cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ultraprecision machining of optics at Los Alamos

Ultraprecision machine tools are used at the Los Alamos National Laboratory for single-point diamond turning of optics and other precision parts. Measurements of a 50-mm-diam copper flat illustrate the quality of a part that can be machined on the Moore No. 3 lathe. Measurements of a 0.4-m-diam aluminum mirror with a 20-m radius of curvature are presented as an example of a part machined on the Moore No. 5 lathe. A varying frequency sine wave grating shows a type of special optical grating that can be produced using the Pneumo lathe.
Dyadic Green's functions for two-layered electrically gyrotropic media

Dyadic Green's functions (DGFs) for a two-layered electrically gyrotropic or gyroelectric medium are derived using k-domain approach. Gyroelectric medium is assumed to be bounded by isotropic media in the upper and lower sides. Transmission and reflection coefficients for the two-layered medium used in the DGFs are expressed in terms of half space transmission and reflection coefficients using the matrix method with the application of boundary conditions. This drastically reduced the complexity of the problem for the two-layered structure. The results presented here can be used for radiation or scattering problems in the presence of a layered media involving complex medium such as gyroelectric.
Decreased sensitivity of rat pups to long-lasting dopamine and serotonin depletions produced by methylamphetamine

Abstract Neonatal rats were administered 6-hydroxydopamine or high doses of methylamphetamine and the long-lasting effect on monoamine levels were examined. The neonatal rats were very sensitive to dopamine depletions produced by 6-hydroxydopamine. In contrast, the neonatal rats demonstrated little sensitivity to dopamine and serotonin depletions produced by methylamphetamine. Comparison of the depletions produced by these neonatal treatments with the depletions reported for adult treatments revealed that the neonatal rats were more sensitive to the 6-hydroxydopamine-induced depletions and less sensitive to the methylamphetamine-induced depletions.
Licensing software professionals: where are we?

The two major professional organizations, IEEE-CS and ACM, have been working for some time to lay the foundation for improving professionalism in the discipline. When the Texas Society for Professional Engineering passed a resolution this summer to begin licensing software engineers in the second largest state in the Union, efforts intensified. Although it is still early in the process, academics need to understand the issues surrounding the licensing of software professionals.We begin with definitions of professionalism and licensing for software professionals. Major issues for industry, academic and professional organization stakeholders are briefly summarized and discussed. Information resources for educators are provided.
Long-range interactions of sodium atoms

Long-range interaction potentials between two and three sodium atoms, between a sodium atom and a perfectly conducting wall, and for a sodium atom between two perfectly conducting walls, are calculated with an electric-dipole oscillator strength distribution constructed from combinations of experimental and theoretical energy levels, oscillator strengths, and photoionization cross section data, constrained by accurate values of oscillator strength sum rules. The leading dispersion coefficients for Na-Na and Na-Na-Na and the Lennard-Jones coefficient for the Na-wall system are determined. For Na-Na and for the Na-wall systems, the retarded (Casimir) potentials are also calculated. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Reproductive Performance of Medium White Breeder Toms Fed Diets with Varying Metabolizable Energy Levels and 7% Crude Protein

Abstract An experiment was conducted to study the effects of feeding diets composed of triticale (var: Flora) with varying ME levels and 7% CP on fertilizing capacity and semen quality of Medium White breeder toms. Thirty-nine breeder toms were fed ad libitum from 30 to 54 wk of age one of four dietary treatments: 14% CP with 2,892 kcal ME/kg; 7% CP with 2,919 kcal ME/kg; 7% CP with 2,719 kcal ME/kg; and 7% CP with 2,539 kcal ME/kg. Semen volume (SV), packed spermatozoa volume (PSCV), BW, testicular weight (TW), and fertilizing capacity of semen were measured. No differences for SV, PSCV, TW, calculated daily feed, and estimated energy consumption were observed among the dietary energy levels fed. The estimated daily protein intake was higher (P
Membrane fusion in a model system. Mucocyst secretion in Tetrahymena.

The freeze-fracture, freeze-etch technique can be employed to reveal new details of the process of fusion of two unit membranes For this study, mucocyst discharge in Tetrahymena pyriformis provides a model system with certain general implications The undischarged mature mucocyst is a saclike, membrane-bound, secretory vesicle containing crystalline material The organelle tip finds its way toward a special site, a rosette of 150 A diameter particles within the plasma membrane. To match this site, the mucocyst membrane forms an annulus of 110 A diameter particles, above whose inner edge the rosette particles sit. Discharge of some mucocysts is triggered by fixation. As discharge proceeds, the organelle becomes spherical and its content changes from crystalline to amorphous. The cytoplasm between the two matching membrane sites is squeezed away and the membranes fuse Steps in membrane reorganization can be reconstructed from changes in rosette appearance in the fracture faces. First, a depression in the rosette—the fusion pocket—forms. The rosette particles spread at the lip as the pocket deepens and enlarges from 60 to 200 nm. The annulus particles then become visible at the lip, indicating completed fusion of the A fracture faces of mucocyst and plasma membranes The remaining B faces of the two membranes have opposite polarities When the content of the mucocyst is released, the edges of these faces join so that the unit membrane runs uninterruptedly around the lip and into the pocket.
Pharmacologic approach to aggression in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Aggressive behavior has been associated with numerous neurologic conditions including traumatic brain injury, mental retardation, developmental disorders, Huntington disease, and several dementias. Preclinical and human studies suggest that dysfunction of neural systems involving the brainstem, hypothalamus, amygdala, or prefrontal cortex can give rise to aggression. Several neurochemicals are felt to be relevant to modulation of aggression, including serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, GABA, acetylcholine, and androgens. Pharmacologic intervention studies have targeted these systems but have been limited by inconsistent definitions of aggression and a relative paucity of controlled trials. This article briefly reviews studies of neural systems and medication trials relevant to aggression and propose a clinical approach to treatment of patients manifesting aggressive behavior. Language: en
On the Biadjoint of Riesz-like homomorphisms on partially ordered vector spaces

We generalise to partially ordered vector spaces, with a new technique, Arendt's approach to Kim's characterisation of Riesz homomorphisms.
Economic Efficiency of Smallholder in Iran: Adjusted for Market Distortion

To measure an unbiased farm-specific efficiency of individual dairy farmers, a shadow-price profit frontier adjusted for market distortion was applied to a sample of 860 Iranian small intensive dairy farms surveyed in 2005-2006. This measure was then compared with that of unadjusted measure that assumes undistorted market. A multiple general linear model (GLM) technique was applied to the data to examine the multiple effects of pure-bred animals, and the used farm capacity on profit efficiency indices. The mean value of adjusted profit efficiency was 0.40, significantly different from the latter measure, i.e. 0.72, revealing overstating efficiency by ignoring imperfect structure of market. The difference between the figures is attributed to an index of market efficiency that was estimated of 46% in average. The number of pure-bred animals in the herd was found to affect the profit efficiency indices. Regardless of their characteristics, all the farms can gain from correcting the distortion in milk market, where small and average-sized farms are domain farms in the country.
The capacity of broadband CDMA overlaying a GSM cellular system

The author proposes that one can overlay an existing GSM cellular network with a broadband CDMA cellular system utilizing direct-sequence spread spectrum alone with agile notch filters at the base station. Notch filter depths of 35 dB on receive and 20 dB in transmit were found to be adequate. Capacity calculations show that the B-CDMA overlay can approximately quadruple the nominal capacity of GSM, which is 16 channels per sector, by providing an additional 51 voice channels at 16 kbps each. Also, the author has calculated that the B-CDMA mobile transmits on average with 16 dB less power than the GSM mobile, while the CDMA base transmit power per channel would be about 5.5 dB less than the GSM base due to the lower CIR required by the B-CDMA overlay system. >
On the inertia duality of parallel-series connections of two robots in operational space

The inertias of the parallel and serial connections of two robots in the operational space are studied in this paper. First, it is reviewed that the symmetry between the velocity and force in a robotic chain results in velocity-force duality of the parallel and serial connections. The possible duality in the operational inertia matrix is then investigated. From the dynamic equations of the two connections, it is found that there does not exist a real duality in the operational inertia matrix. However, the real duality becomes possible when the coupling effects between the two robots are negligible. This conditional duality is called "quasi-duality" in this paper. As a result of this study, the duality behaviors of the two connections in velocity, force and inertia are completely obtained. >
Instabilities of fully developed rapid flow of a granular material in a channel

The equations of motion for ‘rapid’ flow of a granular material have fully developed solutions representing flow driven by a body force, such as gravity, along a channel bounded by plane parallel walls. The stability of these solutions to small perturbations is investigated. For given properties of the particles and the channel walls it is found that the condition of critical stability is a relation between the mean concentration of the particles and the width of the channel. When the base state is unstable the fastest growing modes are travelling waves propagating in the axial direction and these induce characteristic patterns of variations in particle concentration, as well as velocity. These instabilities are contrasted with those found for Couette shearing in an earlier publication.
The effects of a low frequency acoustic waveform on peripheral vascular disease: a pilot study

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the effects of a low frequency acoustic waveform on peripheral vascular disease (PVD). Design: Pilot study utilizing a one-group pre-intervention, post-intervention design. Setting: Adults with peripheral vascular disease were recruited through local advertisements. The study was conducted at a local facility housing the electroacoustic transducer. Intervention: A 25-min exposure to an electroacoustic transducer. Outcome measures: Pre- and post-measurement of Doppler ultrasound blood-flow velocities in 10 arteries, ankle brachial index (RBI), foot assessment, and 1-week post telephone survey. Results: A significant increase was noted in the right ankle brachial index (RABI) but not the left. Blood flow increased in all arteries, significantly in four. Thirteen participants reported improvement in symptom of peripheral vascular disease over the following week. Conclusions: While conclusions must be viewed cautiously, the significant differences noted warrant further study to examine effects of acoustic waveforms on peripheral vascular disease.
Comorbid personality disorder and treatment use in a community sample of youths: a 20-year follow-up.

Objective: The impact of comorbid personality disorder (PD) on subsequent treatment and psychotropic drug use was examined in a representative sample of over 700 individuals. Method: Axis I disorders and PD were assessed by self- and mother-report at mean ages 13 and 22 years, and by self-report at mean age 33. Mothers reported treatment use by participants before mean age 33; participants reported treatment and psychotropic drug use at mean age 33. Results: Individuals with multiple axis I disorders without PD, axis I disorder–PD comorbidity, and single disorders were compared simultaneously to individuals not diagnosed. Overall, odds of subsequent and past year treatment or psychotropic drug use or both were highest when PD co-occurred with a mood, an anxiety, a disruptive, or a substance use disorder. Conclusion: Co-occurring personality pathology may contribute to elevated mental health service use, including use of psychotropic drugs, among young adults in the community.
A Duel of Nations: Germany, France, and the Diplomacy of the War of 1870–1871. By David Wetzel. (Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press, 2012. Pp. xvi, 310. $26.95.)

This book is a worthy sequel to the author's earlier study A Duel of Giants: Bismarck, Napoleon III, and the Origins of the Franco‐Prussian War, which analyzed the maneuvering preceding the war tha...
Obstacle avoidance and a perturbation sensitivity model for motor planning

A novel obstacle avoidance paradigm was used to investigate the planning of human reaching movements. We explored whether the CNS plans arm movements based entirely on the visual space kinematics of the movements, or whether the planning process incorporates specific details of the biomechanical plant to optimize the trajectory plan. Participants reached around an obstacle, the tip of which remained fixed in space throughout the experiment. When the obstacle and the start and target locations were rotated about the tip of the obstacle, the visually specified task constraints retained a rotational symmetry. If movements are planned in visual space, as indicated from a variety of studies on planar point-to-point movements, the resulting trajectories should also be rotationally symmetric across trials. However, systematic variations in movement path were observed as the orientation of the obstacle was changed. These path asymmetries can be accounted for by a class of models in which the planner reduces the likelihood of collision with the obstacle by taking into account the anisotropic sensitivity of the arm to external perturbations or uncertainty in joint level control or proprioception. The model that best matches the experimental results uses planning criteria based on the inertial properties of the arm.
Spatial Interaction Processes: Formal Development

In this chapter, the basic notations of interaction processes and their associated frequency processes are developed in a formal way. We begin in Section 3.2 below with a development of certain mathematical concepts which will be employed throughout the analysis. This is followed in Section 3.3 by a development of a general probability model of interactions which focuses on the locational and frequency attributes of interaction patterns. In Section 3.4, the class of interaction processes discussed in Section 1.4.2 is then formalized, and the important subclass of independent interaction processes discussed in Section 1.4.3 is developed in detail. In Section 3.5, the corresponding concepts of frequency processes and independent frequency processes are developed, and the fundamental Poisson characterization theorem discussed in Section 3.6.2 is established in terms of these concepts. Finally, the application of this general result to the classes of threshold interaction processes and search processes discussed in Examples 2 and 4 of Chapter 2 are developed formally in Sections 3.7 and 3.8, respectively.
Toward an understanding of a computerized monitoring system failure: an interpretive approach

CMS (Computerized Monitoring Systems) are prevalent in organizations and fulfill an important role to management. Often, new CMS implementations fail. A possible aspect of failures is the perception by employees of being "watched" by CMS. Since all information systems can inherently collect data, they can all monitor employees at some level, even if it's not their primary purpose. Therefore, users might sense they are being watched, triggering panoptic perceptions. This research in progress endeavors to understand the panoptic phenomenon and resulting CMS implementation failure via Actor Network Theory (ANT). Specifically, a published case study on a CMS failure within a medical organization is revisited to investigate organizational dynamics of misaligned interests between the cast of characters. Through ANT, the reader attains a better understanding of the technological and social factors that affected the CMS implementation and the underlying processes that led to its failure. Implications and future research are discussed.
Tail waiting times and the extremes of stochastic processes

In applications where extreme dependence is of interest, data are almost always time-indexed. Existing methods for inference and modeling in this setting often cluster extreme events or choose window sizes with the goal of preserving temporal information. Here, we propose an alternative paradigm for inference on tail dependence in stochastic processes with arbitrary temporal dependence structure in the extremes, based on the idea that the information on strength of tail dependence and the temporal structure in this dependence are both encoded in waiting times between exceedances of high thresholds. We construct a class of time-indexed stochastic processes with tail dependence obtained by endowing the support points in de Haan's spectral representation of max-stable processes with velocities and lifetimes. We extend Smith's model to these max-stable velocity processes and obtain the distribution of waiting times between extreme events at multiple locations. Motivated by this result, a new definition of tail dependence is proposed that is a function of the distribution of waiting times between threshold exceedances, and an inferential framework is constructed for estimating the strength of extremal dependence and quantifying uncertainty in this paradigm. The method is applied to climatological, financial, and electrophysiology data.
Screening Process Failures for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

More than 60% of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are diagnosed at a late stage, suggesting potential breakdowns in the HCC screening process. Understanding which steps in the screening process are not being performed is essential for designing effective interventions. To characterize HCC screening process failures, a retrospective cohort study of patients with cirrhosis diagnosed with HCC at a large urban safety-net hospital was conducted between 2005 and 2012. Screening process failures during the year before HCC diagnosis were characterized into 3 categories: absence of surveillance, failure of detection, and delayed follow-up. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify predictors of screening process failures. A total of 185 patients with cirrhosis and HCC were identified, of whom 91 (49%) were diagnosed at an early stage (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer system stage A). Only 16 (8.6%) patients successfully completed the screening process. Absence of surveillance was the most common screening process failure, found in 75.7% of all patients, and was associated with trends toward lower rates of early tumor detection (odds ratio, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.23-1.09) and worse overall survival (hazard ratio, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.49-1.25). Failure of detection and delayed follow-up were found in 11.4% and 2.7% of patients, respectively.
A 6% benzoyl peroxide foaming cloth cleanser used in the treatment of acne vulgaris: aesthetic characteristics, patient preference considerations, and impact on compliance with treatment.

Objective: The study was conducted to evaluate the product attributes of a new benzoyl peroxide-containing foaming cloth cleanser and to compare the overall patient satisfaction of this product with two currently available benzoyl peroxide acne products (6% benzoyl peroxide cleanser and 4% benzoyl peroxide wash). Design: This was a randomized, single-blind study. Setting: Two clinical trial sites. Participants: Male and female subjects (N=193) aged 17 to 30 years with a history of acne vulgaris were enrolled. Measures: Subjects initially cleansed their face with the benzoyl peroxide foaming cloth and then completed a product-attribute survey. Following an interval of five minutes or more, subjects cleansed their face again using one of two randomly assigned comparator benzoyl peroxide-containing cleansing products and then completed a comparative survey. Survey results were tabulated and a top-two box analysis was performed. Results: Following the use of the benzoyl peroxide-containing foaming cloth, 94 percent of the product-attribute responses were positive (p≤0.05). With respect to convenience, usability, and cosmetic elegance, the majority of subjects indicated a preference for the benzoyl peroxide foaming cloth compared to the 6% benzoyl peroxide cleanser and 4% benzoyl peroxide wash (for each, p≤0.05). There were no reports of adverse events. Conclusion: These attributes supporting preference for the benzoyl peroxide foaming cloth cleanser may improve patient satisfaction with topical acne treatment resulting in improved patient compliance. (J Clin Aesthetic Dermatol. 2009;2(7):26–29.)
Intersections of Behavior Analysis with Cognitive Models of Contingency Detection

Bower and Watson have offered, respectively, a logical hypothesis-testing model and a conditional probability model of contingency detection by young infants. Although each could represent cognitive processes concomitant with operant learning, empirical support for these models is sparse. The limitations of each model are discussed, and suggestions are made for a more parsimonious approach by focusing on the areas of overlap between the two.
LINGUAL THYROID: 35-YEAR EXPERIENCE AT A TERTIARY CARE REFERRAL CENTER.

ABSTRACT Objective: Lingual thyroid (LT) results from a developmental abnormality due to failure of the thyroid gland to descend to its pretracheal position. Given the low incidence of this disease, standardized management recommendations are lacking. We aimed to describe our institution's experience in LT management and to suggest a practice algorithm. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of LT diagnosed at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, between1976 and 2010. Demographics, clinical presentation, laboratory data, treatment received, and outcomes were collected. Results: We identified 29 patients with LT. Eighty-three percent were female; age at diagnosis ranged from 2 weeks to 68 years. Almost one-third of patients were symptomatic, with the most common symptoms being cough and hoarseness. The diagnosis of LT was incidental in 9 patients (31%). Seventy-two percent of patients developed hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine was the treatment of choice, followed by thyroidectomy. Two asymptomatic euthyr...
Luchamos por nuestros hijos: Latino immigrant parents strive to protect their children from the deleterious effects of anti-immigration policies

Abstract The purpose of this study is to examine the strategies used by Latino immigrant parents to protect their children from the deleterious effects of anti-immigration policies. In-depthsemi-structured interviews were conducted with 54 immigrant parents. Informed by constructivist grounded theory, a constant comparative approach was used between and within transcripts during initial and focused coding. Our study highlights the strength and resiliency of immigrant parents as they strive to mitigate the harm of anti-immigrant policies on their children. Common strategies to protect their children focus on securing and promoting safety and well-being( let children live their childhood , be prepared , consejos ), enhancing their own capacity to provide ( pursue education , obtain papers ), and engaging in change efforts within their community. Parents believed these efforts could diminish the negative effects of anti-immigration policies. Immigrant Latino communities will be better served in the future if engaged professionals incorporate empowerment and strength based models within their practice.
Terrestrial Tardigrada of the Island of Barbados in the West Indies, with the Description of Milnesium barbadosense sp. n. (Eutardigrada: Apochela: Milnesiidae)

Abstract. Eleven samples of moss, lichen, and leaf litter were collected at four sites on Barbados, an island of the Lesser Antilles in the West Indies, in January, 2009 and examined for the presence of water bears (Phylum Tardigrada). Although no tardigrades were found in leaf litter, 84 specimens and 11 eggs were present in moss and lichen samples. Four tardigrade species (Macrobiotus harmsworthi, Macrobiotus hufelandi, Paramacrobiotus richtersi, and Minibiotus intermedius) are considered cosmopolitan, and have been found on other Caribbean islands. The fifth species, Milnesium barbadosense sp. n., is described and illustrated. This new species is characterized by having a smooth cuticle, a posterior insertion of the stylet supports on the buccal tube, thick main claw branches with very small accessory points, slender secondary claw branches with short basal spurs, and no eyes. The most likely sources of tardigrades on Barbados are colonists from older islands in the Lesser Antilles, or immigrants broug...
Using nova to construct agent-based models for epidemiological teaching and research

Epidemic modeling is dominated by systems models---so-called SIR models---that describe the spatiotemporal and network dynamics of disease outbreaks. Reed-Frost, discrete-time, stochastic transmission-chain models have also been important; but, increasingly, epidemiological modelers are turning to agent-based (ABM) approaches that permit the inclusion of individual-specific characters, which may relate to the genetics of hosts or pathogens, host exposure histories, co-infections or other general health correlates. Here we introduce Nova, a graphically driven computational modeling platform for creating and running both dynamical systems and ABM models that have application both in teaching and research. Because Nova is based on the JavaScript language, all Nova models are easily transformed into Nova Online web apps. In the teaching arena, our presentation features our "SIR circle games"; in the research arena we discuss the application of Nova to modeling outbreaks of Ebola and measles.
Neuromodulation: a focus on dorsal root ganglion stimulation

10.2217/pmt-2015-0013 © 2016 Future Medicine Ltd Neuromodulation is defined as a functional change in the CNS neuronal activity through electrical or pharmacological mediation. Applications of neuromodulation have been apparent for centuries, notably in ancient Rome when court physician Scribonius Largus utilized the electrical shock of a torpedo fish as a remedy for headaches and gouty arthritis [1]. The early 20th century made way for the ‘electreat’ device, a precursor to common day peripheral nerve stimulators, which made neuromodulation a widely available commercial therapy for the treatment of pain. Yet no scientific explanation could reliably explain the physiologic mechanisms behind electricity as a therapeutic modality for pain control. Gate control & pain processing Various theories attempting to explain pain perception circulated during the first part of the 20th century. In 1965, Melzack and Wall proposed their ‘gate control theory’, which provides a more complex and detailed explanation behind the mechanisms of pain transmission and processing. The fundamental concept to their theory suggests that transmission (T) cells within the spinal cord function as a ‘gate keeper’ in the perception of pain. These cells receive excitatory and inhibitory inputs from large and small peripheral fibers within the substatia gelatinosa, and downward projecting cerebral centers. Collectively, these pathways determine whether or not the painful stimuli pass the ‘gate’ to perception [2]. COMMENTARY
On Real Operator Spaces

During the last ten to fifteen years, a lot of progress has been achieved in the study of complex operator spaces. In this paper, we show that a corresponding theory can be developed for real operator spaces. With some appropriate modifications, many complex results still hold for real operator spaces.
The surgical pathology of parathyroid chief cell hyperplasia.

Thirtynine cases of primary parathyroid chief cell hyperplasia were separated into three categories on the basis of gross and microscopic morphology. The “classic” group included patients with obvious diffuse enlargement of all parathyroid glands and corresponding microscopic hyperplasia. In the “pseudoadenoma” group large nodular parathyroids were accompanied by other small glands. The latter, however, were hyperplastic microscopically, indicating diffuse abnormality. The third, “occult,” group was composed of patients whose parathyroid glands were no more than minimally enlarged yet showed subtle microscopic evidence of hyperplasia. Whereas the “classic” and “pseudoadenoma” groups were clearly related, they should be differentiated since the latter can masquerade as parathyroid adenoma. In such instances only the large adenomatous gland may be removed, leaving three smaller but abnormal glands behind. Despite the relatively small quantity of hyperplastic parenchyma in the “occult” group, no correlation was found between any type of hyperplasia and the clinical or laboratory features of these cases. Chief cell hyperplasia is probably a more common form of primary hyperparathy roidism than is generally recognized.
Abstract A75: DNA repair genotypes associated with benign breast disease in women at high breast cancer risk

A75 Background Benign breast disease (BBD) is a risk factor for breast cancer and may have a heritable component. Little is known about genetic factors associated with BBD risk. Deficient DNA repair has been implicated in the etiology of breast cancer. Since DNA repair occurs early in the breast carcinogenesis pathway, it is logical that polymorphic forms of DNA repair genes may alter BBD risk. No prior studies have reported on the association between DNA repair variants and BBD. Methods We examined the association between a panel of DNA repair genotypes and BBD in a sub-cohort of women within CLUE II, a population based cohort study in Washington County, Maryland. The women were followed from 1989 to 2003 with biennial questionnaires from 1996 onwards eliciting information on many health outcomes, including physician diagnosis of BBD and breast biopsies. 3,212 women reporting no prior diagnosis of BBD at baseline were genotyped for non-synonymous SNPs in 8 DNA repair genes (ERCC2, ERCC4, ERCC5, RAD23B, XPC, XRCC1, XRCC2, and XRCC4) that had previously been implicated in cancer risk. BBD-free survival time was fitted to age-adjusted Cox proportional hazards model and analyzed by DNA repair genotype. Results Carriers of the variant alleles of XRCC1 codon 194 and ERCC4 codon 415 were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with BBD than non-carriers -- hazard ratios (HR) = 1.36, 95%CI 1.06-1.74 and 1.39, 95%CI 1.09-1.76, respectively. The association between the ERCC4 variant and BBD was even greater among women with a positive family history of breast cancer. In this subgroup, the variant ERCC4 allele was associated with a 2.7 fold increase in breast cancer risk (HR = 2.63, 95% CI 1.52-4.66, p interaction = 0.02). Conclusion Variant ERCC4 and XRCC1 genotypes are significantly associated with a diagnosis of BBD in this population, particularly in women with a family history of breast cancer. These same genes have also been implicated in the risk of breast cancer in other studies. Taken together, these studies support the notion that these two DNA repair genes may have a common role in the etiology of both BBD and breast cancer. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2008;1(7 Suppl):A75.
A Method for the Extermination of the Roundheaded Apple-Tree Borer

As a substitute for the "digging-out" process, fumigation with carbon disulphide proved very successfu1. Against the tree, with the open side over the borer holes, a cell with open top, resembling a large mud wasp's nest, is built of plastic clay or mud. A teaspoonful of carbon disulphid is poured in and the cell closed with a plug of clay. The surface of the cell is then wetted and smoothed down, and carefully sealed to the tree and the earth. This method gives 100% control when properly done, requires less time than the "digging-out" process, and neither mutilates nor injures the tree.
Competition between Displacement and Dissociation of a Strong Acid Compared to a Weak Acid Adsorbed on Silica Particle Surfaces: The Role of Adsorbed Water.

The adsorption of nitric (HNO3) and formic (HCOOH) acids on silica particle surfaces and the effect of adsorbed water have been investigated at 296 K using transmission FTIR spectroscopy. Under dry conditions, both nitric and formic acids adsorb reversibly on silica. Additionally, the FTIR spectra show that both of these molecules remain in the protonated form. At elevated relative humidities (RH), adsorbed water competes both for surface adsorption sites with these acids as well as promotes their dissociation to hydronium ions and the corresponding anions. Compared to HNO3, the extent of dissociation is much smaller for HCOOH, very likely because it is a weaker acid. This study provides valuable insights into the interaction of HNO3 and HCOOH with silica surface on the molecular level and further reveals the complex roles of surface-adsorbed water in atmospheric heterogeneous chemistry of mineral dust particles–many of these containing silica.
Excision of the greater multangular bone as an adjunct to mobilization of the thumb.

Excision of the greater multangular together with portions of the base of either the first, second, or both first and second, metacarpals has been used as an adjunct procedure in the mobilization of the thumb when it is limited by degenerative arthritis, arthrosis as a result of trauma, severe contracture at the base of the thumb as a result of direct injury, or contracture secondary to adjacent injury. Excision of the the greater multangular and release of the soft tissues may sufficient in some instances to correct all contracture, while in others a split-thickness skin graft or abdominal pedicle flap may be necessary to maintain full motion of the thumb web. Improvement in range of motion at the base of the thumb may usually be expected, although occasionally only limited motion may persist, even though there is improvement in the position of the thumb. In effect, the procedure is an arthroplasty, either increasing the range of motion at the base of the thumb or improving position of the thumb with or without increased range of motion.
Anti-snakebite sera--their relevance in Rhodesia.

Anti-Snakebite serum, when specific, is the most important therapeutic agent available in the management of systemic snakebite poisoning, and it has been stated that its correct use can be effective although it is not given until hours or even days after the bite (Reid, 1973). Such an important therapeutic tool deserves some special consideration. Many of the doctors in Central Africa who are called upon to manage patients with snakebite poisoning will have no particular interest in herpetology, but are nonetheless concerned about the benefits or otherwise of administration of anti-serum in any given case. The purpose of this paper is to consider the sera which are relevant to Central Africa, with some comments on their preparation.
1893–1896: chaos and crises

The United States drive to become the worlds most powerful nation climaxed successfully in the generation that came to power during and immediately after the Spanish-American War of 1898. The success had been long in forming, but the catalyst was the 1873–97 depression and, especially, the economic crisis of 1893–7 that transformed a long era of deflation into a full-blown economic depression. The post-1898 American empire was a product of the pre-1897 chaos at home. As we have seen, the crisis was triggered by the technological and managerial advances of the Second Industrial Revolution, advances that were exemplified by Carnegie’s policy of “running hard” to compete and indeed dominate market share. By the 1890s the Second Industrial Revolution, by all odds the most important event in American history between 1865 and 1914, had already begun spinning off a new, extracontinental foreign policy whose voices were Seward’s and Blaine’s especially. Culture (as manifested in the missionary movement), ideas (as seen in social Darwinism), and politics (as exemplified by an evolving Republican party and its fresh-found interest in reciprocity), as well as foreign policy had to adapt to the industrial changes. American and Roman Empires By 1893 the social trauma was becoming pronounced. Even the 1877 general strike and the 1886 Haymarket Riot paled in comparison. The percentage of unemployed in the total labor force of the manufacturing and transportation sectors has been estimated at about 4 percent in 1892, doubling to 9.6 percent in a year, and nearly doubling again to 16.7 percent in 1894.
Real time collision detection in buildings using polygon presence grid

Achieving real time collision detection in high vertex count geometrical models like those of buildings, while maintaining an adequate frame rate, is a challenging problem. Time complexity of collision detection algorithms in such scenarios is an important factor and algorithms that provide constant time collision query processing are required. This paper presents a constant time collision detection algorithm for high vertex count and complex geometrical models by using uniform spatial grids and polygon surface subdivision technique. The algorithm thus shifts the performance balance in favor of the time constraints with a compromise on space complexity. We show the results of the proposed technique on a 400K+ vertex building model.
A Simple One-step Dissection Protocol for Whole-mount Preparation of Adult Drosophila Brains

There is an increasing interest in using Drosophila to model human brain degenerative diseases, map neuronal circuitries in adult brains, and study the molecular and cellular basis of higher brain functions. A whole-mount preparation of adult brains with well-preserved morphology is critical for such whole brain-based studies, but can be technically challenging and time-consuming. This protocol describes an easy-to-learn, one-step dissection approach of an adult fly head in less than 10 s, while keeping the intact brain attached to the rest of the body to facilitate subsequent processing steps. The procedure helps remove most of the eye and tracheal tissues normally associated with the brain that can interfere with the later imaging step, and also places less demand on the quality of the dissecting forceps. Additionally, we describe a simple method that allows convenient flipping of the mounted brain samples on a coverslip, which is important for imaging both sides of the brains with similar signal intensity and quality. As an example of the protocol, we present an analysis of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in adult brains of WT (w1118) flies. The high efficacy of the dissection method makes it particularly useful for large-scale adult brain-based studies in Drosophila.
The Dual Problem of Unemployment and Time Poverty in South Africa: Understanding Their Linkages

This chapter explores the coexistence of time-squeeze and unemployment and underemployment using the 2000 South African national Time Use Survey. Individuals who are both time-squeezed and lacking employment opportunities face a “double-bind” dilemma. In South Africa, these two issues are especially important because of the heavy workload that segments of the population carry, and of the persistence of high unemployment and underemployment particularly among women. The findings show that women are more likely to experience being unemployed (or underemployed) and time-squeezed than men. Lack of (wealth) economic means to relieve women of their unpaid work, and little or no access to public infrastructures and basic services, such as safe water, health centers, and public transport are also shown to be important determinants.
Objectively measured active travel and uses of activity-friendly neighborhood resources: Does change in use relate to change in physical activity and BMI?

Abstract Few studies examine how objectively measured use of local physical activity resources contributes to objectively-measured healthy physical activity and weight changes over time. We utilized objective measures to test whether changes in active travel and uses of three physical activity (PA) resources–parks, recreation centers, and transit– related to changes in PA and BMI. Adults ( n = 536) in Salt Lake City, UT, wore accelerometer and GPS units in 2012 and 2013, before and after neighborhood rail completion. Regression outcomes included accelerometer counts per minute (cpm), MVPA (moderate-to-vigorous activity minutes/10 h accelerometer wear) and measured BMI; key predictors were changes in active travel and PA resource uses (former and new uses). Significant results (all p
Discovering Toxic Policies Using MBSE Constructs

Policy development and implementation is considered an institution-centric endeavor. Most policies are documents that dictate institutional processes, organizational structure, and compliance standards. These policies are often developed by governing entities in isolation from the field. There is no standard method for evaluating a policy document and often toxic policies are realized during implementation, causing significant damage to the reputation of the organization. In this paper, we examine four Veterans Affairs (VA) polices using MBSE constructs of structural–behavioral integrity and consistency to investigate the toxic nature of policies. We also develop a framework to model policy, identify policy gaps, and calculate policy toxicity.
Frequency of breast cancer subtypes among African American women in the AMBER consortium

Breast cancer subtype can be classified using standard clinical markers (estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)), supplemented with additional markers. However, automated biomarker scoring and classification schemes have not been standardized. The aim of this study was to optimize tumor classification using automated methods in order to describe subtype frequency in the African American Breast Cancer Epidemiology and Risk (AMBER) consortium. Using immunohistochemistry (IHC), we quantified the expression of ER, PR, HER2, the proliferation marker Ki67, and two basal-like biomarkers, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and cytokeratin (CK)5/6, in 1381 invasive breast tumors from African American women. RNA-based (prediction analysis of microarray 50 (PAM50)) subtype, available for 574 (42%) cases, was used to optimize classification. Subtype frequency was calculated, and associations between subtype and tumor characteristics were estimated using logistic regression. Relative to ER, PR and HER2 from medical records, central IHC staining and the addition of Ki67 or combined tumor grade improved accuracy for classifying PAM50-based luminal subtypes. Few triple negative cases (< 2%) lacked EGFR and CK5/6 expression, thereby providing little improvement in accuracy for identifying basal-like tumors. Relative to luminal A subtype, all other subtypes had higher combined grade and were larger, and ER-/HER2+ tumors were more often lymph node positive and late stage tumors. The frequency of basal-like tumors was 31%, exceeded only slightly by luminal A tumors (37%). Our findings indicate that automated IHC-based classification produces tumor subtype frequencies approximating those from PAM50-based classification and highlight high frequency of basal-like and low frequency of luminal A breast cancer in a large study of African American women.
Transactivation domain of p53 regulates DNA repair and integrity in human iPS cells.

The p53 transactivation domain (TAD) in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) was deleted using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Deletion of p53-TAD resulted in increased cell proliferation but did n...
Accuracy of Estimated Blood Alcohol Concentration Norms From College Student Drinking Survey Data: Verification Using Matched Late-Night Breath Measurements.

Objective:This study assesses the accuracy of estimated blood alcohol concentration (eBAC) from survey data in a college student sample using six computational methods from the literature. Correcti...
Novel Approaches for Monitoring of Water Vapor Isotope Ratios: Plants, Lasers and Satellites

Atmospheric water vapor is a major component of the global hydrological cycle and the isotope ratio of that vapor is a key tracer for both hydrological and biological processes. Yet little is known of the isotopic composition of vapor over any spatial scale and through time because of challenges associated with collecting water vapor samples. Here we discuss alternate methods for measuring water vapor isotopes. The first approach capitalizes on the unique physiology and broad distribution of the epiphytic plant Tillandsia usneoides (Spanish Moss) to reconstruct a growing-season-integrated isotope ratio of water vapor. The second approach utilizes infrared spectroscopy to measure the isotopic composition without sample collection. In situ laser-absorption instruments and emission spectrometers aboard satellites employ similar optical measurement approaches, and while the former lends itself to developing very detailed time series the latter offers resolution of global-scale spatial distributions. These new approaches, while highly disparate, represent novel methods that complement existing collection techniques and enable improved knowledge of both the spatial mean and variation of isotopes in atmospheric water vapor.
Work from Heat

The expenditure of work to produce heat, as in Joule’s experiment (Chap. 10) is a commonplace achievement. It is also a familiar nuisance in many cases involving friction.
Tracing Morocco: Postcolonialism and Spanish Civil War Literature

Increasing scholarly attention to the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) has exposed the colonial implications of the Spanish Republic’s fight against Franco’s fascist coup. The Spanish Republic’s refusal to relinquish its colonial control allowed Franco to exploit Moroccan antipathy and poverty in support of his forces. For many North American volunteers—and particularly for the hundred or so African Americans who fought in Spain—the war’s stakes were not only tied to European fascism and American racism, as Popular Front and black expatriate artists often depicted, but also to colonial relationships between Europe, Africa and the New World. This essay examines literary depictions of these colonial relationships in the works of Langston Hughes and John A. Williams, contextualizing their writings alongside fictional and biographical representations of Moroccan and African American participation by North American writers who, like Hughes, participated in the Spanish Civil War. Read together, the depictions and erasures of African diasporic contact across political lines reveal the underlying contradictions used to construct categories of racial, national, and religious difference—categories used as rallying cries on each side of the battle line. Williams’s retrospective positioning and Hughes’s writings from the war’s midst together represent the war’s stakes as yet another global conflict in which members of the African diaspora faced even greater risks and greater losses.