cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Symbolic Power and Organizational Culture

With the recent wave of corporate scandals, organizational culture has regained relevance in politics and the media. However, to acquire enduring utility, the concept needs an overhaul to overcome ...
The effect of local policy on the sentencing patterns of state wards

A large number of studies have identified individual and offense characteristics that predict the severity of criminal justice system sanctions against juvenile delinquents. However, very few studies have examined the effect of local decision making procedures and funding practices on sentencing outcomes. As such local practices could have important effects on sentencing, the present study compared the sentencing of juvenile state wards in counties that differ markedly in local policies. The hypothesis was that the availability of state, as opposed to local, funding for institutional placement (called a “charge-back” policy) in one of the counties would result in a more severe sentencing decisions and that this county's use of board of decision makers instead of individual caseworkers would result in harsher treatment of youths differentiated by minority status, sex, or family status. This difference might be due to the board's insulation from review.
Surface Acidic Properties of A HMCM-22 Zeolite: Collidine Poisoning and Hydrocarbon Adsorption Studies

The total and external surface acidic properties of a HMCM-22 (SiO2/Al2O3 = 33) zeolite have been studied by temperature-programmed ammonia desorption (TPAD) and temperature-programmed collidine desorption (TPCD), respectively. Ammonia TPD results indicate that the Bronsted acid sites in HMCM-22(33) have a relatively uniform acid strength, and most of them are strong. Collidine TPD shows that the Bronsted acid sites on the external surface accessible to collidine accounts for 12% of the total Bronsted acid sites. Strong Bronsted acid sites are present on the zeolite surface as indicated by the collidine desorption at high temperature. The two distinct desorption regions in the low- and high-temperature ranges shown in the collidine TPD curve are ascribed to collidine physisorption and chemisorption, respectively. Chemisorbed collidine on the zeolite surface does not influence the sorption rate of 3-methylpentane, indicating that it does not block 10-ring pore mouth openings. This means that collidine can ...
Stark Cell Devices For CO 2 Lasers

The interaction of 10 µm radiation with Stark tunable gases can be used to perform a variety of control functions for CO2 lasers. In addition to reviewing some earlier applications) this paper will present results of our recent work on optical limiters, bistable devices, tunable filters, and modulators using novel Stark configurations.© (1980) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Numerical studies of the surface-wave effects on the upper turbulent layer in the ocean

The surface-wave effects on the structure of the ocean boundary layer are studied with a numerical boundary-layer model which consists of a closed system of equations for momentum, turbulent kinetic energy, turbulent exchange coefficient and expression for ocean stratification. Boundary conditions at the air–sea interface are calculated by use of a coupled air–sea boundary-layer model. The surface-wave effect is described by discontinuities of turbulent kinetic energy flux and mean wind energy flux across the air–sea interface. A series of numerical experiments is carried out to determine the effects of surface waves on the structure of the upper turbulent layer in the ocean. The numerical simulations demonstrate that surface waves strongly reduce a part of mean wind energy flux transmitted to the drift current and the current magnitude. These characteristics are strongly dependent on surface heat flux. The surface waves also reduce the neutral drag coefficient for a given wind speed to better match observations, but waves strongly increase turbulent kinetic energy at the ocean surface. The computations also confirm that the ratio of the mean wind energy flux transmitted to the drift current, to the total mean wind energy flux transmitted to the ocean is weakly dependent on surface heat flux. The model results are compared with observed data where available. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0870.1990.t01-3-00006.x
San Isidoro exposed: the vicissitudes of research in Romanesque art

Some forty years ago, by chance, the author's campaign of recording through drawings the earliest parts of the church of San Isidoro de Leon coincided with the exposure of the ground upon which that church rested, allowing observations of previous structures. Unfortunately, these observations, briefly noted in a postscript to an article of 1973, were not subsequently made public. San Isidoro has become an object of recent studies, and conclusions have been drawn that would not have been possible had the evidence uncovered by the removal of the floor been published. This article reports the drawings of the two campaigns, and the finds unexpectedly made visible in 1971. It also raises a methodological issue: observations published by myself and others that contradict the idea that the pantheon was erected in the middle of the eleventh century have in recent literature been ignored when an earlier date is favored. Finally, it questions the belief in a tradition of Spanish pantheons and treats skeptically the...
Induction of histone acetylation in mouse erythroleukemia cells by some organosulfur compounds including allyl isothiocyanate

In previous studies we observed that some allyl sulfides can cause increased acetylation of histones and differentiation in DS19 mouse erythroleukemia cells. In the present work we observed increased acetylation of histones with allyl isothiocyanate and butanethiol but not with butyl sulfide or butyl disulfide. Increased acetylation of histones was established by change in electrophoretic mobility, incorporation of [3H]acetate or immunoblotting. Histone deacetylase in nuclei of DS19 cells was inhibited 74% by 0.5 mM allyl mercaptan and 43% by 0.5 mM butanethiol but was not significantly affected by 0.5 mM allyl isothiocyanate. There was some degree of reversibility in the effect of allyl isothiocyanate when the cells were incubated for 15 hr in fresh medium. The data suggested that allyl isothiocyanate may stimulate histone acetylation rather than inhibit histone deacetylation. Addition of allyl isothiocyanate, however, had very little or no additional effect on the induction of histone acetylation caused by trichostatin A. Histone acetyltransferase activity determined in cell homogenates was not increased by preincubation of cells with allyl isothiocyanate or inclusion of allyl isothiocyanate in the assay medium. It was concluded that treatment of mouse erythroleukemia cells with allyl isothiocyanate can cause increased acetylation of histones but the mechanism for this effect requires further elucidation. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Curricular Modifications for Elementary Students With Learning Disabilities in High-, Average-, and Low-IQ Groups

Abstract Students considered gifted and learning disabled (G/LD) are those most at risk of not being adequately served in U.S. schools. This research compares delivery formats and Individual Education Plan (IEP) modifications offered to 1,055 elementary school students, grades 3–5, who qualified as having a learning disability (LD) at different levels on the intellectual spectrum. Archival assessment and IEP documents determined the proportion of students with LD who demonstrated high, average, and low intellectual abilities, and the modifications, accommodations, and services they were offered. Multivariate analyses examined group differences in identified modifications. Although current research indicates that children who are G/LD receive the same modifications as their average and below-average LD peers, students in the higher scoring intellectual group received significantly fewer modifications in two of the four evaluated categories (namely, delivery and evaluation). Modifications failed to address ...
Environmental variability within inbred lines and single crosses of maize

Within-plot coefficients of variability of F1 maize hybrids and of their inbred parents were determined for several plant and ear characteristics over a two-year period. The heterozygous hybrids as a group were found to be better buffered (lower coefficients of variation) than the homozygous parents in every characteristic. There appeared to be significant differences in buffering among the hybrids only for ear node height; the inbred parents, however, differed significantly among themselves in buffering for plant height, ear node height, maturity, ear weight, and ear length. These results suggest that any proposal designed to explain homeostasis in maize must satisfy these two kinds of evidence: heterozygote superiority and differences among homozygotes. A proposal is outlined invoking systems of alternative biosynthetic pathways which function under different environmental optima. These systems are controlled in maize heterozygotes by alternative alleles of a single gene or by non-alleles of two or more loci. In maize homozygotes they are controlled by non-alleles. The essential role of genic function at diverse environmental optima is emphasized.
Structural characterization of the major covalent adduct formed in vitro between acetaminophen and bovine serum albumin.

Summary The structure of the covalent adduct formed in vitro between [ 14 C]-acetaminophen ([ 14 C]APAP) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) has been investigated with the aid of new analytical methodology. The APAP-BSA adduct, isolated from mouse liver microsomal incubations to which the radiolabeled drug and BSA had been added, was cleaved using a combination of specific (cyanogen bromide) and non-specific (acid hydrolysis) procedures, following which the mixture of amino acids obtained was derivatized, in aqueous solution, with ethyl chloroform ate. The resulting ethoxycarbonyl derivatives were recovered by extraction into ethylacetate, methylated and subjected to profile analysis using both reverse-phase and normalphase HPLC techniques. In each HPLC step, one major radioactive amino acid adduct was detected and was identified by mass spectrometry as the derivative of 3-cystein-S-yl-4-hydroxyaniline. Based on this finding, and with a knowledge of the behavior under acidic hydrolysis conditions of the 3-cysteinyl conjugate of APAP, it could be concluded that the major APAPBSA adduct is one in which the drug is bound, via a thioether linkage at the C-3 position, to a sulfhydryl group on the protein. Furthermore, it could be established that this -SH function almost certainly is that associated with the cys-34 residue of BSA.
A genomic approach to active surveillance: a step toward precision medicine

In the last 25 years, Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) screening has resulted in a large gap between the likelihood of being diagnosed with and of dying of prostate cancer, leading to the clinical problems of overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Despite the favorable outcomes reported for active surveillance, its clinical use is limited, with .90% of menintheUSdiagnosedwithpotentiallyindolent disease undergoing immediate treatment with radiation or surgery. We have designed a novelstrategy of molecularprofiling of prostate cancers,allowinganassessmentoftumoraggres
Nonstationary disposition of valproic acid during prolonged intravenous infusion: contributions of unbound clearance and protein binding.

Circadian variations in disposition have been observed for a variety of agents, including anticonvulsants. Valproic acid (VPA), an anticonvulsant used to control generalized and partial seizures, has exhibited diurnal oscillations in steady-state concentrations during long-term administration to humans and non-human primates. The present study was conducted to assess potential diurnal changes in the disposition of VPA during prolonged i.v. infusion in rats. Animals, maintained on a strict 12-h per day light cycle, were equipped with venous cannulae and an arterial microdialysis probe. VPA was administered as a 50-mg/kg loading dose followed by a 42 mg/kg/h infusion for 70 h. Blood and microdialysate samples were obtained at timed intervals after establishment of steady-state throughout two complete light/dark cycles; and total (serum) and unbound (microdialysate) VPA was determined by gas chromatography. Modest oscillations (6-7 h period) in total and unbound VPA were observed; clearance and binding parameters were not different between light and dark periods. However, unbound clearance increased, and unbound fraction decreased, with time over the course of the infusion. These results suggest that time-dependent changes in VPA disposition occur in rats, although oscillations in steady-state concentrations do not appear to be diurnal in nature.
Phosphorylated T cell receptor zeta-chain and ZAP70 tandem SH2 domains form a 1:3 complex in vitro

The zeta polypeptide is part of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR). The zeta-chain contributes to efficient cell-surface expression of the TCR and accounts for part of its signal transduction capability. TCR recognition triggers a complex set of events that result in cellular activation. The protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) Lck phosphorylates the zeta-chain, which in turn associates with another PTK, ZAP70, and stimulates its phosphorylation activity. Here we report the expression of the intracellular part of the zeta-chain and its biochemical characterization. The recombinant protein does not dimerize by itself in solution. Circular-dichroic analysis reveals a random coil conformation. zeta, phosphorylated using recombinant Lck, associates with recombinant ZAP70 tandem-SH2 domains. All three T cell activation motifs in zeta bind ZAP70 tandem-SH2 domains in vitro, forming a 1:3 complex. This result extends the picture, derived from earlier studies, of a mechanism for signal amplification.
A good life is a personal life: Relationship fulfillment and work fulfillment in judgments of life quality☆

Abstract Three studies examined folk concepts of the good life in samples of college students and community adults. An experimental design varied a target’s sex, work fulfillment (WF), and relationship fulfillment (RF). RF had the strongest effect on both judgments of life desirability and the person’s moral goodness. WF was a significant but weaker influence. Targets with high RF were judged as more likely to go to heaven, whereas WF had no effect on this judgment. There was no effect for target gender. In Study 3, individual differences in intrinsic motivation in the relationship and work domains interacted with target fulfillment to predict desirability and moral goodness judgments. Overall, the results indicate that a good life must include fulfilling personal relationships; WF is a plus but seemingly not essential.
Differential Expression of α1 Type VIII Collagen in Injured Platelet-Derived Growth Factor-BB–Stimulated Rat Carotid Arteries

Migration of smooth muscle cells from media to intima is critical for the development of neointimal thickening after balloon catheter injury of the rat carotid artery. The present experiments were designed to identify molecules expressed by smooth muscle cells migrating in vivo in the injured artery. Cell migration was maximized by infusing recombinant platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) after a minimal filament denudation of the rat carotid artery, whereas cell proliferation was minimized by injecting an antibody against basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). This treatment caused an eightfold increase in smooth muscle cell migration into the intima but only a twofold increase in intimal smooth muscle cell replication rates. Differential display screening was used to isolate cDNAs that were overexpressed in the injured PDGF-BB-treated versus unmanipulated rat carotids. One of the clones isolated hybridized to a 4.2-kb mRNA species and shared 90% sequence homology to mouse alpha 1 type VIII collagen. Northern and Western blots confirmed overexpression of type VIII collagen in the injured PDGF-BB-treated vessels. In a separate series of experiments, we performed filament denudation injury and administered antibodies to inhibit the actions of endogenous bFGF and PDGF-BB, thereby decreasing smooth muscle cell migration, and found that type VIII collagen mRNA expression varied with migration. Using a different arterial injury model (balloon catheter injury), we showed that expression of type VIII collagen was maximal 2 to 4 days after injury, in coincidence with cell migration from the media to the intima. This molecule constitutes an important component of smooth muscle cell response to vessel injury and may play an important functional role in mediating migration.
Ultrafast consensus in small-world networks

In this paper, we demonstrate a phase transition phenomenon in algebraic connectivity of small-world networks. Algebraic connectivity of a graph is the second smallest eigenvalue of its Laplacian matrix and a measure of speed of solving consensus problems in networks. We demonstrate that it is possible to dramatically increase the algebraic connectivity of a regular complex network by 1000 times or more without adding new links or nodes to the network. This implies that a consensus problem can be solved incredibly fast on certain small-world networks giving rise to a network design algorithm for ultra fast information networks. Our study relies on a procedure called "random rewiring" due to Watts & Strogatz (Nature, 1998). Extensive numerical results are provided to support our claims and conjectures. We prove that the mean of the bulk Laplacian spectrum of a complex network remains invariant under random rewiring. The same property only asymptotically holds for scale-free networks. A relationship between increasing the algebraic connectivity of complex networks and robustness to link and node failures is also shown. This is an alternative approach to the use of percolation theory for analysis of network robustness. We also show some connections between our conjectures and certain open problems in the theory of random matrices.
The Maritime Safety System, its Main Components and Elements

The basic concepts safety at sea and the maritime safety system have remained almost unchanged for a comparatively long time. However, the components and elements of these concepts are now subject to many changes created by the ‘information age’. This paper presents thoughts on today's concept of the maritime safety system, its main components and their elements. Although the thoughts and ideas presented are those of the authors, they take account of the legal instruments in force and recent developments in technology, especially developments in radio-communications. The paper provides an overall review of the institutions, regulations and procedures concerned with safety at sea.
Advances in the management of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most common non-melanoma skin cancers worldwide. While most cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas are easily managed, there is a high-risk subset of tumors that can cause severe morbidity and mortality. Tumor characteristics as well as patient characteristics contribute to the classification of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas as low-risk vs. high-risk. Advances in the treatment of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas largely relate to the management of this high-risk subset. Surgical and non-surgical management options, including newer targeted molecular therapies, will be discussed here. Larger, multicenter studies are needed to determine the exact significance of individual risk factors with respect to aggressive clinical behavior and the risks of metastasis and death, as well as the role of surgical and adjuvant therapies in patients with high-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas.
See-Through Walls: Motion Tracking Using Variance-Based Radio Tomography Networks

This paper presents a new method for imaging, localizing, and tracking motion behind walls in real time. The method takes advantage of the motion-induced variance of received signal strength measurements made in a wireless peer-to-peer network. Using a multipath channel model, we show that the signal strength on a wireless link is largely dependent on the power contained in multipath components that travel through space containing moving objects. A statistical model relating variance to spatial locations of movement is presented and used as a framework for the estimation of a motion image. From the motion image, the Kalman filter is applied to recursively track the coordinates of a moving target. Experimental results for a 34-node through-wall imaging and tracking system over a 780 square foot area are presented.
Social Class and Criminal Behavior: A Critique of the Theoretical Foundation

Theories of crimeldeviance are examined to determine how strongly the popular, but now controversial, hypothesis of a negative class lcrime association is rooted in theory. This review of eight theories shows that none actually provides an adequate rationale for predicting such a relationship. It is found that the theories lead to a negative class Icrime hypothesis only by addition of external assumptions, most of which are embodiments of preconceived notions about the lower class. Thus, the scientific status of the class Icrime hypothesis is further challenged. Possible explanations for the persistence of a belief in a negative association between class and crime, despite problematic empirical evidence and theoretical inadequacy, are suggested. A pervasive theme in sociology and criminology has always been that law violation is linked to the individual's position in the social structure (Schafer). Although the form of that postulated association varies (Hirschi, b; Tittle and Villemez), the most frequently hypothesized relationship is negative; i.e., criminal behavior is seen to vary inversely by social status, with particular concentration in the lowest socioeconomic stratum of any society. As Vold notes, "Discussion of the sad state of the poor, with allegations of such undesirable consequences as sickness, vagrancy, crime, and hopeless despair go far back into antiquity" (165-6). And Schafer's review of the literature demonstrates that "Hardly any of the thinkers of the causes of criminality omitted poverty or economic conditions from their catalogue of crime factors, and thus an endeavor to present those who have treated this issue would mean to list almost all who treated the problem
Using hearing aid directional microphones and noise reduction algorithms to enhance cochlear implant performance

Hearing aids and cochlear implants are two major hearing enhancement technologies but yet share little in research and development. The purpose of this study was to determine whether hearing aid directional microphones and noise reduction technologies could enhance cochlear implant users’ speech understanding and ease of listening. Digital hearing aids serving as preprocessors were programmed to omni-directional microphone, directional microphone, and directional microphone plus noise reduction conditions. Three groups of subjects were tested with the hearing aid processed speech stimuli. Results indicated that hearing aids with directional microphones and noise reduction algorithms significantly enhanced speech understanding and listening comfort.
The Intergenerational Transmission of Marital Instability: Comparisons by Race and Sex

The intergenerational transmission of marital instability was examined with the use of data from five surveys, four of them from national samples. Among blacks, whites, males, and females, respondents from parental homes that were disrupted by death or divorce during their childhood had higher rates of divorce or separation in their own first marriages. Except for black males, a greater transmission effect was found among respondents from childhood homes disrupted by divorce or separation rather than by death. Implications from the literature on sex-role learning in children were examined by comparing the transmission effect for respondents who, after having their parental homes disrupted, were reared in households of different composition. The results indicated that the role model rationale for the transmission of marital instability must be elaborated before it can successfully account for the findings from existing national surveys.
Fears of the Dental Situation

Ratings of fear in the dental situation indicate that high fear and low fear patients rank the fears associated with the dental situation in about the same way (p = 0.98). Also, the attitude of the dentist is important to the patient, and may, partially, determine his attitude toward dentistry.
Recovery after third molar surgery: clinical and health-related quality of life outcomes.

Purpose: The study goal was to assess both clinical and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes after third molar surgery. Methods: Patients who were having 4 third molars removed were enrolled in a prospective clinical trial. Baseline data were recorded that included demographics, the patient’s and surgeon’s assessment of third molar conditions, and details of the surgical procedure. After surgery, clinical data were collected that detailed healing and any treatment that was rendered. Each patient was given an HRQOL instrument to complete on each postsurgery day for 14 days; the instrument was designed to assess a patient’s perception of recovery in 4 main categories: pain, lifestyle, oral function, and other symptoms related to the procedure. Results: Recovery data were available for 630 of 740 enrolled patients. The median age of the 630 patients was 21 years, and the median operation time was 30 minutes. Recovery for most HRQOL measures occurred within 5 days after surgery. However, recovery from pain to the criterion of “little or none” was delayed relative to other HRQOL measures. Twenty-two percent of patients were treated for delayed healing after surgery. Conclusions: Having both clinical and HRQOL data on recovery after third molar surgery could assist the surgeon when informing prospective patients about what to expect after surgery to remove third molars.
Fast data selection and broadcast on the Butterfly network

A quadtree communication structure is presented, along with two associated procedures for efficient, contention-free data selection and broadcast on the BBN Butterfly parallel processor and its family. the proposed structure suggests a general approach to mapping a class of parallel algorithms with intensive communication requirements for performing two primitive operations: selecting data from many different sources and distributing data from a single source. While performing these two operations through the quadtree structure, the two procedures, ascend and descend, incur no link conflicts in the Butterfly network. By properly merging messages and efficiently replicating data, they can complete required communications in O(log/sub 4/ M) parallel steps, where M is the size of a Butterfly parallel processor. Contraction and stretch of the quadtree communication structure while retaining the conflict-free property, is considered. The contracted and stretched tree structures allow the adaptive balance of computations and communication requirements for various algorithms with different computation/communication ratios. >
The role of growth factors and ammonia in the genesis of hypokalemic nephropathy

Hypokalemia is a common electrolyte abnormality encountered in clinical practice. It can be identified in an asymptomatic patient undergoing routine electrolyte screening or can manifest itself as part of a number of functional abnormalities in a variety of organs and systems. Among the most commonly recognized complications are profound effects on the cardiovascular and neuromuscular systems, together with abnormalities in acid-base regulation. In humans, hypokalemia contributes to the development of hypertension and predisposes patients to a variety of ventricular arrhythmias, including ventricular fibrillation. Commonly recognized neuromuscular complications include weakness, cramping, and myalgia. Hypokalemia also affects systemic acid-base homeostasis by interfering with multiple components of the renal acid-base regulation and is a frequent cause of metabolic alkalosis. Less known, however, is the role of potassium deficiency in causing progressive renal failure. In animals, potassium deficiency stimulates renal enlargement because of cellular hypertrophy and hyperplasia. If potassium deficiency persists, interstitial infiltrates appear in the renal interstitial compartment, and eventually tubulointerstitial fibrosis develops. In humans, longstanding hypokalemia is associated with the development of renal cysts, chronic interstitial nephritis, and progressive loss of renal function, the so-called hypokalemic nephropathy. This review focuses on the potential mechanisms involved in the development of the hypokalemic nephropathy with emphasis on the role of ammonia and growth factors in its pathogenesis.
Why the twinning rate is higher in Africa than elsewhere: an analysis of selected factors.

OBJECTIVE To examine the rate of spontaneous twinning in selected countries in order to evaluate the impact of environmental stress and related socioeconomic factors on balancing reproductive activity and longevity. STUDY DESIGN Four countries with similar ancestry were considered, 2 in Africa and 2 in the Caribbean. Data on gross domestic product per capita, as a measure of indigenous conditions, access to proper diet, health care, sanitation and shelter were compared with the relative rate of twinning. RESULTS The data show an inverse relationship between wealth and environmental conditions, and the incidence of multiple gestations. CONCLUSION Through goods and services, improved living conditions reduce environmental stress and its adverse effect on the balance of biologic reproduction vs. longevity. In addition, breast-feeding, as a social expression and an economic easement, correlates with the chance of conceiving twins in a subsequent pregnancy. It would thus appear that the twinning rate can be taken as a barometer of the population's biologic attempt to perpetuate its gene pool expeditiously when an existential threat occurs.
Al‐Afghani, Sayyid Jamaal ad‐Deen (1838–97)

Sayyid Jamaal ad-Deen al-Afghani was a political agitator, a religious reformer, a skilled orator, an intellectual, and a revolutionary who sought cultural, political, and societal change in Muslim countries. He pursued these changes at a time when a deep chasm existed between Muslim countries and Europe on issues relating to knowledge and learning, science, technology, and commerce. Al-Afghani was preoccupied with Islamic education, traditions, and religion in an increasingly rational, scientific, modernizing world. Keywords: Islam; modernity; religion
Perivesical unicentric Castleman disease initially suspected to be metastatic prostate cancer

Unicentric Castleman disease (UCD) is a relatively rare lymphoproliferative disease, which commonly presents as a mediastinal mass and less frequently involves abdomen, pelvis, and retroperitoneum. We report a case of a 64-year-old man with newly diagnosed low-volume, Gleason 3 + 3 = 6 prostate adenocarcinoma, who in considering active surveillance versus treatment was found to have a left perivesical and iliac chain lymphadenopathy concerning for potential metastatic involvement. He underwent magnetic resonance imaging with ferumoxytol to assist in the diagnostic evaluation to better characterize his lymphadenopathy. Subsequently, he underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection and resection of left perivesical mass exhibiting hyaline vascular variant of UCD.
Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

SummaryA γ-glutamyl transpeptidase capable of transferring the γ-glutamyl group from γ-glutamyl-p-nitroanilide to glycylgly-cine has been found to be present at low levels in bronchial secretions from normal subjects and at much higher levels in purulent sputum from patients with chronic bronchitis.This enzyme is concentrated in the bronchial mucosa where, in the absence of insult, it normally remains bound. Its presence at high levels in purulent sputum suggests that it will serve as a marker for assessing the existing level of destruction and shedding of airway epithelium into the bronchial secretions in patients with chronic bronchitis.
Assessing the Potential for Transitions from Tallgrass Prairie to Woodlands: Are We Operating Beyond Critical Fire Thresholds?☆

Abstract A growing body of evidence suggests humans are pushing ecosystems near or beyond key ecological thresholds, resulting in transitions to new, sometimes undesirable phases or states that are costly to reverse. We used remotely sensed fire data to assess if the Flint Hills—a landscape of tallgrass prairie in the Central Great Plains, United States—is operating beyond fire frequency thresholds. Long-term fire experiments and observational evidence suggests that applying prescribed fire at return intervals > 3 yr can lead to transitions from grassland to shrubland. Fire return intervals > 10 yr and complete fire suppression, in particular, can result in transitions to woodlands over 30 − 50 yr. Once shrublands and woodlands are established, restoration back to grassland is difficult with prescribed fires. We applied these fire frequency cutoffs to remotely sensed fire data from 2000 to 2010 in the Flint Hills, identifying the extent of tallgrass prairie susceptible to shrub and tree expansion. We found that 56% (15 620 km 2 ) of grasslands in this region are burned less than every 3 yr and are therefore susceptible to conversion to shrub or tree dominance. The potential effects of this large-scale shift are greater risk for evergreen (Juniperus virginiana) woodland fires, reduced grazing potential, and increased abundance of woodland adapted species at the expense of the native grassland biota. Of the 12 127-km 2 area likely to remain grassland, 43% is burned approximately annually, contributing to vegetative homogenization and potential air-quality issues. While this synthesis forecasts a precarious future for tallgrass prairie conservation and their ecosystem services, increases in shrub or tree dominances are usually reversible until fire frequency has been reduced for more than 20 yr. This delay leaves a small window of opportunity to return fire to the landscape and avoid large-scale transformation of tallgrass prairie.
The Effect of Phytohemagglutinin upon Glucose Catabolism in Lymphocytes

The glucose metabolism in intact lymphocyte cells was found to be altered in the presence of phytohemagglutinin. The operation of the pentose phosphate pathway and, to some extent, the pentose cycle pathway in lymphocytes was found to be significantly enhanced. This finding is interpreted to reflect an additional need of biosynthetic intermediates and TPNH by the lymphocytes to accommodate mitotic activity induced by phytohemagglutinin.
The Role of Auditory Memory in Speech Perception and Discrimination

Theoretical statements on the role of auditory short-term memory in spech perception and discrimination are reviewed. The significant empirical phenomena that fall within the domain of this review are categorical perception, the differences among phonetic classes in auditory persistence, contextual effects in phonetic labeling, and selective adaptation. Many of these observations can be organized by a theory of auditory representation in memory that draws on principles of recurrent lateral inhibition.
The challenges of Hodgkin lymphoma in the elderly.

As the authors have correctly pointed out, Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in elderly patients is an orphan disease that has been the subject of very few specific studies, particularly regarding treatment.
Chapter 11 – Imaging in Localized Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer affects one in seven men in the United States, and it is estimated that 12% of affected men will die from their disease. Prostate cancer represents a spectrum of disease ranging from indolent with a low risk of mortality to very aggressive with a high risk of metastases leading to death. For most patients, prostate cancer will not be the cause of death but may nonetheless be a source of great anxiety and may lead to treatment-related adverse events. The paradox of prostate cancer is that while it is mostly a slow-growing, nonlife-threatening diagnosis, it can also be an aggressive cancer in which metastases portend a median 5-year survival of only 28%. Motivated by the hope that early detection could lead to improved outcomes, population screening with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was initiated beginning in the late 1980s. Now that over a quarter of a decade has elapsed, it is clear that PSA screening has also led to overdiagnosis and overtreatment of low-grade prostate cancer since PSA cannot discriminate between low- and high-risk cancers with reasonable specificity. Moreover, many men underwent workups for a variety of pathologies including prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which cause false-positive increases in PSA.
Operationalizing and Examining Family Planning Vigilance in Adult Women With Type 1 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE Because unplanned pregnancies could cause maternal-fetal complications for women with diabetes, family planning vigilance (FPV) is imperative. The aims of this article are to operationalize and describe FPV and examine the associations among FPV behaviors and diabetes self-care management (DSM) and health outcomes of women with type 1 diabetes (T1D). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Retrospective data were used from a follow-up study of adult women with T1D who participated as adolescents in a preconception counseling (PC) intervention trial and matched comparison women with T1D who did not receive the adolescent PC intervention. Participants completed online questionnaires regarding family planning behaviors, DSM, and clinical and reproductive health outcomes. RESULTS Participants (N = 102) were, on average, 23.7 years old (range 18–38) and 98.0% were white, 82.2% had some college, 25.8% were married, and 11.8% had biological children. Of those sexually active (n = 80, 78.4%), 50% were contraceptive vigilant and 11% were FPV (i.e., being contraceptive vigilant, receiving PC, and initiating discussions with health care professionals). Among FPV behaviors, only receiving PC and initiating discussion with health care professionals were correlated (r = 0.29, P = 0.010). Compared with nonvigilant women, contraceptive vigilant and FPV women used more effective contraceptive methods (P = 0.025) and experienced less diabetic ketoacidosis (P = 0.040) and hospitalizations (P = 0.064), whereas FPV women were aware of PC (P = 0.046) and younger when they received PC (P CONCLUSIONS Women with diabetes should be FPV, but few were. FPV women were more likely to have PC earlier and better health outcomes, supporting early PC intervention.
Adaptive data processing for real-time nutrition monitoring

The issue of time-series segmentation refers to the division of continuous sensor data into discrete windows, each of which are processed individually and assigned a class label. Unlike offline data processing scenarios, segmentation for low-power wearable devices must balance the juxtaposed aims of accuracy and computational efficiency. In this paper, we propose a novel scheme for segmentation of sparse sensor data using an adaptive window size approach. Our results are benchmarked on an audio-based nutrition monitoring dataset, and show a reduction in processing overhead of 68% compared to the baseline with fixed window sizes.
SAW wireless RFID correlator system design

This paper discusses SAW OFC and CDMA coding approaches in passive SAW correlator multi-sensor receiver systems. OFC is well suited for demanding sensor system applications and a correlator receiver system will provide multi-sensor identification, good range, and diverse solutions for many applications, such as space, avionics health monitoring and others. Important system and device parameters will be discussed for sensor system applications. A 915 MHz SAW OFC system will be presented as an example of operational parameters.
Direct adaptive inverse control of nonlinear plants using neural networks

Neural networks are universal approximators that can estimate and control plant dynamics under severe process nonlinearities. In this paper, we propose a direct adaptive inverse control (DAIC) for nonlinear plants based on multilayered feed forward neural network (MFNN) using back propagation through model (BPTM) algorithm. Neural Network (NN) controller is designed directly in the feed forward loop using the estimated model of nonlinear plant, which is obtained using forward modeling. NN adaptive control is designed such the NN controller responds online to the changes in system dynamics. NN adaptive controller adapts to the error signal between desired output and plant output; back propagated through estimated nonlinear plant model, using BPTM algorithm. Our proposed system is applicable to stable or stabilized, minimum/non-minimum phase, linear and nonlinear plants. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Congenital Heart Disease with Anomalies of the Right Ventricular Outflow Tract

This chapter describes the pathology and surgical treatment of the cardiac diseases which among other parts of the heart also affect the right ventricular outflow tract. According to Richard Van Praagh, among the six distinct entities dealt with, three reveal a similar intracardiac anatomy; we consider them variants of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF): TOF/pulmonary stenosis (classical TOF), TOF/pulmonary atresia (PA), and TOF/absent pulmonary valve syndrome. In a continuous spectrum of ventricular overriding of the aorta, starting with TOF/PA on one end, passing classical TOF, double outlet right ventricle (DORV) could be considered being the other end of this anatomical spectrum of intracardiac TOF anatomy, making it number 4 TOF variant. In itself DORV may feature the whole spectrum of subpulmonary pathology or unobstructed anatomy seen in other forms of TOF. The fifth entity is pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA/IVS) and critical neonatal pulmonary stenosis, associated with intact ventricular septum, is nowadays an interventional cardiology domain. Therefore, we do not have a separate surgical chapter. Neonatal failures of catheter intervention may go the surgical track for PA/IVS. The double-chambered right ventricle (DCRV), in simple functional terms a subpulmonary stenosis, deserves its own paragraph due to its distinct anatomical and clinical features. As for membranous subaortic stenosis, DCRV is supposed to be a congenital heart defect; however, its clinical course resembles an acquired disease.
Diagnostics and Prognostication of Myelodysplastic Syndromes

MDS are a heterogeneous and complex group of clonal hematological neoplasms arising from a hematopoietic stem cell, and characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis, resulting in increased apoptosis in the bone marrow and peripheral cytopenia, which involves one or more lineages. Epigenetic changes are reported as 'founder' mutations in the case of MDS. Its incidence in the general population has been reported as five new MDS diagnoses per 100,000 people. It affects men more frequently than it does women, and its incidence increases with age. The diagnostic classification, now in use, is the one of the World Health Organization, revised in August 2016. It recognizes six distinct entities in addition to a provisional entity of childhood. In most of the cases, diagnosis is based on the morphologic quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the peripheral blood and bone marrow using basic hematological techniques. Bone marrow biopsy and flow cytometric immunophenotyping also offer support for further diagnostic elucidation, while cytogenetics and molecular genetics are presently fully integrated into prognostication, treatment processes, and decision-making.
From socialism in the 1900s to socialism in the 2000s: the rise of liberal socialism

AbstractIn the twentieth century, Europe and North America were at the epicentre of the century-long conflict between capitalism and socialism; more specifically, between the rule of law and the rule through law. By the early 1990s, socialism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe decayed from within leaving in its wake economic misery and intellectual emptiness. Yet, socialism is raising its head once again. This new variant of socialism, which I call ‘liberal socialism’, has one critical difference that sets it apart from its predecessors. Unlike all three types of socialism in the last century – Fascism, National Socialism and Communism – liberal socialism is not imposed from the top down; it is emerging from the bottom up. The incentive effects of increasing redistributional governmental programmes map a road to liberal socialism by influencing the median voter and weakening private property rights. However, election results in many European countries, and at state and local levels in the United State...
The State of Economic Development in Nepal

This paper highlights the importance of measuring poverty through a multitude of approaches. This paper also discusses the current economic condition of Nepal using indices that emphasize financial aspects as well as by using indices that go beyond commercial elements. The overarching goal of this paper is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the state of poverty and economic development in Nepal. Based on the findings of this paper, the author finds access to cooking fuel, proper floor, sanitation, education facilities, and adequate nutrition to be the binding constraints on Nepal’s developmental aspirations. Targeted investment in these areas will certainly help to reduce widespread poverty.Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 5, Issue-1: 43-45
Absent Inferior Vena Cava Leading to Recurrent Lower Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis in a United States Marine.

Introduction Anomalies of the inferior vena cava (AIVC) are rare but well-recognized anatomic abnormalities that can lead to clinically significant deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in a subset of otherwise healthy patients. This report illustrates an uncommon congenital anomaly that military clinicians should consider when evaluating unprovoked DVT in young patients. Materials and methods Single case report and literature review. Results We describe a case of a 24-yr-old United States Marine who presented with abdominal pain for 2 wk. After conservative therapy failed, a contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan was performed. The CT scan revealed an absent inferior vena cava with evidence of right venous thrombophlebitis. We include four contrast-enhanced helical CT scans that illustrate this phenomenon. Conclusion Due to the lack of available studies and data, we do not know the relative risk of DVT in patients with AIVC. However, the literature review suggests that there is a pro-thrombogenic effect of this congenital anomaly. Clinicians should include AIVC in their differential when treating young, otherwise healthy patients with unprovoked DVT. This population is much more likely to have an AIVC than the general population. In addition to thrombophilia markers, a contrast-enhanced CT scan should be considered as part of the initial workup.
A History of the Calculus of Variations from the 17th through the 19th Century. By Herman H. Goldstine

(1983). A History of the Calculus of Variations from the 17th through the 19th Century. By Herman H. Goldstine. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 90, No. 7, pp. 491-494.