cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonparametric design of nanoparticles with maximum scattering using evolutionary topology optimization

ABSTRACT The interaction between light and subwavelength structures provides tailorable optical properties that can be useful in many engineering applications. These properties strongly depend on the material shape, which provides obtaining unique scattering characteristics when rigorously designed. However, the conventional design methods require precise modeling and characterization of the shapes of the scattering objects, thus requiring a lot of intuition and knowledge about light radiation at small scales, as well as many rounds of experimental trial and error. We propose a framework to discover new nanoparticle designs for improved scattering based on topology optimization. The framework allows us to maximize the scattering cross section of the particle domain. Increased scattering cross-section at nanoscale leads to improved light trapping, which is critical in many applications such as thin film solar cells and biological imaging. Topology optimization offers a knowledge independent design procedure, therefore revealing relationships between specific regions in the design domain and the light behavior for maximum scattering cross section.
No increase in the incidence of cardiac troponin I concentration above the 99th percentile by Siemens Centaur high-sensitivity compared to the contemporary assay

Abstract Background This study aimed to compare the incidence of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations above the limit of quantification (LOQ) and the sex-specific 99th percentile upper reference limits (URLs) between the Ultra contemporary cTnI assay and the high-sensitivity (hs-cTnI) assay on Siemens Centaur in patients evaluated in the emergency department (ED) and inpatient at a U.S. urban academic hospital. Methods A retrospective study was performed in an unselected patient cohort who presented to the hospital with symptoms suggestive of myocardial injury. All clinically ordered samples for cTnI assay (n = 1,056, LOQ 0.03 µg/L, URL 0.04 µg/L) were simultaneously tested on the hs-cTnI assay (LOQ 2.5 ng/L; URL 58 ng/L and 39 ng/L for male and female, respectively). Results The incidence of elevated cTnI above the 99th percentile URL in males measured by the hs-cTnI assay was significantly lower compared to the cTnI assay (31.4% vs. 38.7%, p = 0.016), whereas there was no difference in females (27.4% vs. 30.2%, p = 0.35) in all the patient samples. In ED patient samples (n = 718), the incidence of elevated cTnI above the sex-specific 99th percentile URL was not significantly different between the hs-cTnI and contemporary cTnI assays in either sex (male: hs-cTnI 16.6% vs. cTnI 21.5%, p = 0.13; female: hs-cTnI 19.6% vs. cTnI 21.1%, p = 0.66). The agreement between the two assays was 93.5% (kappa = 0.798). Results were confirmed in an independent patient cohort measured by the same instruments at another hospital. Conclusion Our study suggests that implementation of the hs-cTnI assay would not lead to an increase in the proportion of elevated cTnI above the 99th percentile in the emergency department and other inpatient units.
Acute Cellular Rejection in Lung Transplant: Can the Bronchoscopist Assess Transbronchial Biopsy Sample Adequacy?

Purpose Acute cellular rejection (ACR) is a histopathologic diagnosis made by assessment of transbronchial biopsies (TBBX). Consensus guidelines recommend a minimum of 5 alveolated samples for histologic adequacy; it is not uncommon for samples to be inadequate for diagnosis. This study was designed to determine what factors impact the recovery of adequate specimens for ACR grading, as well as explore discrepancies in “sample calling” between the pathologist & bronchoscopist. Methods Observational, single center study including retrospective chart review of 142 bronchoscopies with TBBX performed on 128 lung transplant recipients (LTRs) who underwent surveillance bronchoscopy between May 2017 & May 2018. For the purpose of our study we defined inadequate samples as Results Of 142 TBBX procedures, 22 (15.5%), resulted in inadequate sampling. Of note, pathologists called less sample fragments than bronchoscopists 70% of the time. Characteristics associated with inadequate sampling included both LTR & procedural characteristics (Table 1 & 2). Conclusion Bronchoscopists may overestimate the number of total fragments obtained compared with pathologists. Both demographic & procedure characteristics may aid in identifying LTRs at higher risk for inadequate sampling during TBBx.
Gaussian Process Regression Reviewed in the Context of Inverse Theory

We review Gaussian process regression (GPR) and analyze it in the context of Inverse Theory—the collection of techniques used in geophysics (among other fields) to understand the structure of data analysis problems and the quality of their solutions. By viewing GPR as a special case of generalized least squares (least squares with prior information), we derive expressions for a variety of standard Inverse Theory quantities, including the data and model resolution matrices, the importance (influence) vector, and the gradient of the solution with respect to a parameter. We study the impulse response in the one-dimensional continuum limit and provide formulas for its area and width. Finally, we demonstrate how the importance vector can be used to design an optimum GPR experiment, through a process we call importance winnowing.
A case series of brain abscesses: an eleven-year retrospective single center study.

Introduction We lack data on the epidemiology and management of brain abscesses in the Middle East. The aim of this study is to report a case series of brain abscesses admitted at a tertiary care center in Lebanon, between January 2008 and December 2018. Methodology This retrospective study aimed at determining the demographic data, treatment, and correlations between different studied variables with prognosis of patients that received treatment. Results Forty-one patients (30 males) were included with a median age of 37 years (2-85). The analysis showed that the classic triad of fever, headache and neurologic deficit was only present in 12% of patients on admission. The source of infection was contiguous in 36.5%, post surgical in 32%, and distant in 17% of cases. Stereotactic biopsy was performed in 41.5% of patients, and craniotomy in 19.5%. A microorganism was isolated in 63% of patients (26 cases). The most used antibiotics were carbapenems (46%) and glycopeptides (66%). Eighty percent of patient (33) had a good outcome. A worse prognosis was significantly correlated with immunosuppression and multiple cerebral abscesses. Conclusions Brain abscess remains a relatively rare condition.
Matrix hyaluronic acid and hypoxia influence a CD133+ subset of patient-derived glioblastoma cells.

Glioblastoma (GBM) displays diffusive invasion throughout the brain microenvironment that is partially responsible for its short median survival rate (<15 months). Stem-like subpopulations (GBM stem-like cells, GSCs) are believed to play a central role in therapeutic resistance and poor patient prognosis. Given the extensive tissue remodeling and processes such as vessel co-option and regression that occurs in the tumor microenvironment, it is essential to understand the role of metabolic constraint such as hypoxia on GBM cell populations. This work describes the use of a multi-dimensional gelatin hydrogel to culture patient-derived GBM cells to evaluate the influence of hypoxia and the inclusion brain-mimetic hyaluronic acid on the relative activity of GSCs vs. overall GBM cells. Notably, CD133+ GBM cell fraction is crucial for robust formation of tumor-spheroids in multi-dimensional cultures. Additionally, while the relative size of the CD133+ GBM subpopulation increased in response to both hypoxia and matrix-bound hyaluronan, we did not observe cell-subtype specific changes in invasion signaling pathway activation. Taken together, this study highlights the potential of biomimetic culture systems for resolving changes in the population dynamics and behavior of subsets of glioblastoma specimens for the future development of precision medicine applications.
Original contributionTreatment of uninvestigated dyspepsia with cisapride for patients with negative Helicobacter pylori serologies

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare symptoms for patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia and a negative Helicobacter pylori serology who were treated with cisapride or placebo. METHODS: Helicobacter pylori-seronegative patients with chronic dyspepsia were randomized to receive cisapride 10 mg t.i.d. or placebo t.i.d. for 30 days. Symptom scores were performed 1 month and 3 months after randomization. Outcomes measured were dyspepsia symptom scores and a treatment “success” variable defined as absence of symptoms or decrease in the most severe individual symptom by two grades. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients were randomized; 56 completed the 1-month follow-up and 40 completed the 3-month follow-up interview. The mean score for all patients at the time of entry was 11.0 and declined to 8.3 and 8.2 at 1 and 3 months, respectively, after randomization. At 1 month and 3 months after randomization, there was no significant difference in the number of patients meeting the “success” variable for patients receiving cisapride as compared to placebo. The mean decline in symptom severity scores was not significantly different for patients receiving placebo or cisapride at 1 month (mean, −2.8 vs −3.1; difference = 0.3, p = 0.74) or 3 months (−3.1 vs −2.6, difference = −0.5, p = 0.58) after randomization. CONCLUSIONS: No significant difference in the severity of dyspeptic symptoms was found for patients receiving cisapride as compared to placebo in the setting of uninvestigated dyspepsia and a negative Helicobacter pylori serology.
Methamphetamine: burden, mechanism and impact on pregnancy, the fetus, and newborn

While the opioid epidemic has garnered worldwide attention, increasing methamphetamine use has drawn less scrutiny. Methamphetamine is a highly addictive psychostimulant affecting people from all backgrounds and regions. It is a potent vasoconstrictor, is associated with arrhythmias and dilated cardiomyopathy. Cardiovascular disease-related mortality is a leading cause of death in methamphetamine users. Women of childbearing age increasingly use methamphetamine and continue during pregnancy. In the short term, prenatal methamphetamine use is associated with fetal growth restriction and low birth weight in the newborn. Animal studies show reduction in uterine and umbilical blood flow following maternal methamphetamine administration. Based on currently available evidence, prenatal methamphetamine exposure has transient effects on gross motor development, no effect on language and cognition, and modest effects on behavior and executive functioning with poor inhibitory control, which may be attributable to early adversity. Further research is needed to evaluate long-term effects of prenatal methamphetamine exposure.
Nixon, Kissinger, and Allende: U.S. Involvement in the 1973 Coup in Chile. Lubna Z.

Nixon, Kissinger and Allende: U.S. Involvement in the 1973 Coup in Chile, publicado en 2009 , es el resultado de la tesis doctoral de la historiadora Lubna Qureshi de la Universidad de California, Berkeley. Utilizando un marco conceptual muy cercano a la clasica interpretacion marxista de la politica exterior norteamericana, Qureshi sostiene que intereses economicos nacionales y privados determinaron la politica del gobierno de Richard Nixon hacia Chile entre 1970 y 1973.
Abstract #5375: Streptavidin conjugated quantum dots for multiplex detection of cancer-related biomarker

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 18-22, 2009; Denver, CO Introduction: Identification of biomarkers in cancers requires multiplex simultaneous profiling of cancer cells or tumor tissue, along with accurate measurements of their expression levels. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is currently one of the most common detection methods in pathology for clinical diagnoses. However, it remains semi-quantitative, subjective with considerable inter-observer variation, and with no ability to detect multiple targets on a single sample of tissue. Semiconductor nanocrystals, also known as quantum dots (QDs), represent a new class of fluorescent labels with unique optical properties and the potential to overcome limitations of traditional IHC techniques. We have used streptavidin-conjugated quantum dots (SA-QD) in a QD based-IHC assay. This method helps to address the two major deficiencies of antibody-based labeling QD: the limited availability of species-specific secondary antibodies, the size of the QD conjugate after antibody attachment, and the instability of many antibody-antigen interactions which lead in these cases to dissociation of the antibody-conjugated QD from the protein of interest. Biotin detection by streptavidin has numerous advantages. It is one of the tightest interactions known ( K d = 10-13 M), with an off-rate on the order of days. In addition, streptavidin displays little nonspecific binding and is significantly smaller than an IgG antibody (60 versus 150 kDa), and a large number of streptavidin conjugates are commercially available. Methods: We evaluated the use of SA-QD with distinct emission spectra to \#8220;stain\#8221; formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) breast cancer, normal colon, and tonsil tissues using a panel of primary antibodies targeting known biomarkers. Standard IHC controls were used for comparison and validation of our QD-IHC protocol. Most, but not all, antibody and quantum dot combinations worked with equal efficacy. The stains were performed by layering each antibody and QD in a sequential fashion. Results: Staining of two, three, and four antigens per slide was accomplished successfully on FFPE tonsil, breast tumor and normal colon tissues. QD-IHC processed tissues were imaged and analyzed using confocal laser scanning microscopy (LSM510 META from Zeiss). The use of streptavidin QDs for multiplex detection of tumor antigens offers a viable method of detecting and quantifying multiple cancer-related antigens simultaneously. We are continuing to optimize this technology and updated images and analyses will be presented. Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 5375.
Status of Quantum Electrodynamics Theory

The recent history of quantum electrodynamics has been characterized by a steady increase of the precision of experiments which refer to low energy properties of simple quantum electrodynamical systems, and by a continued probing at high energies of the properties of the basic interaction at ever decreasing distances. The high precision experiments have provided a continuing challenge to theorists to deduce consequences of the theory to a sufficient accuracy to maintain a meaningful confrontation between theory and experiments. While puzzling discrepancies have appeared from time to time, it was possible to say1 at the last conference in this series that no serious discrepancy existed for any of the crucial tests. While this continues to be essentially the case, some recent successes in meeting this challenge have notably increased the precision of agreement.
‘Hysteria' Today and Tomorrow

‘Hysteria' (conversion disorder) remains in modern humanity and across cultures, as it has for millennia. Advances today in tools and criteria have afforded more accurate diagnosis, and advances in treatments have empowered patients and providers, resulting in a renewed interest in somatoform disorders. Future progress in understanding mechanisms may be influenced by developments in functional neuroimaging and neurophysiology. No animal model exists for somatoform symptoms or conversion disorder. Despite the absence of a known molecular mechanism, psychotherapy is helping patients with conversion disorder to take control of their symptoms and have improved quality of life, shedding light on what was once an enigma.
Properties of 5-Fluorouracil-containing Ribonucleic Acid and Ribosomes from Bacillus subtilis

Growth of a strain of Bacillus subtilis that requires uracil, thymine, adenine, and tryptophan in the presence of 5-fluorouracil (FU) results in the synthesis of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and ribosomes in which 55 to 65% of the RNA uracil has been replaced by the fluorine derivative. Examination of analogue-containing ribosomes by sucrose density gradient centrifugation and thermal denaturation studies suggests that, as far as the size, shape, and packing structure are concerned, extensive FU substitution has little or no effect. FU appears to replace uracil in RNA without selectivity for one RNA class over another, as determined by methylated albumin-kieselguhr column chromatography and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The total amino acid content of the cells is markedly affected by growth in the presence of FU. The possibility of an FU effect on genetic translation is discussed.
Analysis of the In Vitro Product of an RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase Isolated from Influenza Virus-Infected Cells

The products synthesized in vitro by an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase isolated from influenza virus-infected BHK21-F cells were analyzed by velocity sedimentation, annealing techniques, and acrylamide-agarose gel electrophoresis. Approximately 50% of the RNA synthesized in vitro remains associated with the 50 to 70S ribonucleoprotein complex containing polymerase activity; the remainder of the RNA polymerase product sediments heterogeneously with a peak at 13S. At least 90% of the in vitro product hybridizes with virion RNA. If polypeptides are labeled early in the growth cycle, both the P and NP polypeptides are detected in the ribonucleoprotein complex by acrylamide gel electrophoresis. The results suggest that the polypeptide composition and the products of the cell-associated RNA polymerase are similar to those of the RNA transcriptase associated with influenza virus particles.
Real- and Complex-valued Functions

A map ϕ: of a convex open subset K of a vector space V is convex iff for all t in [0,1] and any x and y in K $$ \varphi (t{\text{x + (1 - }}t{\text{)y}}) \leqslant t\varphi ({\text{x}}) + (1 - t)\varphi ({\text{y}}) $$ . When K is an open interval in ℝ and a ∈ K, a line l through (a, φ(a)) is a supporting line iff l lies below the graph of φ: {(p, q) ∈ l} ⇒ {q ≤ φ(p)}.
Ammonoid Habitats and Life History

The current knowledge about the ammonoid/habitat relation is reviewed and in part newly interpreted. The autecology of ammonoids, such as ontogeny and habitat, based on morphological and geochemical analyses in association with results from modern relatives, forms the foundation for subsequent interpretations. Synecological interactions (predator-prey, infestation) are discussed with reference to sedimentary facies and the corresponding biofacies. Arguments for a possible mode of life and habitat are given based on the modern data on the food/prey habits and predation habitats of ammonoids. The state of the art in scientific investigations on ammonoid life and habitat is summarized, reviewed and in part reinterpreted. Traditional assumptions based on facies analyses are strengthened or contradicted by more recent methods such as morphospace and stable isotope analyses. Not yet tested hypotheses, speculations and mathematical models are tested by comparing the results with new geophysical data.
Blacked Out: Dilemmas of Race, Identity, and Success at Capital High

Blacked Out: Dilemmas of Race, Identity, and Success at Capital High. Signithia Fordham. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996. 411 pp.
Aerobic Heterotrophic Bacterial Populations of Sewage and Activated Sludge: III. Adaptation in a Synthetic Waste

The nature and behavior of the microbial population developed on a synthetic waste containing salts and sorbitol are compared to that of a treatment-plant activated sludge. The population of the adapted sludge developed on the synthetic waste consisted approximately of only six kinds of bacteria. Experiments with radioactive sorbitol indicate that the microbial population developed on the synthetic waste showed the effects of repression by glucose on the metabolism of sorbitol; in contrast, the activated sludge from a plant treating primarily domestic waste was able to attack both substrates immediately and simultaneously.
Controlling the electrical resistance of silicon carbide powders

A method is specified for determining the specific electrical resistance of silicon carbide powders; the characteristics of the materials used in the production of silicon carbide electric heaters are determined.
Chinese hamster ovarian cells transfected with the murine interleukin-6 gene cause hypercalcemia as well as cachexia, leukocytosis and thrombocytosis in tumor-bearing nude mice.

The effects of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in vivo were assessed by inoculating Chinese hamster ovarian (CHO) cells which were transfected with the murine IL-6 gene in nude mice. Nude mice bearing CHO cells expressing IL-6 developed hypercalcemia. Tumorbearing mice also showed increases in white cell count, platelet count, and decreases in body weight. In nude mice carrying CHO tumors which had not been transfected with the IL-6 gene, there were no changes in these parameters. These results suggest that increased circulating concentrations of IL-6 in patients with malignant disease may contribute to a number of paraneoplastic syndromes including hypercalcemia, cachexia, leukocytosis and thrombocytosis.
Key Resources in Youth Ministry

On a recent visit to Greensboro, North Carolina, I took a guided pilgrimage through the streets of the city with a group of teenagers and adults. Beginning on the campus of North Carolina A & T Uni...
The Time Is Now: Formation of True Transplant Centers

With the advances in the complexity of medical care there is a need to change the way we are organized in order to deliver that care in the most patient-friendly, efficient manner. This need is perhaps most compellingly manifest in the field of whole organ transplantation. Yet we are trying to deliver medical care with an organizational structure that was developed over 100 years ago when medical practice was considerably different. We argue for the development of a vertically integrated organizational structure in academic health centers for certain disciplines like transplantation. While this new arrangement for medical practice could be applied to many areas of medicine, transplantation is one of the best fields to begin making these changes. True transplant centers would bring avoid fragmentation of care and resources, thus bringing together the medical school and hospital into an integrated organization that would be responsible for all aspects of transplantation such as patient care, research, education and fiscal issues.
An Examination of ERR and Asset Allocation in Public Pension Plans

In this paper, we examine the usefulness of expected rates of return (ERR) for public pension plans. Specifically, we test the correlation between the expected rate of return on plan assets and asset allocation. We also examine the predictive power of ERR on the actual returns of the pension assets. We find that the correlation between expected return and the percentage of assets that are equity securities is relatively weak. Further, we find that the percentage of assets that are equity securities is a much better predictor of actual returns than the disclosed expected return in public pension plans. These results provide evidence to support SFAS No. 87, which requires the disclosure of plan assets and against recently promulgated SFAS No. 132, which eliminates this disclosure requirement. The evidence also supports GASB 25'sStatement of Net Plan Assets.
Proton–coupled electron transfer in self-assembled monolayers containing quinone compounds with different bridging groups of varying electronic conjugation

Abstract Specific and directed changes in structure between the bridge and headgroup can significantly change the rate for proton-coupled electron transfer of self-assembled monolayers containing quinone derivatives with varying electronic conjugation. We compared the apparent proton–coupled electron transfer rates at pHs between 1 and 12 of quinone self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold electrodes in which the quinone compounds contained different bridging groups (i.e. a single, double or triple bond) connecting the headgroup to the oligo(phenylene vinylene) (OPV) thiol anchor. The quinone compounds in the SAMs were diluted by octane-1-thiol, and cyclic voltammograms of the quinone/hydroquinone (Q/H2Q) couple were measured as a function of scan rate. Using Laviron’s formalism, peak to peak separations of the anodic and cathodic peak potentials were analyzed to estimate apparent rate constants (kapp). We found that the mathematical expressions derived by Laviron for the two-electron, two-proton couple describing a nine member square-scheme can fit the data with an average single electron transfer rate constant reflecting the electron tunneling parameter, β, of the different bridging structures. In addition, several pKas involved in the nine member scheme shifted to higher values in the immobilized system when compared to reported values of hydroquinone in solution.
An Experimental Study of Local Heat Transfer Distribution Between Blockages With Holes in a Rectangular Channel

Experiments have been conducted to study heat transfer between two blockages with holes and pressure drop across the blockages, for turbulent flow in a rectangular channel. Average heat transfer coefficient and local heat transfer distribution on one of the channel walls between two blockages, and overall pressure drop across the blockages were obtained, for nine different staggered arrays of holes in the blockages and Reynolds numbers of 10,000 and 30,000. For the hole configurations studied, the blockages enhanced heat transfer by 4.6 to 8.1 times, but significantly increased the pressure drop. Smaller holes in the blockages caused higher heat transfer enhancement, but larger increase of the pressure drop than larger holes. The heat transfer enhancement was lower in the higher Reynolds number cases. Because of the large pressure drop, the heat transfer per unit pumping power was lower with the blockages than without the blockages. The local heat transfer was lower nearer the upstream blockage, the highest near the downstream blockage, and also relatively high in regions of reattachment of the jets leaving the upstream holes. The local heat transfer distribution was strongly dependent on the configuration of the hole array in the blockages. A third upstream blockage lowered both the heat transfer and the pressure drop, and significantly changed the local heat transfer distribution.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Monotonicity properties for the stochastic knapsack

A stochastic system is considered in equilibrium with N servers, no waiting room, and K classes of customers. A class-k customer requires b/sub k/ servers and releases them simultaneously after a random period of time. This multiclass blocking system is motivated by loss networks that support a variety of traffic types (e.g. voice, video, facsimile). The effect of increasing the state-dependent arrival rates and the number of servers on the throughputs and blocking probabilities is considered. It is noted that the theory developed can be extended to the case where queueing is permitted in the knapsack. >
Clinical Examination, Mammography, and Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology in the Management of Palpable Breast Masses

: The combination of examination, mammography, and fine-needle aspiration cytology is increasingly being used to identify palpable breast masses that can be followed rather than excised. Since all three modalities are highly dependent on training and experience, causing the accuracy of the triple test to be highly variable, we examined the results of our own experience, expecting to find at least one triply false-negative cancer. Consecutive patients (198) with breast masses subjected to clinical examination, mammography, fine-needle aspiration cytology, and confirmatory excisional biopsy were studied. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for all combinations of the three diagnostic methods and the significance of concordant and discordant findings was evaluated. The sensitivities of examination, mammography, and cytology were 96%, 82%, and 85% respectively and the specificities were 75%, 90%, and 82%. No cancers were missed when all three diagnostic modalities were used together. Benign concordance of examination, mammography, and cytology was invariably associated with benign pathology. These results validate the use of the triple test in our hands. However, the accuracy of the triple test will vary from physician to physician and its validity in following benign lesions must be evaluated with confirmatory excisional biopsies.
2008 Beam Instrumentation Workshop

BIW08, the 13th edition of the Beam Instrumentation Workshop (BIW), took place at Lake Tahoe, California, on May 4–7, 2008. It was jointly sponsored by three divisions of Berkeley Lab: Accelerator and Fusion Research, the Advanced Light Source (ALS), and Engineering. BIW is a biannual international conference on beam diagnostics and instrumentation for accelerators and is probably the most important in the field together with its European counterpart, DIPAC, which alternates with BIW in the odd years.
Condensates in driven aggregation processes

We investigate aggregation driven by mass injection. In this stochastic process, mass is added with constant rate r and clusters merge at a constant total rate 1 , so that both the total number of clusters and the total mass steadily grow with time. Analytic results are presented for the three classic aggregation rates K{i,j} between clusters of size i and j . When K{i,j}=const , the cluster size distribution decays exponentially. When K{i,j} proportional, i+j or K{i,j} proportional, ixj , there are two phases: (i) a condensate phase with a condensate containing a finite fraction of the mass in the system as well as finite clusters and (ii) a cluster phase with finite clusters only. For K{i,j} proportional, i+j , the cluster size distribution, c{k} , has a power-law tail, c{k} approximately k;{-gamma} in either phase. The exponent is a nonmonotonic function of the injection rate gamma=r(r-1) in the condensate phase r 2 .
Ionophore A23187, calcium and contractility in frog eggs.

Abstract Ionophore A23187 elicits rapid cortical contractions in frog eggs at 10 −6 M conc. in the presence or complete absence of extracellular calcium. Intracellular EDTA or EGTA inhibits contractility, suggesting the importance of intracellular calcium for the response. Similarities and differences between these contractions, cell cleavage, and wound-closure are discussed.
Height Variations of Venusian Clouds

IN a recent communication, Moroz1 reported variations of the height of the Venusian cloud tops at the equatorial and polar regions of the planet on the basis of his spectroscopic observations of the CO2 bands in the near infrared. We wish to point out that although such variations may indeed exist, we believe that it is impossible to draw these conclusions from the observations reported in ref. 1.
Spectral Confonning Model and Its Application

It has been observed that finite elem-ent or finite difference models of order n can approximate with fair accuracy less than one-third of the eigenvalues of the underlying continuous system corresponding to the low spectrum. We present a new spectral conforming discrete model that estimates n the lowest eigenvalues of the continuous system with uniform accuracy. The building block of the model is the fundamental inverse eigenvalue problem of reconstructing the chain of a mass-spring system with a prescribed spectrum. We present applications of the model in vibration control of continuous systems by using small-order spectral conformning models, and spectrum estimation of non-uniform systems.
Understanding Political Stability and Instability

This paper proposes a new understanding of political stability. In doing so, it reviews and critiques previous definitions, outlines five operational concepts, and identifies implications important to the practice of stability operations, current US government policy, and academic research. It finds political stability to be the degree to which formal roles and structures coincide with informal roles and structures within a political object. The wider the ‘gap,’ the greater the instability. Uniquely, this view sees stability and instability as statements of potential, not occurrence.
Solid-state NMR investigations of sodium–cesium mixed-alkali phosphate glasses

Abstract Simultaneous structural correlations between 31P and 23Na nuclei and between 31P and 133Cs nuclei in a series of mixed-alkali sodium–cesium phosphate glasses are investigated by transfer of populations via double resonance (TRAPDOR) NMR spectroscopy. The variations in spatial proximity between 31P nuclei at the center of phosphate tetrahedra and sodium (or cesium) modifier ions in the system xCs2O: (56 − x) Na2O: 44 P2O5 (where x = 0 − 40) are followed systematically as a function of alkali oxide composition. The TRAPDOR method probes specific interactions between 31P and 23Na (or 133Cs) nuclei through the direct nuclear spin dipolar interaction. 31P MAS NMR spectra of these polyphosphate glasses reveal two phosphate environments corresponding to phosphorus atoms with two (Q2) and one (Q1) non-bridging oxygens in a 2.7:1 ratio, as expected from a simple depolymerization model. The Q2/Q1 ratios measured using the TRAPDOR technique show a mixed-alkali effect as a function of alkali oxide concentration, revealing a maximum in the effect for 31P–23Na pairings and a minimum interaction for 31P–133Cs at concentrations of approximately 35 mol% for each of the respective alkali cations.
Changes in soil carbon inventories following cultivation of previously untilled soils

Cultivation of previously untilled soils usually results in release of carbon from the soil to the atmosphere, which can affect both soil fertility locally and the atmospheric burden of CO2 globally. Generalizations about the magnitude of this flux have been hampered by a lack of good quality comparative data on soil carbon stocks of cultivated and uncultivated soils. Using data from several recent studies, we have reexamined the conclusions of previous reviews of this subject. The data were divided into subsets according to whether the soils were sampled by genetic horizon or by fixed depths. Sampling by fixed depths appears to underestimate soil C losses, but both subsets of data support earlier conclusions that between 20% and 40% of the soil C is lost following cultivation. Our best estimate is a loss of about 30% from the entire soil solum. Our analysis also supports the conclusion that most of the loss of soil C occurs within the first few Years (even within two Years in some cases) following initial cultivation. Our analysis does not support an earlier conclusion that the fractional loss of soil carbon is positively correlated to the amount of carbon initially present in the uncultivated soil. We found no relation between carbon content of uncultivated soil and the percentage lost following cultivation.
Bimodal Protein Targeting through Activation of Cryptic Mitochondrial Targeting Signals by an Inducible Cytosolic Endoprotease

Bimodal targeting of the endoplasmic reticular protein, cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1), to mitochondria involves activation of a cryptic mitochondrial targeting signal through endoprotease processing of the protein. Here, we characterized the endoprotease that regulates mitochondrial targeting of CYP1A1. The endoprotease, which was induced by β-naphthoflavone, was a dimer of 90 kDa and 40 kDa subunits, each containing Ser protease domains. The purified protease processed CYP1A1 in a sequence-specific manner, leading to its mitochondrial import. The glucocorticoid receptor, retinoid X receptor, and p53 underwent similar processing-coupled mitochondrial transport. The inducible 90 kDa subunit was a limiting factor in many cells and some tissues and, thus, regulates the mitochondrial levels of these proteins. A number of other mitochondria-associated proteins with noncanonical targeting signals may also be substrates of this endoprotease. Our results describe a new mechanism of mitochondrial protein import that requires an inducible cytoplasmic endoprotease for activation of cryptic mitochondrial targeting signals.
Using qualitative metasummary to synthesize qualitative and quantitative descriptive findings

The new imperative in the health disciplines to be more methodologically inclusive has generated a growing interest in mixed research synthesis, or the integration of qualitative and quantitative research findings. Qualitative metasummary is a quantitatively oriented aggregation of qualitative findings originally developed to accommodate the distinctive features of qualitative surveys. Yet these findings are similar in form and mode of production to the descriptive findings researchers often present in addition to the results of bivariate and multivariable analyses. Qualitative metasummary, which includes the extraction, grouping, and formatting of findings, and the calculation of frequency and intensity effect sizes, can be used to produce mixed research syntheses and to conduct a posteriori analyses of the relationship between reports and findings.
A comparative study of the early terrestrial atmospheres

The CO2 abundance required for maintenance of the climatic conditions speculated to have existed 4 billion years ago on the earth, Mars, and Venus is presently sought by means of a one-dimensional radiative-convective atmospheric model. It is ascertained on this basis that the terrestrial and Martian atmospheres were highly stable, and unlikely to proceed to a moist or runaway greenhouse state even if CO2 partial pressure were equivalent to 100 bars on earth. The proximity of Venus to the sun rendered its atmosphere highly susceptible to rapid water vapor photodissociation and hydrogen escape.
Integrating Livestock into Farming Systems Research: An Example from North Kordofan Sudan

Farming systems research (FSR) is an effective approach to understanding the internal economy of the farm. However, its focus must be expanded to fully grasp the long-term effects of livestock rearing. The communal nature of livestock rearing in North Kordofan, Sudan, presents a real dilemma for FSR practitioners in delivering appropriate intervention strategies. Bottom-up FSR development efforts that promote the short-term goal orientations of farmers regarding livestock investment must also take into account the long-term environmental/societal consequences. Thus, it is necessary to have an adequate understanding of the broader economic and environmental context in which resource allocation is taking place. This paper explores some of the potential problems associated with FSR approaches to livestock production and stresses the importance of integrating both a short-term and long-term perspective in such approaches. This integration can be accomplished by combining micro-level household-focused FSR appr...
Review of the Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Management of Type I Gastric Carcinoid Tumor

Gastric carcinoid tumors comprise 7% of all gastrointestinal carcinoids and have significantly increased in incidence over the past few decades. Seventy to 80% of gastric carcinoids are type I, which usually are clinically asymptomatic and found incidentally at endoscopic evaluation for abdominal pain or anemia. In this review, advances in understanding the pathophysiology of type I gastric carcinoid are highlighted. In addition, various current diagnostic and treatment options are discussed. Although type I carcinoids generally hold a benign course, rigorous investigation is needed to ensure accurate diagnosis and optimal treatment. This includes appropriate diagnostic procedures and imaging and accurate staging of tumor. Tumor size, depth of invasion, presence of metastasis, and the tumor’s gastrin dependency dictate treatment options. Appropriate treatments can consist of endoscopic resection, antrectomy, medical management, or frequent follow-up. This article provides a systematic method of evaluating and treating type I gastric carcinoid.
Evaluation of ischemic heart disease with a prototype volume imaging computed tomographic (CT) scanner: Preliminary experiments

A prototype synchronous volumetric computed tomographic X-ray scanner was used to demonstrate, in individual experiments, the possibility of estimating percent coronary arterial stenosis, regional myocardial blood supply and regional myocardial wall dynamics. Scans were obtained during angiography in intact anesthetized dogs or in an isolated metabolically supported working left ventricular preparation. Percent arterial stenosis was quantitated using the percent change in brightness area product of successive cross-sectional images of contrast agent-filled Tygon tubing sutured to the epicardium. Myocardial blood supply was evaluated by the transmural and circumferential extent and th time rate of change of myocardial opacification during coronary angiography. The regional time rate of change of left ventricular wall thickening during the systolic phase of the cardiac cycle was demonstrated in the isolated ventricle preparation. The recently installed Dynamic Spatial Reconstructor high speed volumetric scanning system will be used to make these measurements from scan data obtained during a single angiogram in man.
Hospital stockpiling for disaster planning

In response to the increasing threat of terrorist attacks and natural disasters, governmental and private organizations worldwide have invested significant resources in disaster planning activities. This article addresses joint inventory stockpiling of medical supplies for groups of hospitals prior to a disaster. Specifically, the problem of determining the stockpile quantity of a medical item at several hospitals is considered. It is assumed that demand is uncertain and driven by the characteristics of a variety of disaster scenarios. Furthermore, it is assumed that hospitals have mutual aid agreements for inventory sharing in the event of a disaster. Each hospital's desire to minimize its stockpiling cost together with the potential to borrow from other stockpiles creates individual incentives well represented in a game-theoretic framework. This problem is modeled as a non-cooperative strategic game, the existence of a Nash equilibrium is proved, and the equilibrium solutions are analyzed. A centralized...
THE STATE OF CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORY

After nearly 20 years of ferment in criminology, the reactive conception of criminality is the most intractable issue. It can be circumvented only if criminologists use official data to compute crime rates and to identify criminals or delinquents. That proposed strategy does not necessarily entail acceptance of the reactive conception, especially in light of an argument about etiological theories that purport to answer two of the four major criminological questions, those having to do with variation in the crime rate and with individual differences as regards criminality. Any such theory will be empirically indefensible unless it encompasses (1) some etiological condition as the independent variable; (2) the frequency of some type of behavior as an intervening variable; (3) an official criminality variable (for example, an official crime rate); and (4) a reactive variable, one which pertains to the behavior of legal officials and supposedly determines the connection between the intervening variable and the dependent variable. The argument bears on Marxist and conflict criminology only insofar as advocates of those perspectives genuinely pursue etiological theories about crime. Finally, apart from any substantive consideration, criminological theories will remain defective until criminologists adopt formal theory construction. The more general and important point is that some 20 years of ferment will not culminate in a new theory without some special strategy—if not the one proposed here, then another.
Genetic activity profiles of anticancer drugs

The results from short-term tests for genetic and related effects, abstracted from the open literature for 36 anticancer drugs, are examined in this review. Data for 27 of these agents are available in the EPA/IARC Genetic Activity Profile (GAP) database. Data summaries, including data listings and activity profiles, are presented for nine anticancer drugs added to the GAP database for this analysis. Genetic toxicity data from the recent literature are included for the additional agents to provide a broader representation of the categories of drugs being evaluated. These categories, based on the chemical mode of action, are covalent and noncovalent DNA-binding drugs, topoisomerase II inhibitors, antimetabolites, mitotic spindle inhibitors, and drugs which affect endocrine function. The qualitative data for all 36 drugs are summarized in this report and findings are presented from pair-wise matching of genetic activity profiles, based on test results in common, for some chemical analogs. The significance of germ cell test results for some of these drugs and their implication in assessing risk of heritable genetic disease are discussed.
Exposure of Human Mononuclear Leukocytes to Microwave Energy Pulse-Modulated at 16 or 60 Hz

Human mononuclear leukocytes were exposed to 2450-MHz microwaves pulse mondulated at 16 or 60 Hz, at specific absorption rates up to 4 mW/ml. Such exposures produced no detectable effects on leukocyte viability, or on unstimulated or mitogen-stimulated DNA synthesis or total protein synthesis. The data provided no evidence that exposure to pulse-modulated microwaves is more Iikely to alter human leukocyte function than is exposure to continuous waves at equivalent energy levels.
D.I.3 Ethical implications of unexpected results from next generation sequencing studies

Abstract Recent advances in next-generation sequencing technologies have brought a paradigm shift in how medical researchers investigate both rare and common human disorders. The ability cost-effectively to generate genome-wide sequencing data with deep coverage in a short time frame is replacing approaches that focus on specific regions for gene discovery and clinical testing. Exome sequencing, and soon whole genome sequencing, places many advantages of the emerging technologies into clinicians and researchers’ hands. The expectation is that, in the very near future, this technology will enable us to identify all the variants in an individual’s personal genome and, in particular, clinically relevant alleles. Beyond this, whole genome sequencing is also expected to bring a major shift in clinical practice in terms of diagnosis and understanding of diseases, ultimately enabling individualized medicine based on one’s genome. As personal genome research advances, investigators and international research bodies must ensure ethical research conduct. Major ethical considerations that have been implicated in whole-genome research include the return of research results to participants; the obligations, if any, that are owed to participants’ relatives; how to deal with an increased ascertainment of novel sequence variants of uncertain clinical significance, and most importantly unveil unanticipated results and ethical dilemmas; and the future use of samples and data taken for whole-genome sequencing. The current lecture will provide an overview of implications for personal genomics and discuss recommendations for appropriate management in the context of research and clinical management involving individual whole-genome sequencing.