 H1N1 swine flu pandemic infection and after vaccinations with Pandemrix, an AS03-adjuvanted H1N1 vaccine that was used in Europe. In addition to type 1 narcolepsy of autoimmune origin and type 2 cases of unknown etiologies, there are also rare cases of narcolepsy resulting from genetic abnormalities, or that are part of a more complex syndrome. Our understanding of narcolepsy is rapidly improving knowledge regarding how the brain regulates wakefulness and REM sleep.
Leadership behaviors and follower performance: Deductive and inductive examination of theoretical rationales and underlying mechanisms

Summary There are competing theoretical rationales and mechanisms used to explain the relation between leadership behaviors (e.g., consideration, initiating structure, contingent rewards, and transformational leadership) and follower performance (e.g., task performance and organizational citizenship behaviors). We conducted two studies to critically examine and clarify the leadership behaviors–follower performance relation by pitting the various theoretical rationales and mechanisms against each other. We first engaged in deductive (Study 1) and then inductive (Study 2) theorizing and relied upon 35 meta-analyses involving 3327 primary-level studies and 930 349 observations as input for meta-analytic structural equation modeling. Results of our dual deductive–inductive approach revealed an unexpected yet surprisingly consistent explanation for why leadership behaviors affect follower performance. Specifically, leader–member exchange is a mediating mechanism that was empirically determined to be involved in the largest indirect relations between the four major leadership behaviors and follower performance. This result represents a departure from current conceptualizations and points to a common underlying mechanism that parsimoniously explains how leadership behaviors relate to follower performance. Also, results lead to a shift in terms of recommendations for what leaders should focus on to bring about improved follower performance. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nonlinear effects of hyperpolarizing shifts in activation of mutant Nav1.7 channels on resting membrane potential.

Inherited erythromelalgia (IEM), the first human pain disorder linked to a sodium channel, is widely regarded as a genetic model of neuropathic pain. IEM is produced by Nav1.7 mutations that hyperp...
Determining if wearable sensors affect infant leg movement frequency.

Purpose: There is interest in using wearable sensors to measure infant leg movement patterns; however, they were not developed for infant use and their presence may adversely affect infant movement...
Gene expression during delayed hatching in fish-out-of-water

Abstract “Fish-out-of-water” offer ecologists and evolutionary biologists ideal opportunities to study the evolution of stress resistance in vertebrate species. Annual killifishes (Cyprinodontiformes: Aplocheiloidei) constitute one of the most intriguing systems to study fish-out-of-water. “Annual” fishes possess a suite of complex and key features that include diapause stages and desiccation resistance, allowing them to complete their life cycle in seasonal bodies of water. Embryos of some non-annual killifishes have been shown to exhibit pre-hatching delays or symptoms of dormancy (similar to diapause), therefore, these species may represent an intermediate phenotype in the evolution of an annual lifestyle. The non-annual killifish Aplocheilus lineatus undergoes such hatching delay during aerial incubation. We use this species to study gene expression differences among water-incubated and aerially-incubated embryos. Differentially expressed genes are characterized and compared with expression patterns during diapause in annual species and with other developmental stages in non-annual killifishes. The annotation of 560 differentially expressed transcripts provides insight into how delayed-hatching embryos of Aplocheilus lineatus react to aerial incubation and suggest that delayed hatching is a phenomenon distinct from the diapause stages of related annual species. Similar patterns of gene expression are shared among Aplocheilus and other egg stranding and amphibious fishes.
Words and Knowledge

Information is sensed through observations using one’s eyes and ears, through touch, taste, and smell, supporting the development of thoughts in one’s mind. While philosophers, linguists, and psychologists continue trying to understand how we think, learn, and communicate, many questions remain about how information is stored and processed in the brain. The relationship between language and knowledge is the subject of extensive continuing philosophical debates. Cognitive scientists still attempt to explain the underlying basis for various internal representations and the relationships between them [173]. For example, we have little understanding about how a deaf composer, such as Beethoven was in his later years, could compose such beautiful music as his Ninth Symphony, or how mathematicians blind since early childhood can produce major works of mathematics, manipulating formulas that they cannot see [99]. Below, some philosophical positions will be considered in the studies of thought, language, and knowledge, as well as the nature of information producing processes in these different contexts.
Characterizing viscoelastic mechanical properties of highly compliant polymers and biological tissues using impact indentation.

Abstract Precise and accurate measurement of viscoelastic mechanical properties becomes increasingly challenging as sample stiffness decreases to elastic moduli Statement of significance Characterization and optimization of mechanical properties can be essential for the proper function of biomaterials in diverse applications. However, precise and accurate measurement of viscoelastic mechanical properties becomes increasingly difficult with increased compliance (particularly for elastic moduli
Case-Control Molecular Epidemiology Studies: Standards for the WHO DIAMOND Project

The development of standardized incidence registries has led to one of the most striking epidemiologic findings regarding IDDM. Unlike most other chronic childhood diseases, there is more than a 30-fold difference in incidence across populations, with the rates being very high in Scandinavian countries, such as Finland, but very low in the Oriental populations, such as Korea and Japan.1 Among Caucasians, there is also marked variability in the annual incidence of IDDM. Rates are much lower in the central and southern parts of Europe, such as France and Italy, than in northern Europe.2,3 In addition, major racial differences in incidence within populations have been reported, where Caucasians consistently have higher rates of IDDM than African Americans from the same geographically-defined area.3
Money, The Balance of Payments, and Exchange Rates

Monetary events have important influences upon the international balance of payments and exchange rates between national currencies. They often cause surpluses or deficits in a country's balance of payments, which, in turn, have further repercussions within the country. Monetary and fiscal policy is often directed to removing imbalances in the international accounts. The same is true of exchange rates, variations in which are often taken to be the source of domestic economic troubles. For these reasons, it is important to have the guidance of a theory that helps policymakers understand the causes of changes in the balance of payments and exchange rates and which comes to their aid when they seek to improve the international position of the dollar. This chapter emphasizes the monetary approach to the balance of payments and exchange rates. It is an extension of the quantity theory of money outhned in Chapters 11-13. But in order to apply the quantity theory to the international sphere, it is best to divide it into two subjects. The first is the monetary theory of the balance of payments in a world with fixed exchange rates, such as existed much of the time in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries under the gold and gold exchange standards. The second subject is the monetary theory of exchange rates, designed to explain the effects of money on exchange rates in a world of floating or flexible exchange rates, such as has existed since 1973. This theory is frequently called the purchasing power parity theory of exchange rates. As we shall see, both theories are useful for the purpose of explaining the problem of world inflation, mentioned at the outset of Chapter 17.
New Applications of Isotope Effects in the Determination of Organic Reaction Mechanisms

Abstract Our understanding of the basic physical processes that govern chemical reactions has put us at the cusp of beginning to understand, in stark detail, the way in which reactivity and selectivity are determined in organic reactions. Recent efforts at new experimental design coupled with the advent of enabling technologies have created a target-rich environment for the physical organic chemist. Additionally, computational chemistry has continued to develop apace of experiment in a manner that has facilitated the integration of experimental and computational efforts in the study of reaction mechanism. Few endeavors demonstrate the synergy of experiment and theory more convincingly than the study of isotope effects. This review will begin by introducing isotope effects using both mathematical and conceptual constructs. The second major section of this review will cover recent experimental and computational advancements in isotope effect methodologies. The third section of this review will take a systems approach that will highlight areas of chemical and biochemical mechanism in which isotope effects are advancing those fields. Finally, this review will look forward to the major challenges in chemical mechanism and identify areas where isotope effects may be critical to achieving vertical advancements.
A population-based reminder intervention to improve human papillomavirus vaccination rates among adolescents at routine vaccination age.

Abstract Objectives Public health authorities have the resources to conduct efficient immunization reminder interventions to improve vaccine uptake. The objective of this initiative was to design and implement a cost-effective centralized HPV vaccine reminder using New York State Immunization Information System data as one of five prespecified activities to increase initiation and completion among 11- to 13-year-old adolescents. Methods The New York State Department of Health sent reminder letters to the parents or guardians of eligible adolescents who were due for the first dose of HPV vaccine and observed HPV vaccine administration in the six months after each mailing. Subjects were randomized into an intervention group, mailed on May 14, 2015 and a control group, mailed on December 8, 2015. Results The analysis consisted of 81,558 eligible letter recipients. Letter recipients were 2 percent more likely to initiate vaccination than control subjects. Significant increases in vaccine uptake were observed for all age and gender strata. The intervention cost was $30.95 for each adolescent who initiated the HPV vaccine series. New York State Department of Health received far less public feedback, including negative feedback, about this intervention that was originally anticipated. Conclusions Public health entities can effectively utilize existing resources to conduct large-scale reminder interventions targeting a jurisdiction’s entire 11- to 13-year-old population.
The international legal thought of Carl Schmitt : towards a critique of the contemporary international order

OF THE THESIS THE INTERNATIONAL LEGAL THOUGHT OF CARL SCHMITT: TOWARDS A CRITIQUE OF THE CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL ORDER by Alex D. Barder Florida International University, 2005 Miami, Florida Professor Francois Debrix, Major Professor The aim of the thesis is to develop a critique of current liberal conceptualizations of international order. In order to conduct this critique, this thesis revisits the arguments first put forth by the German legal and political theorist Carl Schmitt. Schmitt conceptualizes a tripartite unity between law, order, and place. This unity, established at the constituent moment of land-appropriation, forms a concrete nomos, which subsequently creates the contours of the legal and political order. The establishment of the concrete order is necessarily the construction of a territorial boundary that designates an inside and an outside of the polity. By speaking of a nomos of the earth, Schmitt globalized this understanding of concrete order by looking at the various historical developments that created a "line" between the concrete applicability of interstate norms and a region where the exceptional situation prevails. The critique presented in this thesis is concerned with the lack of concrete boundary conditions within the current international legal order. It is argued that this lack of a well-defined boundary condition is what results in extreme forms of violence that were traditionally bracketed.
Development of the Korean version of ICF e-Learning tool

Purpose: The aim of the study was to develop a Korean version of an ICF e-Learning tool (KICF e-Learning tool). Methods: The process of translation and adaptation of the ICF e-Learning tool was followed: two translators developed the Korean ver sions independently, and a consensus version of the translation was then produced. An expert committee, which was composed of five experts from physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, and social welfare, reviewed the consensus Korean version to make a beta version of the tool. A field test was conducted to determine if the Korean version of the tool was easy to understand and suitable to use in ICF learning. Feedback from the field test were used for the final adaptation of the KICF e-Learning tool. Results: One-hundred and twenty-six volunteers (40 males and 76 females) were invited to examine the KICF e-Learning tool. The par ticipants reported various levels of ICF knowledge from none to very good. Forty-eight participants reported no knowledge of ICF. The majority of participants (n=84) reported that Korean terms or expression in the tool were easy to understand and one-hundred fourteen participants would recommend the tool to another person. The Korean cases would be helpful for a Korean audience to study the ICF us ing the tool. Conclusion: The KICF e-Learning tool was developed and is ready for use by the public for the consistency of ICF education. On the other hand, development of an advanced module will be needed.
Causal actions enhance perception of continuous body movements.

Abstract Our experience of motion depends not only on spatiotemporal features of stimuli, but also on our recognition of seemingly higher-level properties, as when we see an actor's body movements as goal-directed. Here, we examined how the perception of social causation in human actions guides the perceptual interpolation of motion in the observation of body movements. Natural human-object interactions were recorded for videos in which a person prepared to catch a ball thrown by another person. We manipulated the number of image frames between key postures to yield a short clip with different frame rates, and asked participants to judge whether the catcher's action showed smooth movements or sudden changes. In the causal condition, the catcher faced toward the ball and the thrower to preserve an intention-based causal relation between the ball's movement and the catcher's action in which the former causes the catcher's intention to act. In the non-causal condition, the catcher performed the same movements to raise their hands to catch a ball, except that they faced away from the ball, creating the impression of either a psychic reaction or coincidental non-goal-directed behavior, which makes movements of the ball appear to be an implausible cause of the catcher's intention to act. Across four experiments, we found that humans were more likely to judge the catcher's body movements to be continuous in the causal condition than in the non-causal condition. The effect was maintained as long as the intention-based causal relation was present, even when only part of the chain of causal events was observed. These findings indicate that intention-based cause-effect relations in human actions guide perceptual interpolation of body movements.
Elbow Biomechanics: Bony and Dynamic Stabilizers

The elbow positions the hand in a stable manner relative to the trunk while allowing flexion and extension as well as forearm rotation at varying shoulder positions. Its ability to perform this task without joint subluxation is accomplished through a combination of bony congruency, ligamentous restraint, and dynamic stabilization. This article reviews the bony and dynamic contributors to elbow stability and kinematics. Bony stability is conferred through the morphology of the humeroulnar, humeroradial, and radioulnar joints. Depending on the arm position relative to the trunk and the degree of elbow flexion, the bony contribution will vary. Dynamic elbow stabilizers confer stability through the activation of various muscles that cross the elbow. These forces help resist valgus and varus forces and may also increase bony stability by generating compressive forces. The goal of this article is to review the literature surrounding the biomechanics of bony and dynamic stabilizers of the elbow while drawing clinically relevant biomechanical observations.
[Pathology of early stage cancer of the gastrointestinal tract : Definition, principles and diagnosis].

Background Early stage cancers of the gastrointestinal tract are malignant tumors that are eligible for local therapy regimens and show an excellent prognosis. Objective This article explains the histopathological aspects of the various diseases that are covered by this topic. Methods Organ-preserving therapies are discussed according to their locations and under consideration of the current guidelines and the relevant literature. Results The exact histopathological evaluation of early cancers of the gastrointestinal tract is of crucial importance. It is the essential basis for all further therapy decisions. In most cases, an option for a local resection is given. In comparison to partial or complete organ resections, local resection is associated with a significantly decreased morbidity and reduced length of hospital stays; however, it must be ensured that local therapies do not become responsible for increased rates of tumor recurrence and progression. Therefore, an optimal risk estimation based on a sophisticated histopathological classification is mandatory. This includes the evaluation of the infiltration depth, grading, lymphovascular invasion and resection margins. Conclusion Molecular analyses have not yet entered clinical practice. The only exceptions are investigations to detect hereditary diseases. The exact histopathological diagnostic of early gastrointestinal cancers is the basis of an effective and organ-preserving therapy.
Cold agglutinin autoimmune haemolytic anaemia associated with novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Cold agglutinin syndrome (CAS) is a rare disorder associated with infection, autoimmune disorders, and lymphoid malignancies. We are present a case of CAS associated with SARS‐CoV‐2 that causes COVID‐19. A 46‐year‐old female presented with severe anemia and positive SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA PCR. Direct Coombs test was positive to IgG and complement. LDH was elevated and haptoglobin was undetectable. Peripheral smear revealed RBC agglutination, marked polychromasia, and many nucleated RBCs. Unfortunately, as a result of her severe hypoxemia, patient went into pulseless electrical activity before receiving transfusion and subsequently died. We postulate that CAS can be associated with COVID‐19, and ongoing surveillance is required for potential association.
The association of smoking and outcomes in HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer: A systematic review

Abstract Purpose While smoking is linked to worse outcomes for human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer (OPSCC), the magnitude of this association and the amount of smoking exposure necessary to confer clinically significant differences in outcomes is unclear. Recent studies suggested that greater tobacco exposure results in higher risk of cancer progression and death. Our study objective was to perform a systematic review of the association between smoking and HPV-related OPSCC outcomes. Materials and methods A literature search was conducted in April 2019 to identify relevant articles using Embase, Medline, Scopus, CENTRAL, and Cochrane databases. All studies were independently screened by two investigators to identify studies that assessed HPV-positive patients as an independent cohort, specified smoking measures, and reported locoregional recurrence (LRR), overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), or disease-free survival (DFS) in association with smoking. Results Of 1130 studies identified, 10 met final inclusion criteria with 2321 total patients, mean age 57.5 years. Smoking measures included ever vs never, current vs never/former smokers, ≤10 vs >10 pack-year, and continuous pack-years. Of these studies, 8 (80%) showed a significant effect of smoking on increasing recurrence and mortality. Adjusted HRs for LRR ranged from 0.6 to 5.2, OS from 1.3 to 4.0, DSS from 2.3 to 7.2, and DFS from 1.02 to 4.2 among heavier smokers compared to lighter/non-smokers. Conclusions While there was significant variability in smoking metrics and reported outcomes, all studies reporting statistically significant HRs showed that smoking was associated with worse outcomes. Further studies using uniform smoking measures are necessary to better understand this association.
Bargained Justice: Plea Bargaining and the Psychology of False Pleas and False Testimony

Plea bargaining is an institution that has come to dominate the American criminal justice system. While little psychological research was done in the decades following the 1970 Supreme Court decision that approved the practice of plea bargaining, many advances have been made in this field in the last decade. We now know, for example, that a significant number of defendants will falsely plead guilty in return for the benefits of a bargain. Further, we know that the presence of counsel can actually increase, not decrease, the prevalence of false pleas of guilty. We also know that pretrial detention can drastically increase the rate of false pleas of guilty by the innocent. Finally, we know that defendants will not only falsely plead guilty, but that they will also falsely testify against a co-defendant in return for the benefits of the deal. This piece examines each of these findings and considers what this research means for the future of bargained justice.
A Triple Threat: The Black, Female Attorney

In a world defined by gender and race, women and blacks constantly struggle with their identity. Although they may seem like vestiges of the past, these gender and racial issues still live on. To be heard, to be treated equally, and to be seen as more than a stereotype are still major challenges for women and blacks. For the black woman in particular, professional existence is a double negative because she must first overcome the color of her skin and then prove herself as a woman - a black woman. Her race, sex, and class are distinguished from the white American female.
The Bladder Microbiome Is Associated with Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Muscle Invasive Urothelial Bladder Carcinoma.

The intra-tumor microbiome has recently been linked to epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in a number of cancers. However, the relationship between EMT and microbes in bladder cancer has not been explored. In this study, we profiled the abundance of individual microbe species in the tumor samples of over 400 muscle invasive bladder carcinoma (MIBC) patients. We then correlated microbe abundance to the expression of EMT-associated genes and genes in the extracellular matrix (ECM), which are key players in EMT. We discovered that a variety of microbes, including E. coli, butyrate-producing bacterium SM4/1, and a species of Oscillatoria, were associated with expression of classical EMT-associated genes, including E-cadherin, vimentin, SNAI2, SNAI3, and TWIST1. We also found significant correlations between microbial abundance and the expression of genes in the ECM, specifically collagens and elastin. Lastly, we found that a large number of microbes exhibiting significant correlations to EMT are also associated with clinical prognosis and outcomes. We further determined that the microbes we profiled were likely not environmental contaminants. In conclusion, we discovered that the intra-tumoral microbiome could potentially play a significant role in the regulation of EMT in MIBC.
Purification of Low-Abundance Messenger RNAs by Polysome Isolation with Polyclonal Antibodies

Current interest in the isolation and characterization of normal and mutant genes has focused attention on the need for recombinant DNA molecules complementary to low-abundance mRNAs. The low-abundance class of mRNAs (i.e., each constituting <0.5% of total cellular mRNA) comprises approximately 30% of the mRNA of the eukaryotic cell and codes for a majority of its enzymes. Starting with a total unfractionated mRNA, a cDNA library of at least 200,000 independent clones is required to obtain a complete representation of low-abundance mRNAs.1 A major problem in recovering a cDNA corresponding to a low-abundance mRNA from such a library is the laborious screening required to dotoct the rare cloned low-abundance sequences. A substantial initial enrichment of a given low-abundance mRNA would simplify dramatically the procedures involved in preparing or identifying recombinant DNA molecules containing complementary nucleotide sequences.
Psychological Approaches to Prevention

To be effective, drug abuse prevention policy must emerge from a scientific understanding of why some people abuse drugs while most people do not, despite drugs’ abuse potential. Apparently, other factors compete with or potentiate drug effects to determine actual use patterns. Indeed, research shows that there are life circumstances, known as protective factors, that reliably reduce the chances that an individual will abuse drugs. Likewise, there are life circumstances, known as risk factors, that increase those chances. It follows, then, that prevention policy should aim to ensure protective factors and eliminate risk factors from everyone’s life.
The King‐Size company

This article is not available electronically because the copyright is held by the President and Fellows of Harvard College and permission was only granted for print publication. To order copies of request permission to reproduce materials go to http://harvardbusiness.org . The Publisher regrets any inconvenience this may cause.
Interview with Keiko Uenishi (aka o.blaat)

In this interview with fellow Japanese/American sound artist Keiko Uenishi I work outwards from the personal to consider the radical potential of internet-based sound and video improvisation to build community across ethnic and gender lines.
Computer-based redesign of a protein folding pathway

A fundamental test of our current understanding of protein folding is to rationally redesign protein folding pathways. We use a computer-based design strategy to switch the folding pathway of protein G, which normally involves formation of the second, but not the first, beta-turn at the rate limiting step in folding. Backbone conformations and amino acid sequences that maximize the interaction density in the first beta-hairpin were identified, and two variants containing 11 amino acid replacements were found to be approximately 4 kcal mol-1 more stable than wild type protein G. Kinetic studies show that the redesigned proteins fold approximately 100 x faster than wild type protein and that the first beta-turn is formed and the second disrupted at the rate limiting step in folding.
The ubiquitin ligase Deltex-3L regulates endosomal sorting of the G protein-coupled receptor CXCR4 (1066.18)

G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) sorting into the degradative pathway is important for attenuating signaling. Upon agonist activation of the chemokine receptor CXCR4, a GPCR, it is rapidly ubiquit...
Elemental blended powders semisolid forming of Ti-Al based alloys

Ti-6Al and Ti-6Al-4V alloys fabricated by semisolid forming are investigated with microscopic observation, density measurements, X-ray diffraction and mechanical property tests. The effects of the forming pressure, the forming temperature, and the forming loading time on the density of the green compacts are discussed. The shaped green-compact that is prepared by semisolid forming method transforms into intermetallics during the further alloying heat treatment. Pore-free green compacts are obtained under almost all the selective forming conditions. However, pores often appear after alloying heat treatment. The forming loading time has a relatively strong influence on the density of the compact. Experiments have also been carried out on various alloying treatments and the effects of the alloying treatment conditions on the mechanical properties of the compacts. It has been demonstrated that Ti-6Al-4V alloy can be fabricated by semisolid forming and the optimum alloying treatment conditions are at 1473 K treating for 7.2 ks, which can result in the best ultimate tensile strength of 1050 MPa and the elongation of 10% in excess of that of the plastic materials.
The Galactic X-Ray Sources

When X-ray sources in the galaxy were discovered in 1962 (Giacconi et al., 1962) it was only possible to speculate on their nature, which centered on supernova and cosmic- ray phenomena since these were the only very energetic events known. In particular, the discovery of an X-ray source associated with the Crab Nebula led to the idea that the emission might be the thermal radiation from the surface of a hot, neutron star, However, it was soon demonstrated (Bowyer et al., 1964) that a neutron star could not be responsible for the bulk of the X-radiation from the Crab, and it was not possible to exclude highly pathological conditions in otherwise ordinary stellar systems as being responsible for the X-ray sources (c.f., Hayakawa and Matsuoka, 1964).
On the Difficulty of Detecting Tumors in Mammograms

We did human observer experiments using a hybrid image technique to determine the variation of tumor contrast thresholds for detection as a function of tumor sizes. This was done with both mammographic backgrounds and filtered noise with the same power spectra. We obtained the very surprising result that contrast had to be increased as lesion size increased to maintain contrast detectability. All previous investigations with white noise, radiographic and CT imaging system noise have shown the opposite effect. We compared human results to predictions of a number of observer models and found fairly good qualitative agreement. However we found that human performance was better than what would be expected if mammographic structure was assumed to be pure noise. This disagreement can be accounted for by using a simple scaling correction factor.
Detection of signals with a fractal model

A common problem in signal processing is the detection of signals in noisy environments. The author presents a fractal model to detect signals where detection is linked to the geometric complexity of the signal. He illustrates the utility of this approach to different signal types such as sinusoids and speech. It is shown that this approach is extendible to detection of two-dimensional data, such as images, sonar, and radar. >
Computational Modeling for Multiphase Flows, Including Microgravity and Space Applications

Multiphase flows involving moving interfaces between different fluids/phases are observed in nature as well as in a wide range of engineering applications. With the recent development of high-fidelity computational techniques, a number of challenging multiphase flow problems around complex solid geometries can now be computed. We introduce the basic notion of the main categories of multiphase flow computational techniques and address issues arising from interface evolution in time with shape/topological changes, merger and breakup of objects such as drops or bubbles, and the steep fluid property and flow variable jumps across the phase boundary. We discuss Lagrangian, Eulerian, and Eulerian–Lagrangian techniques to represent and follow interface, and sharp and continuous interface methods to model interfacial dynamics. The marker-based adaptive Eulerian–Lagrangian method, which is one of the most popular methods, is highlighted with microgravity flows and space applications including droplet collision and spacecraft liquid fuel tank sloshing and surface stability. Keywords: multiphase flows; interface treatment; interfacial dynamics; continuous interface method; sharp interface method; adaptive grid; microgravity and space applications
Palate Variation and Evolution in New World Leaf-Nosed and Old World Fruit Bats (Order Chiroptera)

Two bat families, the leaf-nosed (Phyllostomidae) and fruit bats (Pteropodidae), have independently evolved the ability to consume plant resources. However, despite their similar ages, species richness and the strong selective pressures placed on the evolution of skull shape by plant-based foods, phyllostomids display more craniofacial diversity than pteropodids. In this study, we used morphometrics to investigate the distribution of palate variation and the evolution of palate diversity in these groups. We focused on the palate because evolutionary alterations in palate morphology are thought to underlie much feeding specialization in bats. We hypothesize that the distribution of palate variation differs in phyllostomids and pteropodids, and that the rate of palate evolution is higher in phyllostomids than pteropodids. The results suggest that the overall level of palate integration is higher in adult populations of pteropodids than phyllostomids but that the distribution of palate variation is otherwise generally conserved among phyllostomids and pteropodids. Furthermore, the results are consistent with these differences in palate integration likely having a developmental basis. The results also suggest that palate evolution has occurred significantly more rapidly in phyllostomids than pteropodids. These findings are consistent with a scenario in which the greater integration of the pteropodid palate has limited its evolvability.
Single crystal ZnO nanowires as optical and conductometric chemical sensor

ZnO nanowires were deposited using the vapour phase technique. The nanowires cover the substrate and appear uniform in morphology with lengths of up to several micrometres and uniform lateral size of the order of tenths of a nanometre. The electrical and optical properties of ZnO nanowires have been characterized in the presence of nitrogen oxide. Electrical measurements highlight a remarkable response even at low operating temperatures, with detection limits lower than 200 ppb and an optimal operating temperature of 100°C, while the ZnO nanowire photoluminescence is reversibly quenched by the introduction of a few ppm of NO2 even at room temperature.
VCSEL-based free-space optoelectronic ATM router

This paper presents a novel ATM router based on free space optical interconnects. The system consists of a VCSEL/CMOS chip that broadcasts N light beams (channels) which are divided into to M sections. A diffractive optic element then expands the number of these beams into N2/M beams which are incident on a smart photodetector array. This array performs an optical to electronic conversion and selects one of the 'input' channels and routes it to the proper output.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Tutorial: team projects with Alice 3

In this special session, attendees learn about techniques of teaching with team projects with Alice 3's new Save Type, Import Type, and Merge capabilities. Using this technique, students in introductory level programming courses can participate in team projects where students work as a team in various stages of design, development, and testing. As part of this process students may work independently to code one or more classes and then merge their work with that of other members of the team to create the final project.
Effects of field-oxide volume ratio and interface-charge density on submicron modified-locos isolations

Abstract The effectiveness of submicron modified-LOCOS isolations as functions of field oxide volume ratio and field oxide interface state density has been studied using 2-D device simulation. Both the field threshold voltage and subthreshold gate swing of the parasitic field transistor increase as the field oxide volume ratio increases. This is a result of the reduced drain-induced-barrier-lowering and the fringing-field effect at the field oxide corner. Although a higher field oxide volume ratio provides improved isolation, the surface states generated during the field recess process have to be minimized to avoid their adverse effects on submicron device isolation.