cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Film strain and compositional changes in thermally nitrided silicon dioxide thin films

Abstract The nature of the Si–O bonds, composition, and film strain changes in thermally nitrided silicon dioxides in NH3 at 1000 °C and 1 atm is investigated with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry. Shifts of the transverse optical and longitudinal optical phonons of O in Si–O–Si bridging bonds are the results of both compositional and strain within the silicon dioxide matrix. Red shifts during the initial nitridation period are followed by blue shifts at longer nitridation times. Red shifts can be explained by nitrogen incorporation and strain accumulation, while bulk film strain relaxation in nitrided oxides is most likely responsible for the blue shifts.
Multidisciplinary collaboration as a sustainable research model for device development

The concurrent problems of research sustainability and decreased clinician involvement with medical device development can be jointly addressed through a novel, multidisciplinary solution. The University of Rochester Cardiovascular Device Design Program is a sustainable program in medical device design supported through a collaboration between the Schools of Medicine and Engineering. This article provides a detailed description of the motivation for starting the program, the current structure of the program, the methods of financial sustainability, and the direct impact it intends to have on the national vascular surgery community. The further expansion of this program and encouragement for development of similar programs throughout the country aims to address many of our current challenges in both research funding and device development education.
Relation of the pattern of diastolic augmentation during a course of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) to clinical benefit (from the International EECP Patient Registry [IEPR]).

E external counterpulsation (EECP) is a noninvasive counterpulsation technique that reduces angina and extends time to exercise-induced ischemia in patients with symptomatic stable angina. In addition to relieving myocardial ischemia, EECP is associated with improved quality of life. It uses a sequential inflation of 3 sets of pneumatic cuffs wrapped around the lower extremities. The cuffs are inflated sequentially at the onset of diastole, producing aortic counterpulsation, diastolic augmentation (DA), and increased venous return. At the onset of systole, external pressure in the cuffs is released, producing a decrease in systolic pressure (systolic unloading). These hemodynamic effects are monitored noninvasively by assessing the finger plethysmographic waveforms. A typical course of EECP involves 1 to 2 hours/day for a total of 35 hours of therapy. It has been hypothesized that the sustained benefits of EECP result from effective DA, which promotes coronary collateral formation or recruitment. A previous study has demonstrated that patients who are younger, male, nonsmoking, and without multivessel coronary or noncardiac vascular disease are most likely to have higher DA at the end of an EECP treatment course. Patients with higher DA ratios at the end of EECP tended to have a greater reduction in angina class than those with lower DA ratios, suggesting that clinical benefit from EECP is associated with the magnitude of DA. That initial study was limited by assessing the DA ratios on the final day of EECP therapy. This present analysis further investigates the role of DA in EECP by assessing the impact of DA levels both at the first and last treatment session with EECP.
ON THE DYNAMIC RESPONSE OF ROLLING TIRES ACCORDING TO THIN SHELL APPROXIMATIONS

The response of the rolling tire is formulated in terms of the natural modes and frequencies of the non-contacting tire for contact loading due to rolling, braking, accelerating or cornering. The tire is viewed as an equivalent thin shell. Formulation is by way of the three-dimensional dynamic Green function of this shell. As the application example, the response of the tire during pure rolling is evaluated. The critical rolling speed at which the tire develops its first large amplitude standing waves is calculated in a novel fashion, showing the relationship between the standing wave phenomenon and natural tire modes and frequencies. Findings underline the need for measuring or calculating higher order tire modes than those considered in what seems to be the present standard practice.
Application of surface-enhanced Raman scattering techniques to the ultrasensitive identification of natural dyes in works of art

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a powerful technique for the detection of natural dyes found in archeological and historical textiles, in paintings, and in other works of art. Natural organic products historically used as textile dyes or lake pigments are often fluorescent under normal dispersive Raman measurement conditions. To add to the fluorescence problem, the amount of dye actually present on works of art is minimal, requiring extremely sensitive analytical techniques. The enhancement of the Raman signal and the quenching of the background fluorescence resulting from the adsorption of dye molecules on metal nanoparticles in SERS concur to solve the problems encountered when studying dyes by Raman spectroscopy. Reproducible spectra of several reference dyes were obtained, and extraction and adsorption protocols to optimize the analysis of samples from actual work of art were developed. SERS supports evaluated include citrate-reduced and hydroxylamine-reduced Ag colloids, as well as Tollens mirrors and silver nanoisland films. Dyes for which SERS spectra were observed include: alizarin, purpurin, laccaic acid, carminic acid, kermesic acid, shikonin, juglone, lawsone, brazilin and brazilein, haematoxylin and haematein, fisetin, quercitrin, quercetin, rutin, and morin. The incompatibility with SERS of techniques traditionally used to extract dyes from artwork samples was demonstrated, and a nonextractive hydrolysis technique specially suited to prepare SERS microscopic samples was developed. Finally, SERS was successfully used to identify alizarin in a 1mm by 50 µm (diameter) single fiber sample form a sixteenth-century tapestry. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Recurrent Hemorrhage from Ileal Conduit: An Uncommon Complication of Portal Hypertension

Massive hemorrhage from an ileal conduit is rare. We report a patient who presented with massive recurrent hemorrhage from previously undiagnosed ileal conduit varices secondary to portal hypertension. Current methods for diagnosis and treatment of this rare but life threatening entity are discussed.
Protein Kinase C-θ Promotes Th17 Differentiation via Upregulation of Stat3

Although protein kinase C-θ (PKC-θ)-deficient mice are resistant to the induction of Th17-dependent experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, the function of PKC-θ in Th17 differentiation remains unknown. In this article, we show that purified, naive CD4 PKC-θ −/− T cells were defective in Th17 differentiation, whereas Th1 and Th2 differentiation appeared normal. Activation of PKC-θ with PMA promoted Th17 differentiation in wild type (WT) but not PKC-θ −/− T cells. Furthermore, PKC-θ −/− T cells had notably lower levels of Stat3, a transcription factor required for Th17 differentiation, and PMA markedly stimulated the expression of Stat3 in WT but not PKC-θ −/− T cells. In contrast, activation of Stat4 and Stat6, which are critical for Th1 and Th2 differentiation, was normal in PKC-θ −/− T cells. Forced expression of Stat3 significantly increased Th17 differentiation in PKC-θ −/− T cells, suggesting that reduced Stat3 levels were responsible for impaired Th17 differentiation, and that Stat3 lies downstream of PKC-θ. Constitutively active PKC-θ, or WT PKC-θ activated by either PMA or TCR cross-linking, stimulated expression of a luciferase reporter gene driven by the Stat3 promoter. PKC-θ–mediated activation of the Stat3 promoter was inhibited by dominant-negative AP-1 and IκB kinase-β, but stimulated by WT AP-1 and IκB kinase-β, suggesting that PKC-θ stimulates Stat3 transcription via the AP-1 and NF-κB pathways. Lastly, conditions favoring Th17 differentiation induced the highest activation level of PKC-θ. Altogether, the data indicate that PKC-θ integrates the signals from TCR signaling and Th17 priming cytokines to upregulate Stat3 via NF-κB and AP-1, resulting in the stimulation of Th17 differentiation.
Distribution of androdioecious and hermaphroditic populations of the mangrove Laguncularia racemosa (Combretaceae) in Florida and the Bahamas

The breeding system of Laguncularia racemosa is variable among populations; some populations are androdioecious while other populations lack male plants. To determine whether androdioecy is widespread in L. racemosa, 65 populations were surveyed in Florida and the Bahamas. Fruits are water-dispersed, so the observed distribution of breeding systems was compared to local and regional water currents in order to determine whether dispersal could be important to the maintenance of male plants in androdioecious populations. Twenty-two of the 36 populations surveyed in Florida were androdioecious, with male frequencies that ranged from 1-68%. On the Florida east coast, all populations north of latitude 26°30' N lacked males while all populations south of this latitude were androdioecious, which suggests that northern populations may lack males due to dispersal limitation. The pattern of distribution on the Florida west coast suggests that males may be maintained in some populations via dispersal. Nine islands in north-central Bahamas were surveyed, and androdioecious populations were found only on San Salvador Island, where male frequencies ranged from 5-28%. Dispersal, fragmentation, and selection hypotheses are suggested to explain the observed pattern of distribution; these hypotheses will be tested in future studies.
Automatic determination of language versions in distributed systems

An approach for automatically determining language versions in a network-based environment is presented. The techniques of feature set difference and hashing are used to efficiently implement the search for those versions containing the incoming features. Some noteworthy implementation considerations, such as communication cost, system load and compilation efficiency, are discussed. >
NeuroSPECT Findings in Children with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

AbstractBackground. NeuroSPECT studies have described specific abnormalities in cerebral perfusion in adults with criteria for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This reports findings in 13 children with criteria for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.Objective. NeuroSPECT findings in 13 CFS/CFIDS children.Methods. Thirteen children meeting CDC criteria for CFS/CFIDS, were evaluated using NeuroSPECT imaging utilizing Xenon 133 and Tc-99m-HMPAO(l).Results. In 13 children, hypopcrfusion was observed at 42 ± 10 ml/min/100g, p < 0.0001 in the left temporal lobe and at 45 ± 11, p < .001 in right temporal lobe. Statistically significant hypoperfusion was also observed in both parietal lobes and at 50 and 53 ml/ min/lOOg, p < 0.05 in the frontal lobe of the right hemisphere. Quantitated HMPAO demonstrated bilateral orbitofrontal and anterior temporal hypoperfusion. There was also hypoperfusion in the dorsal aspects of both frontal lobes and both parietooccipital lobes.Conclusion. NeuroSPECT is presented as a quantifiable, reproduc...
Shallow water acoustic networks

Underwater acoustic networks are generally formed by acoustically connected ocean bottom sensor nodes, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), and surface stations that serve as gateways and provide radio communication links to on-shore stations. The quality of service of such networks is limited by the low bandwidth of acoustic transmission channels, high latency resulting from the slow propagation of sound, and elevated noise levels in some environments. The long-term goal in the design of underwater acoustic networks is to provide for a self-configuring network of distributed nodes with network links that automatically adapt to the environment through selection of the optimum system parameters. This article considers several aspects in the design of shallow water acoustic networks that maximize throughput and reliability while minimizing power consumption.
Photochemical hydrogen abstraction by aromatic carbonyl compounds in zeolite slurries

Abstract Irradiation of solutions of aromatic aldehydes or ketones generally results in photoinduced hydrogen abstraction and yields mixtures of both asymmetric and symmetric coupling products of the radicals resulting from hydrogen abstraction. In contrast, irradiation of hydrocarbon—faujasite zeolite slurries of aromatic aldehydes or ketones results in production of radical pairs by intermolecular hydrogen abstraction, which is followed by the formation of good yields of the asymmetric geminate coupling products. The mechanistic basis of this difference in chemoselectivity is proposed to result from a combination of strong preferential adsorption of the carbonyl compounds to the internal surface of the zeolite and inhibition of the diffusional motion of the geminate radical pair produced by photolysis by the “spectator” hydrocarbon molecules that occupy the internal surface but which do not participate chemically in the reactions.
THE EXCEPTIONAL SET IN THE POLYNOMIAL GOLDBACH PROBLEM

For each natural number N, let R(N) denote the number of representations of N as a sum of two primes. Hardy and Littlewood proposed a plausible asymptotic formula for R(2N) and showed, under the assumption of the Riemann Hypothesis for Dirichlet L-functions, that the formula holds "on average" in a certain sense. From this they deduced (under ERH) that all but Oϵ(x1/2+ϵ) of the even natural numbers in [1, x] can be written as a sum of two primes. We generalize their results to the setting of polynomials over a finite field. Owing to Weil's Riemann Hypothesis, our results are unconditional.
Synergistic antileukemic effect of 6-aminonicotinamide and 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea on l1210 cells in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract A series of nicotinamide analogs were evaluated for their ability to inhibit L1210 cell poly(adenosine diphosphoribose) polymerase, and also for their ability to potentiate the cytocidal effects of 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU), nitrogen mustard, and γ-irradiation in L1210 cells growing in culture and in vivo. In vitro, nicotinamide, 5-methylnicotinamide, 6-aminonicotinamide, and benzamide effectively inhibited L1210 cell poly(adenosine diphosphoribose) polymerase; 1-methylnicotinamide, nicotinic acid, and benzoic acid did not. In culture, 6-aminonicotinamide potentiated the cytocidal effect of BCNU; however, it did not significantly potentiate the effects of nitrogen mustard or γ-irradiation. In vivo, both 6-aminonicotinamide and nicotinamide potentiated the cytocidal effect of BCNU; however, the concentrations of nicotinamide required for this effect were 10- to 20-fold higher than those of 6-aminonicotinamide. None of the analogs significantly potentiated the in vivo effect of nitrogen mustard or γ-irradiation. Treatment of L1210-bearing mice with varying combinations of BCNU and 6-aminonicotinamide produced a synergistic increase in life span; in some cases, the combination led to the production of long-term disease-free survivors.
Meta-analysis and Gifted Education

This article discusses meta-analysis in the context of research in gifted education. It provides the rationale for encouraging meta-analytic reviews, rather than narrative reviews, to synthesize the research in a given area. The article summarizes the results of reported meta-analyses retrieved from electronic databases and provides guidelines for conducting a meta-analysis and suggested resources for additional information.
Genetic Susceptibility and the Setting of Occupational Health Standards

As more is learned about genetic susceptibility to occupational and environmental hazards, there will be increasing pressure to use genetic susceptibility information in setting occupational health standards. Historically, this has not been done, but a growing body of research assesses inherited genetic factors as modifiers of the effects of hazardous exposures. Additionally, acquired genetic and epigenetic characteristics could also be used in standard setting. However, for both inherited and acquired genetic characteristics, many scientific, ethical, legal, and social issues could arise. Investigators need to examine the potential role and implications of using genetic information in standard setting. In this review, we focus primarily on inherited genetic factors and their role in occupational health standard setting.
Comparisons among two fertile and three male-sterile mitochondrial genomes of maize.

We have sequenced five distinct mitochondrial genomes in maize: two fertile cytotypes (NA and the previously reported NB) and three cytoplasmic-male-sterile cytotypes (CMS-C, CMS-S, and CMS-T). Their genome sizes range from 535,825 bp in CMS-T to 739,719 bp in CMS-C. Large duplications (0.5–120 kb) account for most of the size increases. Plastid DNA accounts for 2.3–4.6% of each mitochondrial genome. The genomes share a minimum set of 51 genes for 33 conserved proteins, three ribosomal RNAs, and 15 transfer RNAs. Numbers of duplicate genes and plastid-derived tRNAs vary among cytotypes. A high level of sequence conservation exists both within and outside of genes (1.65–7.04 substitutions/10 kb in pairwise comparisons). However, sequence losses and gains are common: integrated plastid and plasmid sequences, as well as noncoding “native” mitochondrial sequences, can be lost with no phenotypic consequence. The organization of the different maize mitochondrial genomes varies dramatically; even between the two fertile cytotypes, there are 16 rearrangements. Comparing the finished shotgun sequences of multiple mitochondrial genomes from the same species suggests which genes and open reading frames are potentially functional, including which chimeric ORFs are candidate genes for cytoplasmic male sterility. This method identified the known CMS-associated ORFs in CMS-S and CMS-T, but not in CMS-C.
Improving patient safety with the use of surgical checklists.

Patient safety has come to the forefront as a major issue in medical care today. Since the Institute of Medicine’s report, “To Err is Human,” suggested that there were 100,000 deaths annually from medical error, physicians, nurses, and hospital organizations have worked to improve patient safety. Medicine requires the integration of motivated, intelligent practitioners with highly complex, technical systems. A similar analogy exists within aviation. During the early days of flight, accidents were common and blame was placed on failure of the machine. Technical improvement
Characteristics of Laser Implantation Doping

UV laser photochemical dissociation and laser enchanced thermal dissociation have been used to generate free metal dopant species from a variety of organometallic molecules near a semiconductor substrate surface. Simultaneous laser annealing via a localised melt phase allows diffusion driven implantation of the metal atoms and subsequent electrical activation in the regrowing material. High levels of dopant concentration and activation are readily achieved in this way. Results will be presented on doping of silicon by boron using an ArF laser. These will include data on junction depths, number density and carrier density as a function of depth and interpretation of the data in terms of calculated temperature profiles. The possibility of tailoring junction characteristics by control of laser and gas flow parameters will be considered with preliminary experimental data.
Response Evaluation of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors

Clinical management of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) has dramatically changed with the introduction of novel therapeutics, such as imatinib mesylate. This has created a need to re-evaluate the existing criteria used to assess treatment response. The current Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors are based on unidimensional tumor size, and do not take into account changes in responding GISTs such as a decrease in tumor density and decrease in the number of intratumoral vessels with computed tomography (CT). Positron emission tomography (PET) has been found to be highly sensitive in detecting early response, and to be useful in predicting long-term response to imatinib in patients with metastatic GIST; however, widespread use of PET is limited because of a lack of scanner availability and cost constraints. Modified CT criteria using a combination of tumor density and tumor size are promising in early response evaluation, and have excellent prognostic value. Identifying appropriate treatment response criteria is essential to optimize treatment for patients with GIST.
Commissioning of the spallation neutron source accelerator systems

The Spallation Neutron Source accelerator complex consists of a 2.5 MeV H" front-end injector system, a 186 MeV normal-conducting linear accelerator, a 1 GeV superconducting linear accelerator, an accumulator ring, and associated beam transport lines. The linac was commissioned in five discrete runs, starting in 2002 and completed in 2005. The accumulator ring and associated beam transport lines were commissioned in two runs from January to April 2006. With the completed commissioning of the SNS accelerator, the facility has begun initial low-power operations. In the course of beam commissioning, most beam performance parameters and beam intensity goals have been achieved at low duty factor. A number of beam dynamics measurements have been performed, including transverse coupling in the ring, beam instability thresholds, and beam distributions on the target. The commissioning results, achieved beam performance and initial operating experience of the SNS will be discussed.
ET-65THE KETOGENIC DIET REDUCES CARBONIC ANHYDRASE 9 AND ALTERS THE EXPRESSION OF PROTEINS INVOLVED WITH GLIOMA GROWTH AND PROGRESSION IN HYPOXIC CONDITIONS

Patients with malignant gliomas have a median survival of approximately 15 months following diagnosis, regardless of currently available treatments which include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Improvement in the survival of these patients requires the design of new therapeutic modalities that take advantage of common phenotypes. One such phenotype is metabolic dysregulation - a hallmark of cancer cells. It has been postulated that one approach to treating gliomas may be by metabolic alteration such as that which occurs through the use of the ketogenic diet (KD). The KD is high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that induces ketosis and has been utilized for the non-pharmacologic treatment of refractory epilepsy. We and others have shown that this diet enhances survival and potentiates standard therapy in mouse models of glioma, yet the anti-tumor mechanisms are not fully understood. We have previously shown that the KD reduces peritumoral edema and tumor vasculature in a mouse model of glioma. We now show that tumors from animals fed the KD show reduced expression of the hypoxia marker carbonic anhydrase 9 (CA9) when compared to animals fed a standard rodent diet (SD). Protein analyses showed that the KD alters the expression of the tight junction protein zona occludens 1 (ZO-1), and the membrane water channel aquaporin-4 (AQPN4), which are regulated by tumor hypoxia and have been implicated in peritumoral edema. We also see a reduction in phosphorylated NF-κB which may result in reduced transcription of hypoxia-related genes. Further analysis showed that the KD reduced expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), which plays a key role in hypoxia-induced angiogenesis. Taken together our data offers insight into the anti-edema and anti-angiogenic mechanisms underlying the KD. A greater understanding of the effects of the KD as an adjuvant therapy will allow for a more rational approach to its clinical use.
Cattle with Hair Whorl Patterns above the Eyes are More Behaviorally Agitated During Restraint

Hair whorl position on the forehead may be of value in selecting breeding cattle for a calm temperament. A total of 1500 cattle weighing 180–360 kg were temperament rated on a four-point scale. Seventy-two percent of the cattle were European × British breed crosses and 28% were Zebu × dairy breed crosses from Mexico. Cattle with a round hair whorl located above the eyes became significantly more agitated while they were restrained in a squeeze chute (crush) compared to cattle with a hair whorl located either between the eyes or below the eyes. For both the Bos taurus and Bos indicus crossbreeds, animals with hair whorls located below the eyes were rated calmer. There is a positive linear relationship (P < 0.001) between cattle temperament while restrained in a squeeze chute and the location of facial hair whorls. The cattle observed in this study were extensively raised and had a large flight zone when approached by people. Casual observations indicate that the relationship between hair whorl position and temperament is most easily observed in cattle that do not have daily close contact with people.
Domestic violence across generations: findings from northern India

Background Although one cannot underestimate the importance of macrosystem-level forces (such as cultural and social norms) in the aetiology of gender-based violence within any country, including India, individual-level variables (such as observing violence between one’s parents while growing up) may also play important roles in the development of such violence. Therefore, this research studies men residing in northern India to: (1) estimate the prevalence of men’s childhood experiences of witnessing parent-to-parent violence within their families of origin; (2) examine whether men raised in violent homes were more likely than men raised in nonviolent homes to have attitudes supportive of husbands’ control of their wives; (3) examine whether men raised in violent homes were more likely than men raised in non-violent homes to be abusive toward their own wives; and (4) estimate the extent to which wife abuse in this second generation could have been prevented had there not been parent-to-parent violence in the men’s natal families. Methods Married men (n = 6902) were surveyed concerning: their childhood experiences of witnessing parent-to-parent violence in their families of origin; their attitudes regarding the appropriateness of husbands’ control of their wives; their physically and sexually abusive behaviours toward their own wives; and sociodemographic variables. Descriptive statistics, multivariable modelling procedures, and estimation of a population attributable fraction were used to address the study questions. Results Approximately one-third of the men had witnessed parent-to-parent violence as a child. Compared to men raised in non-violent homes, men from violent homes were significantly more likely to believe in husbands’ rights to control their wives, and to be physically/sexually abusive toward their own wives. Non-violence in the earlier generation was strongly predictive of non-violence in the second generation, with about a third of the wife abuse in the second generation being attributable to parent-to-parent violence in the first generation. Conclusions These findings from northern India are congruent with those from other geographical/cultural settings in suggesting that witnessing violence between one’s parents while growing up is an important risk factor for the perpetration of partner violence in adulthood.
A Specific Interaction between the Cardiac Sodium Channel and Site-3 Toxin Anthopleurin B

The polypeptide neurotoxin anthopleurin B (ApB) isolated from the venom of the sea anemone Anthopleura xanthogrammica is one of a family of toxins that bind to the extracellular face of voltage-dependent sodium channels and retard channel inactivation. Because most regions of the sodium channel known to contribute to inactivation are located intracellularly or within the membrane bilayer, identification of the toxin/channel binding site is of obvious interest. Recently, mutation of a glutamic acid residue on the extracellular face of the fourth domain of the rat neuronal sodium channel (rBr2a) was shown to disrupt toxin/channel binding (Rogers, J. C., Qu, Y. S., Tanada, T. N., Scheuer, T., and Catterall, W. A. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 15950–15962). A negative charge at this position is highly conserved between mammalian sodium channel isoforms. We have constructed mutations of the corresponding residue (Asp-1612) in the rat cardiac channel isoform (rH1) and shown that the lowered affinity occurs primarily through an increase in the toxin/channel dissociation rate k off. Further, we have used thermodynamic mutant cycle analysis to demonstrate a specific interaction between this anionic amino acid and Lys-37 of ApB (ΔΔG = 1.5 kcal/mol), a residue that is conserved among many sea anemone toxins. Reversal of the charge at Asp-1612, as in the mutant D1612R, also affects channel inactivation independent of toxin (−14 mV shift in channel availability). Binding of the toxin to Asp-1612 may therefore contribute both to toxin/channel affinity and to transduction of the effects of the toxin on channel kinetics.
Skin ageing and wrinkles: clinical and photographic scoring

Sunlight induces clinical, histological and physiological changes in the skin that are known as photoageing. As the population ages, prevention and treatment of photoageing is a growing challenge because of its association with skin cancer as well as for cosmetic reasons. Therefore, it is of interest to assess the degrees of photoageing by developing valid and comprehensive grading systems. Several different methods have been proposed. These include descriptive grading scales, visual analogue scales and photographic grading scales. The merits and inconveniences of these different approaches are discussed.
Unequal burden of head and neck cancer in the United States.

Background. Black Americans are adversely affected by many types of malignancies. Methods. We reviewed data from the National Cancer Insti- tute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) pro- gram to evaluate racial disparities in head and neck cancer inci- dence, mortality, and survival. Results. Head and neck cancer incidence is greater in the black population and peaks at a younger age. The incidence disparity is decreasing over time and is less for cancers of the oral cavity/pharynx (OCP) than for cancers of the larynx. The dis- parity in survival after diagnosis is substantial for both sites and is increasing over time because of improvement in survival for the white population, but not for the black population. Some, but not all, of the survival disparity is due to more advanced stage at the time of diagnosis within the black population. The age- adjusted mortality rate for black men is approximately twice the rate for white men.
Perceptions of the Functions of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in a College Sample

Abstract. Background: Rates of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) are particularly high on college campuses. Commonly endorsed reasons for NSSI include interpersonal (e.g., seeking support) and intrapersonal (e.g., affect regulation) functions. Aims: This study compared college students with and without a history of NSSI on their views of NSSI functions in order to inform gatekeeper intervention/prevention programs targeting NSSI. Method: The Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury, which assessed NSSI behavior and functions of NSSI, was completed by 367 college students (73% female, 95% white). Results: Ninety-eight participants endorsed lifetime moderate/severe NSSI, 109 endorsed minor NSSI, and 160 denied any history of NSSI. Noninjuring participants' views of NSSI functions were compared with the views held by participants with histories of NSSI. The groups did not differ in their views of the relevance of intrapersonal functions, although noninjuring individuals appeared to stress some interpersonal fa...
Compiler-instrumented, dynamic secret-redaction of legacy processes for attacker deception

An enhanced dynamic taint-tracking semantics is presented and implemented, facilitating fast and precise runtime secret redaction from legacy processes, such as those compiled from C/C++. The enhanced semantics reduce the annotation burden imposed upon developers seeking to add secret-redaction capabilities to legacy code, while curtailing over-tainting and label creep. An implementation for LLVM's DataFlow Sanitizer automatically instruments taint-tracking and secret-redaction support into annotated C/C++ programs at compile-time, yielding programs that can self-censor their address spaces in response to emerging cyber-attacks. The technology is applied to produce the first information flow-based honey-patching architecture for the Apache web server. Rather than merely blocking intrusions, the modified server deceptively diverts attacker connections to secret-sanitized process clones that monitor attacker activities and disinform adversaries with honey-data.
Carinal resection and reconstruction following inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor resection: A case report

Abstract Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMT) are rare tumors of the respiratory tract that most commonly occur in the lung and are rarely seen in the trachea. They present most often in young patients. We report on a case of an IMT of the carina in a seven year old girl, requiring carinal resection and reconstruction with a novel technique in pediatric airway surgery. Attempts at endoscopic excision of the carinal IMT were unsuccessful. An open approach for resection of the involved carina, distal trachea, and proximal mainstem bronchi was performed via sternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass. The resulting triangular defect in the trachea and bronchi was reconstructed with anastomosis of the proximal trachea and left mainstem bronchus using a rotational flap of the right lateral mainstem bronchial wall. The remaining right mainstem bronchus was anastomosed, end to side, to the intact trachea proximal to the primary anastomosis. Bronchoscopy and MRI 22 months post resection and reconstruction revealed a healthy neo-carina and patent distal airway with no evidence of recurrent IMT. Pediatric patients with carinal inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors can be successfully managed with open resection and reconstruction of the airway.
Believable Agents, Engagement, and Health Interventions

In this article we review some of the main contributions that the believable agents community has brought about and we review some of the main believable agent architectures existing to date. We also discuss the enormous potential that believable agents can bring in the domain of health, including health communication, health promotion, health counseling and psychotherapy. We discuss some of our work-in-progress aimed at building believable agents with dialog abilities to conduct supportive healthcare interventions for the management of chronic diseases and addiction issues.
Recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is the most common acute oral ulcerative condition in North America. RAS is divided into a mild, common form, simple aphthosis, and a severe, less common form, complex aphthosis. Aphthosis is a reactive condition. The lesions of RAS can represent the mucosal manifestation of a variety of conditions. These include conditions with oral and genital aphthae such as ulcus vulvae acutum, reactive nonsexually related acute genital ulcers, and Behcet disease. The mouth is the beginning of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and the lesions of RAS can be a manifestation of GI diseases such as gluten-sensitive enteropathy, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn disease. Complex aphthosis may also have correctable causes. The clinician should seek these in a careful evaluation. Successful management of both simple and complex aphthosis depends on accurate diagnosis, proper classification, recognition of provocative factors, and the identification of associated diseases. The outlook for patients with both simple and complex aphthosis is positive.
On the occurrence of incest fantasies.

Incest fantasies are often regarded as suggesting important ego or superego deficits. Actually, some nonpsychotic patients are found to experience such fantasies. In these cases the phenomenon occurs when certain psychogenetic and psychodynamic factors are present. Language: en
Attire, Sex-Roles, and Responses to Requests for Directions

As expected responses of 90 middle-aged men to a request for directions were influenced by the female experimenter's attire.
Direct Chain End Functionalization of Living Polyisobutylene Using Phenoxyalkyl (Meth)acrylates

Phenoxyalkyl acrylates and methacrylates were studied as quenching (capping) agents for living carbocationic polymerization of isobutylene (IB) at −70 °C in 40/60 (v/v) hexane/methyl chloride, catalyzed by TiCl4. Quenching reactions were carried out by reactivation by TiCl4 of preformed difunctional tert-chloride-terminated polyisobutylene (PIB) or by a one-step method in which IB polymerization and quenching were conducted sequentially in the same reactor. Chain-end concentrations ranged from 0.02 to 0.1 M, and quenchers were used at concentrations of 1.5–2.5 times the chain ends. The phenoxyalkyl (meth)acrylates were synthesized by reaction of (meth)acryloyl chloride with the corresponding phenoxyalkanol; alkylene tethers from two to eight carbons were examined. Quenched polymers were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Alkylation was observed to occur exclusively at the para position of the phenoxy moiety, and SEC showed no coupling or ...
El cuerpo grotesco en El Sexto, de José María Arguedas, y el personaje japonés en las fronteras del proyecto nacional

Al igual que en el resto de la obra de Arguedas, en El Sexto todo lo malvado y vil se asocia con la vida urbana y criolla de la costa, mientras que la poblacion y los motivos andinos y quechuas de la provincia reciben una caracterizacion mucho mas posible. Pero en esta novela, junto con el mundo afroperuano, aparece una cuarta cultura que se ve representada en la novela, anadiendo lena a una heterogeneidad ya de por si «incomoda»: existe un personaje japones que al parecer fue arrestado por vagabundeo a quien los otros presos llaman Hirohito. Arguedas elige el cronotopo de la carcel para explorar las paradojas y dilemas de la nacion peruana. Por medio de una alegoria nacional, este espacio se une con el tiempo de la accion para convertirse en el centro organizador del argumento, un laboratorio en el que los personajes tratan sin exito de resolver los problemas de las relaciones sociales y las contradicciones sociopoliticas en Peru. El comportamiento grotesco de Hirohito, junto con los comentarios que los otros presos hacen sobre el, lo retratan como un indeseado extranjero infiltrado en el seno de la nacion. Por tanto, si bien El Sexto tiene el merito de ser una de las primeras novelas peruanas en incluir un personaje de origen japones, se lo incorpora por medio del prisma de lo grotesco, lo que produce una extrana distorsion del elemento japones en la cultura peruana. El personaje situa a su grupo etnico en las afueras de la peruanidad, como si fuera una frontera humana, el Otro contra el que se construyen y actuan las contradicciones de la nacion peruana.
« Reverse logistics » : stratégies et techniques

Les gestionnaires accordent un interet grandissant a la « reverse-logistics » . Celle-ci occupe une place beaucoup plus importante qu’il y a quelques annees. Le present document decrit synthetiquement plusieurs strategies et technologies nouvelles que les responsables de « reverse-logistics » peuvent utiliser aujourd’hui pour ameliorer les « flux a rebours », et dont ils devraient disposer dans le futur.
Equivalence of one-dimensional second-order linear finite difference operators

The direct, gauge and projective equivalence problems for one-dimensional second-order linear finite difference operators are solved using the method of equivariant moving frames.
Leveraging electronic health record documentation for Failure Mode and Effects Analysis team identification

Objective Using Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) as an example quality improvement approach, our objective was to evaluate whether secondary use of orders, forms, and notes recorded by the electronic health record (EHR) during daily practice can enhance the accuracy of process maps used to guide improvement. We examined discrepancies between expected and observed activities and individuals involved in a high-risk process and devised diagnostic measures for understanding discrepancies that may be used to inform quality improvement planning. Methods Inpatient cardiology unit staff developed a process map of discharge from the unit. We matched activities and providers identified on the process map to EHR data. Using four diagnostic measures, we analyzed discrepancies between expectation and observation. Results: EHR data showed that 35% of activities were completed by unexpected providers, including providers from 12 categories not identified as part of the discharge workflow. The EHR also revealed sub-components of process activities not identified on the process map. Additional information from the EHR was used to revise the process map and show differences between expectation and observation. Conclusion Findings suggest EHR data may reveal gaps in process maps used for quality improvement and identify characteristics about workflow activities that can identify perspectives for inclusion in an FMEA. Organizations with access to EHR data may be able to leverage clinical documentation to enhance process maps used for quality improvement. While focused on FMEA protocols, findings from this study may be applicable to other quality activities that require process maps.
Empirically Supported Treatments and Evidence-Based Practice for Children and Adolescents

A number of forces exert influence on professional psychology. Though these forces change over time, they continue to impact all aspects of the field. Psychologists recognized that the mental health professions had not yet developed an adequate scientific base for making treatment decisions and demonstrating the “worth” of psychological interventions. The rise of managed care concomitantly compelled many changes in the way psychologists provided treatment and were reimbursed (Roberts & Hurley, 1997). Increasing demands were made for evidence that psychological treatments would work if they were to be eligible for payment. As outlined by Steele and Roberts (2003), the movement toward empirically supported treatments (ESTs) and, correspondingly, evidence-based practice (EBP) came from
How to Use Entrustable Professional Activities to Evaluate and Teach Physician Trainees

“Entrustable Professional Activities” (EPAs) provide a helpful framework for competency-based assessment. An EPA represents a specialty-specific task that can be entrusted to a learner who has achieved sufficient competency in that area. To be entrusted to perform each of these tasks without supervision, a physician trainee typically must be competent in multiple domains (e.g., patient care, medical knowledge, systems-based practice, practice-based learning and improvement, professionalism, and interpersonal communication). Therefore, entrusting a trainee with a specific professional activity acknowledges their competence in one or more aspects of multiple domains. Clinical teachers can use this concept to more purposefully observe their trainees and provide richer feedback grounded in the actual work expected of practicing physicians.
Periesophageal Pseudoaneurysms: Rare Cause of Refractory Bleeding Treated with Transarterial Embolization

A 43-year-old female with history of systemic lupus erythematosus, prior cytomegalovirus esophagitis treated with ganciclovir, and long segment Barrett's esophagus (Prague class C8 M9) with high grade dysplasia treated with radiofrequency ablation presented to the hospital with hematemesis. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed multiple esophageal ulcers with active arterial spurting which could not be controlled with endoscopic interventions including placement of hemostatic clips. An emergent angiogram demonstrated actively bleeding saccular dilations (pseudoaneurysms) in the esophageal branches of the lower thoracic aorta as well as left gastric artery for which gelfoam and coil embolization was initially successful. Due to recurrence of massive bleeding, she subsequently underwent emergent esophagectomy and bipolar exclusion. Pathology demonstrated submucosal hemorrhage, esophagitis with dysplastic Barrett's mucosa, and an ulcer containing cytomegaloviral inclusions. We report the first case of arterial bleeding from periesophageal pseudoaneurysms as well as use of angiographic embolization for arterial bleeding in the esophagus.
Direct optical observations of vesicular self-assembly in large-scale polymeric structures during photocontrolled biphasic polymerization

In this report, we employ a photo-controlled polymerization protocol featuring a fluorescent initiator to follow the evolution of the generated self-assembled microscopic structures in a phase-separating dispersion polymerization medium. We observe the growth of polymer vesicles with final diameters of tens of microns. The formed structures respond to illumination with visible light at the absorbance maximum of the photoinitiator, demonstrating that the reaction mixture remains active even after transferring to an optical microscope slide and that the “blebbing” of vesicles and their growth continue until a mature size is reached.
Synthesis and Characterization of Photo-Cross-Linkable Keratin Hydrogels for Stem Cell Encapsulation

The objective of this work was to synthesize an injectable and photopolymerizable hydrogel based on keratin extracted from poultry feather for encapsulation and delivery of stem cells in tissue regeneration. Since feather keratin is rich in cysteine residue, allylation of sulfhydryl groups was used for functionalization of keratin. Keratin was extracted from feather barbs by reducing the disulfide bonds in cysteine residues to sulfhydryl groups (−SH). Next, the free thiol groups were converted to dehydroalanine (Dha) by oxidative elimination using O-(2,4,6-trimethylbenzenesulfonyl) hydroxylamine. Then, the Dha moieties were converted to s-allyl cysteine by reaction with allyl mercaptan to produce keratin allyl thioether (KeratATE) biopolymer. Human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSCs) were suspended in the aqueous solution of KeratATE, injected into a mold, and photopolymerized to generate a KeratATE hydrogel encapsulating hMSCs. The freeze-dried photo-cross-linked KeratATE hydrogels had a porous, interconnected...