cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Single-incision laparoscopic colectomy: a novel approach through a Pfannenstiel incision

Background Single-incision laparoscopic colectomy is evolving as a safe and feasible approach for the management of various diseases of the colon and rectum. The modality affords completion of “scarless” surgery through a transumbilical incision; however, this approach is associated with several limitations when performing colorectal procedures involving the pelvis. Collinear alignment of the camera and instruments through a single umbilical incision results in restricted visualization, inadequate dissection and mobilization, and the potential for inadvertent injury. We have developed an innovative approach utilizing a Pfannenstiel incision for single-incision access to the pelvis.
Ordering of guest-molecule dipoles in the structure I clathrate hydrate of trimethylene oxides

Abstract The rotational mobility of encaged trimethylene oxide (TMO) molecules was studied down to 1.8°K by sub-MHz dielectric measurements of the structure I H2O clathrate and by proton magnetic resonance measurements of the corresponding D2O clathrate. The results indicate that below a transitional temperature range about 105°K most TMO dipoles assume parallel alignment along the 4 axes of the cages. Below the transition the proton second moment suggests the presence of hindered rotation of TMO about its polar axis until the rigid-lattice condition is reached below 5°K. Some residual very broad dielectric absorption (activation energy 2.1 kcal/mole) persists to very low temperatures. Guest-guest and guest-host interaction energies are calculated for simple models
Tweening boundary curves of non-simple immersions of a disk

Tweening, also known as shape morphing, is an important concept in keyframe animation wherein an initial shape is transformed smoothly into a final shape. The huge body of existing literature in the areas of shape transformations and tweening in 2D is mostly restricted to transformations between simple non-self-intersecting polygonal shapes. In this paper we introduce a robust tweening algorithm which is capable of creating smooth transformations between non-simple polygonal shapes that are immersions of a disk. All the intermediate shapes generated by our algorithm are guaranteed to be disk immersions. We achieve this by calculating high quality triangulations, from given arbitrary triangulations, of the initial and final non-simple polygons and establishing a homeomorphism between the disks of the two immersions. If the triangulations of the source and target shapes are incompatible, we change the geometry as well as the triangulation smoothly during the morphing process.
Cold Temperature and Biodiesel Fuel Effects on Speciated Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds from Diesel Trucks

Speciated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured in diesel exhaust from three heavy-duty trucks equipped with modern aftertreatment technologies. Emissions testing was conducted on a chassis dynamometer at two ambient temperatures (-7 and 22 °C) operating on two fuels (ultra low sulfur diesel and 20% soy biodiesel blend) over three driving cycles: cold start, warm start and heavy-duty urban dynamometer driving cycle. VOCs were measured separately for each drive cycle. Carbonyls such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde dominated VOC emissions, making up ∼ 72% of the sum of the speciated VOC emissions (∑VOCs) overall. Biodiesel use led to minor reductions in aromatics and variable changes in carbonyls. Cold temperature and cold start conditions caused dramatic enhancements in VOC emissions, mostly carbonyls, compared to the warmer temperature and other drive cycles, respectively. Different 2007+ aftertreatment technologies involving catalyst regeneration led to significant modifications of VOC emissions that were compound-specific and highly dependent on test conditions. A comparison of this work with emission rates from different diesel engines under various test conditions showed that these newer technologies resulted in lower emission rates of aromatic compounds. However, emissions of other toxic partial combustion products such as carbonyls were not reduced in the modern diesel vehicles tested.
Dopaminergic mechanisms and motor function: characterization of D-1 and D-2 dopamine receptor interactions.

Abstract The effect of selective D-1 and D-2 dopamine receptor agonists (SKF 38393 and LY 171555, respectively) on motor function was studied in rats with unilateral, quinolinic acid-induced striatal lesions. Dose-dependent turning ipsilateral to the side of the lesion was elicited by LY 171555, but not by SKF 38393. When the drugs were given together, however, SKF 38393 was able to increase the total number (but not the duration) of turning induced by LY 171555 in a dose-dependent fashion. Furthermore, either α-methyl-paratyrosine pretreatment, a DA-depleting agent, or SCH 23390, a D-1 antagonist, inhibited the LY 171555-induced rotation, which would be restored by SKF 38393. These observations suggest that both the D-1 and D-2 dopamine receptor systems participate in the regulation of rotational behaviors in striatally lesioned rats with normosensitive DA receptors.
Divergences within the Lǎozǐ: A Study of Chapters 67-81

It is well known that the three bundles of bamboo strips found at Guōdian containing versions of materials appearing in the Lǎozǐ included no passages from the last fifteen chapters of the received text. This article examines closely those final ­fifteen chapters, arguing that they articulate a coherent philosophical position funda­mentally different from and even opposed to that of the Guōdian materials. The foundation of the last fifteen chapters is an anthropomorphic conception of heaven that supports the good, a view explicitly rejected in the rest of the Lǎozǐ. These last fifteen chapters support the use of punishments, show no awareness of skepticism about language or moralizing categories, and they have no concern with internal practices of self-cultivation. The article concludes with some reflections on the background of the last fifteen chapters and on the significance of this argument for interpreting the Lǎozǐ, particularly the split between so-called “religious” and “philosophical” readings. Il est bien connu que les trois faisceaux de fiches de bambou decouverts a Guodian portant des recensions de materiaux figurant dans le Laozi ne contiennent aucun ­passage des quinze derniers chapitres du texte recu. Cet article propose un examen soigneux de ces quinze derniers chapitres et affirme qu’ils enoncent une position philo­sophique coherente, fondamentalement differente de celle des textes de Guodian, voire en opposition avec eux. Les quinze derniers chapitres se fondent sur une conception anthropomorphique d’un Ciel encourageant le bien. Or cette vue est explicitement rejetee par le reste du Laozi. Ils encouragent le recours aux châtiments, ne manifestent aucun scepticisme au regard du langage et des categories morales, et se desinteressent des pratiques internes du perfectionnement de soi. L’article se conclut par quelques reflexions sur l’arriere-plan des quinze derniers chapitres et sur la portee des arguments de l’auteur pour l’interpretation du Laozi, notamment la coupure entre les lectures dites “religieuses” et “philosophiques”.
Factors Associated with Work Outcome After Anterior Temporal Lobectomy for Intractable Epilepsy

Summary: Purpose: Whereas the effect of anterior temporal lobectomy on seizure frequency is well recognized, less is known about its impact on work status. Methods: One hundred thirty-four of 190 consecutive patients with temporal lobectomy participated in this study. Eligibility criteria were developed to ensure that only patients with the potential of achieving specific outcomes were included in the corresponding analyses. Results: After surgery, significantly more patients were independent in activities of daily living (p < 0.001) or able to drive (p < 0.001). Income from work also increased (p < 0.01). Nearly one fifth of the patients who were eligible for analysis had either a gain (8%) or a loss (11%) of full- or of part-time work. Univariate analyses revealed the following factors to be associated with full-time work after surgery: student or full-time work within a year before surgery, full-time work experience before surgery, full- or part-time employment experience before surgery, no disability benefits before surgery, low post-surgical seizure frequency, improved postsurgical seizure control, excellent postsurgical seizure control, driving after surgery, and further education after surgery (p < 0.05). Significant factors on multivariate analysis were being a student or having full-time work within a year before surgery [odds ratio, 16.2 (95% CI, 4.3–60.5)], driving after surgery [15.2 (3.2–72.0)], and obtaining further education after surgery [9.2 (2.2–53.0)]. Conclusions: Anterior temporal lobectomy for intractable epilepsy improves activities of daily living and the ability to drive. Work outcome of this surgery is influenced by presurgical work experience, successful postsurgical seizure control especially to allow driving, and obtaining further education after surgery.
Tilt-angle dependence of the crystal-assisted pair creation process

Abstract A theory of enhanced e+−e− pair production for channeled final electron states has recently been advanced with details presented for the case of incident photons perfectly aligned along a crystal axis. We describe here the consequence of lifting the restriction and allowing the incident beam to intersect the axis with a finite angle θ. The predicted rate does not drop off until θ exceeds a critical value θc (very roughly θ c ≈ 0.02 γ , where γ is the photon energy in units of the electron rest mass energy).
The Greedy Bastard’s Guide to Business

Greedy Bastards, eager to achieve success in the business world, need helpful advice on steps toward climbing to the top. Drawing on the author’s 35-plus years of experience in teaching MBAs, the present treatise offers tips in the form of a self-help tutorial intended as an inspirational guide. In that spirit, the discussion covers pertinent aspects of business education; impression management (Dre$$ for $ucce$$); tips from travel services; ethics; borderline-legal corruption; unintended benefits such as obesity, traffic, cell phones, and impacts on popular culture – culminating in a Greedy Bastard’s Honor Roll of Civic Achievements.
Directional Bias of Limb Tremor Prior to Voluntary Movement

Taking a cue from recent discoveries of directional bias in microsaccades during visual fixation, we investigated directional bias in tremor during manual pointing. Subjects memorized and then performed patterns of alternating postures and voluntary movements. The directions of the tiny movements occurring during periods of intended stillness were predictive of subsequent target-directed movements such that in the horizontal axis, relative to baseline, the frequency of tremor decreased and the amplitude of tremor increased before horizontal movements, but not before vertical movements. This effect was less pronounced in the finger than in the arm, forearm, and hand. Possible explanations of the effect are based on eye-limb coupling, decreasing stiffness in the axis of forthcoming movement, and release of inhibition. The discovery of directionally specific preparatory activity suggests that the simple task of holding still before moving may provide a new window into the processes that allow for the translation of intentions into actions.
Conjugacy ofAlt5andSL(2, 5) Subgroups ofE6(C),F4(C), and a Subgroup ofE8(C) of TypeA2E6☆

We classifyAlt5andSL(2, 5) subgroups ofE6(C) andF4(C) up to conjugacy. We then use our results to answer conjugacy questions aboutAlt5andSL(2, 5) subgroups ofE8(C) which were not resolved in earlier work.
THE EFFECT OF THE INTRODUCTION OF CUBES ON THE NASDAQ-100 INDEX SPOT-FUTURES PRICING RELATIONSHIP

This paper examines the impact of the introduction of the Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock (referred to as Cubes) on the pricing relationship between Nasdaq-100 futures and the underlying index. Observations obtained from tick-by-tick Nasdaq-100 futures transactions and index value data support the hypothesis that the introduction of Cubes in March 1999 has led to improvements in the Nasdaq-100 index futures pricing efficiency. Both the size and frequency of violations in futures price boundaries appear to be reduced. Furthermore, there appears to be an increase in the speed of the market response to observed violations. These results are attributed to the increased ease in establishing a spot Nasdaq100 index position after the introduction of the tracking stock. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 22: 197–218, 2002
MOEMS-based instruments for in-situ scanning confocal microscopy

A new microscope is under development that combines the MOEMS scanner and focus control elements to achieve full 3-D beam positioning. A novel co-axial architecture utilizing an annular scan mirror permits a packaged instrument measuring less than 2 mm in diameter. This microscope will be suitable for fluorescence imaging, with a 0.4 N.A.. water-immersion lens.
Reactive transport modeling to study changes in water chemistry induced by CO2 injection at the Frio-I Brine Pilot

Abstract To demonstrate the potential for geologic storage of CO 2 in saline aquifers, the Frio-I Brine Pilot was conducted, during which 1600 tons of CO 2 were injected into a high-permeability sandstone and the resulting subsurface plume of CO 2 was monitored using a variety of hydrogeological, geophysical, and geochemical techniques. Fluid samples were obtained before CO 2 injection for baseline geochemical characterization, during the CO 2 injection to track its breakthrough at a nearby observation well, and after injection to investigate changes in fluid composition and potential leakage into an overlying zone. Following CO 2 breakthrough at the observation well, brine samples showed sharp drops in pH, pronounced increases in HCO 3 − and aqueous Fe, and significant shifts in the isotopic compositions of H 2 O and dissolved inorganic carbon. Based on a calibrated 1-D radial flow model, reactive transport modeling was performed for the Frio-I Brine Pilot. A simple kinetic model of Fe release from the solid to aqueous phase was developed, which can reproduce the observed increases in aqueous Fe concentration. Brine samples collected after half a year had lower Fe concentrations due to carbonate precipitation, and this trend can be also captured by our modeling. The paper provides a method for estimating potential mobile Fe inventory, and its bounding concentration in the storage formation from limited observation data. Long-term simulations show that the CO 2 plume gradually spreads outward due to capillary forces, and the gas saturation gradually decreases due to its dissolution and precipitation of carbonates. The gas phase is predicted to disappear after 500 years. Elevated aqueous CO 2 concentrations remain for a longer time, but eventually decrease due to carbonate precipitation. For the Frio-I Brine Pilot, all injected CO 2 could ultimately be sequestered as carbonate minerals.
The Relative Importance of Specific Self-Efficacy Sources in Pretraining Self-Efficacy Beliefs.

Self-efficacy is clearly important for learning. Research identifying the most important sources of self-efficacy beliefs, however, has been somewhat limited to date in that different disciplines focus largely on different sources of self-efficacy. Whereas education researchers focus on Bandura's original sources of enactive mastery, vicarious experience, verbal persuasion and negative emotional arousal, organizational researchers focus on learning, performance prove and performance avoid achievement goal orientations. To date, however, little research has examined the importance of a specific set of self-efficacy sources after fully accounting for the influence of other sources. Data were obtained from 278 adult trainees who completed online Microsoft Excel training. Results suggest that once accounting for achievement goal orientation, Bandura's sources of vicarious experience and negative emotional arousal are still important contributors to pretraining self-efficacy beliefs. As such, organizations seeking to maximize training effectiveness may wish to consider pretraining interventions simultaneously targeting achievement goal orientation, vicarious experience and negative emotional arousal.
Getting Funded: Writing a Successful Qualitative Small-Project Proposal

As a program of research is developed, the small-project grant is a perfect means for initiating discrete projects to build support for larger funding. The author describes the development of a successful small qualitative project proposal on the disabling effects of osteoporosis. She dissects the process of writing a small-project proposal to assist novice or junior researchers in securing funding for small projects that, she hopes, will build toward funding on a larger scale. Major portions of the proposal are included in this article to demonstrate the keys to success in getting small qualitative projects funded.
Fault-Tolerant Broadcasting in a k-ary n-Cube

This paper considers the problem of single-node broadcasting in a faulty k-ary n-cube. First the natural broadcast algorithm for a non-faulty k-ary n-cube, the Basic Broadcast Algorithm (BBA), is reviewed. Then the Partner Fault-Tolerant Broadcasting Algorithm (PFTBA) is presented.
Superoxide Dismutase Activity, Oxidative Damage, and Mitochondrial Energy Metabolism in Familial and Sporadic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

The cause of neuronal death in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is unknown. Recently, it was found that some patients with autosomal-dominant familial ALS (FALS) have point mutations in the gene that encodes Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1). In this study of postmortem brain tissue, we examined SOD activity and quantified protein carbonyl groups, a marker of oxidative damage, in samples of frontal cortex (Brodmann area 6) from 10 control patients, three FALS patients with known SOD1 mutations (FALS-1), one autosomal-dominant FALS patient with no identifiable SOD1 mutations (FALS-0), and 11 sporadic ALS (SALS) patients. Also, we determined the activities of components of the electron transport chain (complexes I, II-III, and IV) in these samples. The cytosolic SOD activity, which is primarily SOD1 activity, was reduced by 38.8% (p < 0.05) in the FALS-1 patients and not significantly altered in the SALS patients or the FALS-0 patient relative to the control patients. The mitochondrial SOD activity, which is primarily SOD2 activity, was not significantly altered in the FALS-1, FALS-0, or SALS patients. The protein carbonyl content was elevated by 84.8% (p < 0.01) in the SALS patients relative to the control patients. Finally, the complex I activity was increased by 55.3% (p < 0.001) in the FALS-1 patients relative to the control patients. These results from cortical tissue demonstrate that SOD1 activity is reduced and complex I activity is increased in FALS-1 patients and that oxidative damage to proteins is increased in SALS patients.
Heme Utilization in Bordetella avium Is Regulated by RhuI, a Heme-Responsive Extracytoplasmic Function Sigma Factor

Efficient utilization of heme as an iron (Fe) source by Bordetella avium requires bhuR, an Fe-regulated gene which encodes an outer membrane heme receptor. Upstream of bhuR is a 507-bp open reading frame, hereby designated rhuI (for regulator of heme uptake), which codes for a 19-kDa polypeptide. Whereas the 19-kDa polypeptide had homology to a subfamily of alternative sigma factors known as the extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factors, it was hypothesized that rhuI encoded a potential in-trans regulator of the heme receptor gene in trans. Support for the model was strengthened by the identification of nucleotide sequences common to ECF sigma-dependent promoters in the region immediately upstream of bhuR. Experimental evidence for the regulatory activities of rhuI was first revealed by recombinant experiments in which overproduction of rhuI was correlated with a dramatically increased expression of BhuR. A putative rhuI-dependent bhuR promoter was identified in the 199-bp region located proximal to bhuR. When a transcriptional fusion of the 199-bp region and a promoterless lacZ gene was introduced into Escherichia coli, promoter activity was evident, but only when rhuI was coexpressed in the cell. Sigma competition experiments in E. coli demonstrated that rhuI conferred biological properties on the cell that were consistent with RhuI having sigma factor activity. Heme, hemoglobin, and several other heme-containing proteins were shown to be the extracellular inducers of the rhuI-dependent regulatory system. Fur titration assays indicated that expression of rhuI was probably Fur dependent. Gene regulation in response to the local iron (Fe) concentration is a common adaptive response for nearly all pathogenic bacteria. Fe is an essential nutrient which must be obtained from the extracellular milieu, and many of the genes which are involved in acquisition of Fe are regulated in response to the metal (24). It has become clear, however, that some pathogenic bacteria recognize Fe starvation as a general signal to upregulate expression of virulence genes (24, 45). The Fe-associated induction of diphtheria toxin is one such example (41).
Degree-day accumulation influences annual variability in growth of age-0 walleye

a b s t r a c t The growth of age-0 fishes influences survival, especially in temperate regions where size-dependent over-winter mortality can be substantial. Additional benefits of earlier maturation and greater fecun- dity may exist for faster growing individuals. This study correlated prey densities, growing-degree days, water-surface elevation, turbidity, and chlorophyll a with age-0 walleye Sander vitreus growth in a south- central Nebraska irrigation reservoir. Growth of age-0 walleye was variable between 2003 and 2011, with mean lengths ranging from 128 to 231 mm by fall (September 30th-October 15th). A set of a priori candi- date models were used to assess the relative support of explanatory variables using Akaike's information criterion (AIC). A temperature model using the growing degree-days metric was the best supported model, describing 65% of the variability in annual mean lengths of age-0 walleye. The second and third
ViewpointRetrospective: an axiomatic basis for computer programming

C.A.R. Hoare revisits his past Communications article on the axiomatic approach to programming and uses it as a touchstone for the future.
Ultrasonography in dentistry

This paper reviews diagnostic applications of ultrasound to dentistry, or dental ultrasonography, beginning with pioneering work of the 1960s up through present lines of research. Clinical, in vivo applications that are of direct interest to dental practice are reviewed here, including measurements of enamel thickness and periodontal pocket depth. In vitro research that involves destructive tooth preparation or procedures, such as sound speed measurements or scanning acoustic microscopy, also are included. Although dental ultrasonography has been studied for over 40 years, most methods are not quite ready for routine clinical use, and there remains much opportunity for diagnostic ultrasonography to significantly impact the practice of dentistry.
Shear of confined perfluorinated molecules: Effect of side branching

Abstract To understand the dependence of nanorheology on molecular architecture for perfluorinated molecules, studies were performed using two lubricants commonly used in the magnetic storage industry. Experiments mimicked a single asperity by confining liquids to molecular spacings between atomically smooth mica and applying oscillatory shear forces. The force-distance profiles were compared. Large differences were obtained for the linear shear response. The elastic and dissipative shear moduli of a branched perfluoropolymer (Krytox-AZ) were comparable even at high loads, signifying that the fluid remained fluid-like over experimental frequencies. However, linear perfluoropolymer (Demnum S-20) was easily solidified. The nonlinear responses were also surprising. Previously, we (G. Reiter et al., Science 263 (1994) 1741) reported that the shear-induced transition from an elastic state (at rest) to a dissipative state (during sliding) was discontinuous and hysteric for various hydrocarbon fluids but not for the perfluorinated chain, perfluoroheptaglyme. However, the stick-slip transition was discontinuous, and even more hysteric for the linear perfluoropolymer (Demnum S-20).
Age Differences in Mental Multiplication: Evidence for Peripheral but not Central Decrements

This study reports two mental multiplication experiments that were designed to measure age differences in central and peripheral processes. Experiment 1 varied task type (verification vs production), and Experiment 2 varied exposure duration (presentation until response, 600 ms, and 300 ms) on a production task. Neither experiment showed evidence of age differences in central processes (e.g., retrieval speed); however, there was some evidence of a peripheral-process (e.g., encoding) decrement for older adults. Specifically, there were no Age X Problem Size interactions for either experiment. Experiment 2 revealed decreasing age differences as problem difficulty increased. Indeed, for the 300-ms exposure duration, there were no age differences in RT or error rate. These results suggest that the magnitude of age differences in central processing speed are significantly less extreme than are age differences for peripheral processing speed for this type of mental arithmetic task. Also, older adults, in general, may have a higher skill level for basic fact retrieval in mental arithmetic than do young adults.
Intimate Partner Violence and the Justice System An Examination of the Interface

Women entering the court system face a challenging experience, in part, because a courtroom can be an intimidating and difficult place for any person, and in part because women victimized by crimes in which the offender is known to them face distinctive difficulties when they seek the court's remedies. The interface is also made more challenging for women as the literature offers disparate findings as to the efficacy of criminal justice responses and civil remedies. This article briefly explores the unique characteristics of intimate partner violence cases that influence the interface of these victims with the court system. Areviewis provided of research on the criminal justice interventions in cases of intimate partner violence; and research on the efficacy of civil protective orders.
Second law violations, continuum mechanics, and permeability

The violations of the second law are relevant as the length and/or time scales become very small. The second law then needs to be replaced by the fluctuation theorem and mathematically, the irreversible entropy is a submartingale. First, we discuss the consequences of these results for the axioms of continuum mechanics, arguing in favor of a framework relying on stochastic functionals of energy and entropy. We next determine a Lyapunov function for diffusion-type problems governed by stochastic rather than deterministic functionals of internal energy and entropy, where the random field coefficients of diffusion are not required to satisfy the positive definiteness everywhere. Next, a formulation of micropolar fluid mechanics is developed, accounting for the lack of symmetry of stress tensor on molecular scales. This framework is then applied to employed to show that spontaneous random fluctuations of the microrotation field will arise in Couette—and Poiseuille-type flows in the absence of random (turbulence-like) fluctuations of the classical velocity field. Finally, while the permeability is classically modeled by the Darcy law or its modifications, besides considering the violations of the second law, one also needs to account for the spatial randomness of the channel network, implying a modification of the hierarchy of scale-dependent bounds on the macroscopic property of the network.
A ZP2 Cleavage Model of Gamete Recognition and the Postfertilization Block to Polyspermy

The molecular basis of gamete recognition and the corresponding block to polyspermy in mammals have intrigued investigators for decades. Taking advantage of the fastidious nature of human sperm , which will not bind to the mouse zona pellucida , gain-of-function assays have been established in transgenic mice by replacing endogenous mouse proteins with the corresponding human homologue. In the presence of human ZP2 , by itself or with the three other human zona proteins, human sperm bind and penetrate the ‘humanized’ zona pellucida but do not fuse with the mouse egg. Using recombinant ZP2 peptides in a bead binding assay, the gamete recognition site was located to a ~115 amino-acid N-terminal domain. Following fertilization , egg cortical granules exocytose ovastacin , an oocyte-specific metalloendoprotease , that cleaves the N-terminus of ZP2 and prevents sperm binding to the zona surrounding the preimplantation embryo. Genetic ablation of the enzyme or mutation of the ZP2 cleavage site prevents cleavage and sperm bind de novo to the surface of the zona pellucida even after fertilization and cortical granule exocytosis. These observations form the basis of the ZP2 cleavage model of gamete recognition in which mammalian sperm bind to an N-terminal domain of ZP2. Following penetration through the zona matrix and gamete fusion, the egg cortical granules exocytose ovastacin, which cleaves ZP2 and provides a definitive block to sperm binding at the surface of the zona pellucida.
The Authoritative Forensic Neuropsychology Text: Forensic Neuropsychology: Fundamentals and Practice. J. Sweet (Ed.). 1999. Lisse, The Netherlands: Swets & Zeitlinger Publishers. 535 pp., $119.00.

This book represents the latest effort to summarize a field that has grown exponentially. As stated in the introduction to the book, the contentious nature of forensic neuropsychology has resulted in a range of opinion among even the most seasoned neuropsychologists. Consequently, I must be absolved for offering what may seemingly be a partisan slant in this review.
Sparse reconstruction of multi-component Doppler signature exploiting target dynamics

In this paper, we propose a novel technique for a non-parametric sparse reconstruction of the Doppler signature of multiple ground moving targets exploiting prior knowledge about the target dynamics. The Doppler signature of multiple non-stationary targets is commonly modeled as a multi-component polynomial phase signal, whose order depends on the complexity of target dynamics and the coherent processing interval. In recent years, sparse signal reconstruction and compressive sensing algorithms have been extensively deployed in both parametric and non-parametric estimation of Doppler signatures. The performance of sparsity based Doppler signature reconstruction algorithms is significantly compromised in the presence of strong noise and a large number of missing samples. Herein, we present an effective technique for a non-parametric sparse reconstruction of a multi-component Doppler signature by exploiting the a priori information on target dynamics. Simulation results show that the proposed technique significantly outperforms the conventional sparse reconstruction based methods in such challenging conditions.
The Revolution of 1938 and its Discontents

This paper explores the divergence between the purposes and goals of the 1938 Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the purposes and goals of litigation today. In doing so, we chronicle some of the intrusions and erosions into federal procedure that have gradually but permanently altered the 1938 Rules - Congressional tinkering (including the enactment of federal statutes that modify the application of the Federal Rules, such as by imposing higher pleading standards for certain claims); litigant pressures (including the increased use of alternative dispute resolution methods generally, and arbitration and private judging in particular, that result in end runs around the law); and the courts themselves (including local rules that modify broader interpretations of the Federal Rules). With greater barriers to litigation on the merits, and with the increasing privatization of law, the 1938 Federal Rules risk becoming not only less central to litigation, but actually becoming irrelevant-becoming truly mere federal procedural rules to be bent and adapted to the greater goals of managing and concluding litigation. This Article is the result of a Call for Papers by the AALS Section on Civil Procedure and was one of three papers selected for presentation at the 2008 AALS Annual Meeting. The other two selected papers, authored by Professor Richard Marcus and Professor Robert Bone, also appear in this issue of the Oklahoma Law Review.
Avenger Said by Avenger——Hatred and Arrogance in the “Swording” Written by Lu Xun

Lu Xun's novels are often with relatively clear purpose, in other words, they are closely associated with reality. "Swording", a long historical novel, is no exception. Combined Lu Xun's life experiences with the novel's "revenge" topic, this thesis mainly aims to carefully interpret the characters and images of the novel and further analyze Lu Xun's vengeful and arrogant spirits.
Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection in Patients Treated for Testis Cancer: The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Experience

Objective To describe the pathologic findings and clinical outcome data for patients undergoing pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) in the course of management of testicular germ cell tumors at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). Patients and Methods Following institutional review board approval, data on 2186 patients who underwent retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) at MSKCC between 1989 and 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Of these 2186 patients, we analyzed data for 44 patients (2%) who underwent PLND at the time of RPLND. Results PLND was performed in 14/44 (31%) patients at time of primary RPLND (P-RPLND), and in 21/44(48%) patients at time of postchemotherapy RPLND (PC-RPLND), usually for suspicious radiologic or intraoperative findings, whereas 9/44 (21%) underwent PLND for treatment of relapse. Positive pelvic findings on imaging included pelvic disease ≤5 cm in 17/44 (39%) patients and >5 cm in 11/44 (25%) patients (median size = 4 cm). At the time of PC-RPLND, alpha-fetoprotein and beta human chorionic gonadotropin were elevated in 6/21 (29%) and 4/21 (19%) patients, respectively. Histology revealed teratoma in 15/44 (34%) and viable tumor in 5/44 (11%) patients. At a median follow-up of 46 months, 40/44 (91%) patients were living without disease, 3/44 (7%) were living with disease (1 after PC-RPLND and 2 after relapse), and 1/44 (2%) died of other causes. Conclusion PLND was performed infrequently in our series of patients who underwent RPLND for testis cancer. Teratoma was the dominant tumor histology in the resected tissue
Genetic and Environmental Influences on Parent–Child Conflict and Child Depression Through Late Adolescence

Few studies have investigated potential gender differences in the genetic and environmental influences on the prospective associations between parent-child conflict and later depression, a notable gap given substantial gender differences in rates of depression and suggestive evidence of differences in the etiology of depression among females and males. To fill this gap, we evaluated whether the prospective relationship between parent-child conflict and major depressive disorder symptoms varied as a function of parent-child gender composition. A combined twin and adoption sample was used (53% female; 85% European ancestry), containing 1,627 adolescent sibling pairs (789 monozygotic twin pairs, 594 dizygotic/full-biological pairs, 244 genetically unrelated pairs) with assessments at two time points in adolescence (approximate ages 15 and 18). Prospective associations between parent-child conflict and subsequent adolescent depression were explained predominately through common genetic influences for mother-daughter and mother-son pairs but less so for father-daughter and father-son pairs. Results support the notion that processes of gene-environment correlation involved in the prospective associations between parent-child conflict, and later adolescent depression appear to be less relevant to father-child relationships in comparison to mother-child relationships. Notably, results did not show that parent-child conflict was more relevant to the etiology of major depressive disorder (MDD) for girls than boys; gender differences in depression do not appear to be due to differences in the associations between parent-child conflict and child depression.
Use of Novel Techniques to Quantify Phenotypes in Biological Treatment Processes

This research attempts to evaluate nitrification treatment performance in combined carbon/nitrogen municipal wastewater reactors using traditional physical/chemical methods and modern molecular techniques. Bench scale activated sludge reactors were operated at different SRTs under varying DO levels and temperatures over a 21-month period. Real-time PCR assays were used to determine cell concentrations of total bacterial 16S rDNA, a gross measure of biomass content, the amoA gene, a measure of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), and the Nitrospira 16S rDNA gene, a measure of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). As expected, gravimetric biomass and total bacterial 16S rDNA levels increased with increasing SRT. Ammonia oxidation rates and N. oligotropha-type AOB concentrations did not follow similar trends with respect to changes in SRT, temperature, and DO nor were they highly correlated. The concentration of available nitrite and SRT were positively correlated with Nitrospira cell densities, while DO concentration and temperature were negatively correlated with NOB levels. The percentage of the total population comprised of AOB and NOB obtained with the real-time PCR assays were compared to predicted values estimated from design equations using typical kinetic parameters. While the percentages of NOB measured using the real-time PCR assay corresponded very well with the predicted values, the measured percentages of AOB were much lower than those estimated from the design equations, suggesting that N. oligotropha-type AOB were not the dominant ammonia-oxidizing species in these reactors. This title belongs to WERF Research Report Series ISBN: 9781780404226 (eBook) ISBN: 9781843396970 (Print)
Interferon Produced Endogenously in Response to CSF‐1 Augments the Functional Differentiation of Progeny Macrophages

The role of endogenously produced interferon alpha/beta in the functional maturation of newly derived mononuclear phagocytes was investigated. Addition of highly specific anti-interferon alpha + beta antiserum to murine marrow cultures stimulated with colony-stimulating factor-1 (macrophage growth factor) markedly suppressed the capacity of resulting progeny mononuclear phagocytes to ingest opsonized sheep erythrocytes (EAIgG). This impairment was corrected either by direct addition of interferon alpha + beta at a concentration in excess of that neutralized by the antiserum or by the addition of lesser amounts of interferon (33 U/ml) following removal of the anti-interferon from the cultures. Conditioned media from control colony-stimulating factor-stimulated cultures similarly reversed the impairment of maturation resulting from 5 days of growth in the presence of anti-interferon. This enhancement of EAIgG ingestion reflected upon the interferon activity in the conditioned media and was neutralized by anti-interferon. Lastly, the endogenous interferon was found to enhance EAIgG ingestion by a majority of the mononuclear phagocyte progeny and not by a limited subpopulation.
Leader Development in Dynamic and Hazardous Environments: Company Commander Learning Through Combat

This chapter explores learning in leaders of action teams working in a complex, dynamic, and hazardous context. Specifically, the chapter reports on interviews with 53 US Army company commanders working in Iraq about their key learning experiences and then draws on Kolb’s experiential learning cycle and other learning theories to describe leader development in dynamic and hazardous environments. The research reveals four characteristics of the most important learning experiences in combat leaders: the experiences are “molten” in nature (meaning chaotic, complex, and volatile); create a sense of profound responsibility; involve intense affect; and stimulate embodied feedback. This chapter contributes to research by proposing how the nature of such experiences sets the tone for how individual leaders develop expertise. In addition, four developmental outcomes of leader learning in combat are presented: innovation, judgment, resilience, and compassion. Conclusions drawn from this research not only inform more obvious types of team leaders such as first responders, emergency management personnel, and law enforcement, but can also apply to a broader range of team leaders who face time-critical and highly consequential decisions.
Variation of Dielectric Constant and Spontaneous Strain With Density in Polycrystalline Barium Titanate

A simple model of a porous ferroelectric explains the change of the dielectric constant with density. This model agrees well with the experimental results. Certain barium titanate powders show a low spontaneous strain so that their structure at room temperature appears to be cubic rather than tetragonal. Compacts prepared from such a powder exhibit an increase in spontaneous strain with increasing density, and this is explained with a model that is based on Devonshire’s thermodynamic theory.
Interventions to improve child-parent-medical provider communication: A systematic review.

Abstract Rationale Research related to effective communication between children/parents and medical providers is limited. Objective To review interventions seeking to improve communication between children/parents and medical providers. Methods The inclusion criteria were interventions in peer-reviewed articles and dissertations in English. Because of the limited availability of pediatric communication research, no restrictions were placed on the year, design, and length of follow-up of the interventions. Out of 4163 articles in the CINAHL, Cochrane, EMBASE, ERIC, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO databases, 34 met the inclusion criteria. The design, strategies, measurement tools, results, and conflicts of interest of the interventions were reviewed. Results Most interventions were conducted in the United States, had a small sample size, and used a pre-posttest design. Fifteen were randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The most frequent intervention strategies were role-playing sessions and seminars for medical providers. Standardized children (i.e., fictitious child patients) were frequently used to help train physicians. Most interventions improved providers' interpersonal, patient-centered interviewing skills. Interventions that targeted parents involved booklets and role-playing to encourage questions. They improved parents’ satisfaction and communication. An intervention that targeted youth used a video portraying how children can communicate better with physicians. Once the children aged 5–15 years watched the video, they wrote questions for their physicians prior to the medical visit. The experimental group of children had better rapport with physicians and could recall recommendations about medications more often than the control group. Conclusion More RCTs involving children as active participants are needed.
P030 HLA tool for teaching

Frequent requests are received by our HLA Lab to teach coordinators, lab employees, residents, fellows, and sometimes physicians. Aim The time devoted to this teaching is often limited, so I decided to develop a one page handout (slides printed on each side) that we could use as an aid for providing an overview of basic transplant immunology and HLA testing for transplant. Method The two slides were designed with power point and can easily be customized to your own laboratories preferences. Results Using the slides as a starting point for verbal conversation can guide the teacher to discuss important aspects of HLA and Immunogenetics and for the student to ask questions. The level of discussion can be adjusted to the meet the needs of the student. We have gotten a very positive response to using this tool and it serves as a launching pad for further discussions. The students appreciate taking the teaching tool with them for easy future reference and can be protected by laminating the page. Conclusion This format is easily customizable, has been very successful as a teaching tool for our laboratory, and is fun to create. Download : Download high-res image (555KB) Download : Download full-size image Download : Download high-res image (510KB) Download : Download full-size image
Environmental Hazards, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction: J. K. Mitchell’s Relevance to the Global Sustainable Development Agenda

This paper argues how Mitchell’s work on complex disasters and environmental hazards is highly relevant to the global Sustainable Development Agenda and the international organizations involved in its implementation. The paper takes as its starting point two United Nations University projects led by Mitchell in the 1990s and reviews their prescience in terms of current developments in the context of urbanizations, economic development, population growth, and global environmental change. The issue of adaptation to climate change is highlighted as exemplifying the importance of integrated approaches encompassing human and natural systems, as advocated by Mitchell. Challenges to program and policy evaluation are then discussed with regard to adaptation, adopting Mitchell’s approach of understanding local situations while anchoring evaluation in scientific knowledge.
Towards Tracking a Semi-autonomous, Pneumatic Colonoscope Robot

We describe a semi-autonomous tracking technique based on a Bayesian prediction mechanism for a pneumatic colonoscopy robot. One of the principal problems in using a robot colonoscope is to determine its position or displacement after it has been inserted into the colon. To address this problem for our robot, we have developed a temporal Bayesian framework that uses the observations of the air flow rate and pressure in the tube guiding the robot to predict the current location of the robot. Our experimental results show that the predicted location and velocity of the robot are accurate over most of the time-steps, with a maximum error of 11.5 cm (about 2.5 times the length of the robot’s head) occurring only \(7\%\) of the time.
The Right to Say Yes: Language Documentation in West Papua

There has been much discussion in the recent literature on language documentation about the ethical considerations faced by linguists conducting fieldwork on endangered languages. This paper discus...
Posttranslational Modifications of p53: Upstream Signaling Pathways

The p53 tumor suppressor is a tetrameric transcription factor that is posttranslational modified at <20 different sites by phosphorylation, acetylation, or sumoylation in response to various cellular stress conditions. Specific posttranslational modifications, or groups of modifications, that result from the activation of different stress-induced signaling pathways are thought to modulate p53 activity to regulate cell fate by inducing cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, or cellular senescence. Here we review recent progress in characterizing the upstream signaling pathways whose activation in response to various genotoxic and nongenotoxic stresses result in p53 posttranslational modifications.