cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular modelling study of solid acidity in molybdenum oxide supported on silica-alumina

Factors influencing the solid acidity in molybdenum oxides supported on silica-alumina were studied theoretically by means of self-consistent Hartree-Fock (HF), electron-correlated Moller-Plesset (MP2) and local density functional (LDF) quantum mechanical calculations of acid site models. This work was aimed at elucidating relationships between the chemical composition, surface geometry and the electronic properties of the solid acid catalysts. Local structures of unsupported and supported molybdenum oxide inferred from earlier experimental results were studied using cluster models. Relationships between the structural transformations in the molybdenum oxide tetrahedra and the changes in Bronsted-Lewis acidity were identified. The experimentally observed effect of the catalyst support composition on the acid strength of the supported molybdenum oxide catalyst was interpreted in terms of the calculated charge redistribution and molecular orbital energies. An acid site structure is proposed to explain the effect of Mo loading on the Bronsted acidity. The calculated changes in infrared vibration frequencies agree with the measured ones and support the mechanism proposed for the acidity changes on Mo loading.
Commentary on an article by Eric R. Henderson, MD, et al.: "Failure mode classification for tumor endoprostheses: retrospective review of five institutions and a literature review".

Surgeons have always preferred limb salvage surgery for patients with extremity tumors, and even before adjuvant chemotherapy and the use of irradiation in association with surgery, approximately a quarter of patients with an extremity tumor requiring surgical resection had a limb salvage operation. Before the 1970s, almost all osseous reconstructions involved the use of autogenous bone grafts and the associated joint was either managed with arthrodesis or left flail. During the 1970s, as total joint replacements became functional, custom endoprostheses were used to replace resected bone and restore joint function. The initial endoprostheses were not well designed and performed poorly. It was not until the mid-1980s that endoprostheses with improved mechanics and modularity were available. These authors have collected follow-up data from patients treated with the early custom endoprostheses and from those treated with the modern modular endoprostheses. To borrow a principle of internal fixation of fractures, the success of an endoprosthesis is a race between its failure and the patient’s death. Most endoprostheses eventually fail because the patients are, for the most part, young and active, but we expect the endoprostheses to function for at least fifteen years and, we hope, longer. That only a quarter of the endoprostheses in this review failed is due to a …
A multilevel analysis of school climate, homophobic name-calling, and sexual harassment victimization/perpetration among middle school youth

Objective: Using multiinformant, multilevel modeling, this study examines the association between teacher/staff perceptions of school environment and student reports of homophobic name-calling and sexual harassment. Method: Surveys were conducted with 1,447 teachers/staff and 3,616 6th grade students across 36 middle schools in the Midwest. Results: Bivariate associations revealed that when teachers perceive schools as committed to bullying prevention, students reported less homophobic name-calling perpetration, sexual harassment perpetration, and sexual harassment victimization. When adults reported positive staff/student interactions, students endorsed lower levels of homophobic name-calling perpetration and victimization and less sexual harassment perpetration. Higher teacher/staff reported gender equity was correlated with less homophobic name-calling perpetration and victimization and sexual harassment perpetration. In a model with all school environment scales entered together, school commitment to prevent bullying was associated with less sexual harassment perpetration; in addition, higher gender equity and intolerance of sexual harassment at the school level was associated with fewer experiences of homophobic name-calling perpetration and victimization and sexual harassment perpetration. Conclusions: Efforts to address gendered harassment should include support from the school administration and professional development opportunities for all teachers and staff. Adults in the school should create a culture that is intolerant of sexual harassment and supports equality between the girls and boys in the school.
Practice Patterns in the Treatment of Urethral Stricture Among American Urologists: A Paradigm Change?

Objective To examine surgical case volume characteristics among certifying urologists associated with treatment of urethral stricture to compare practice patterns of recent graduates to recertifying attending urologists and trends over time. Materials and Methods Six-month case log data of certifying and recertifying urologists (2003-2013) were obtained from the American Board of Urology. Cases specifying a CPT code for urethral dilation, direct vision internal urethrotomy (DVIU), urethroplasty, and graft harvest in males ≥18 years were analyzed for surgeon-specific variables. Results Among 6320 urologists logging at least one reconstructive urology procedure, 95,747 (86.2%) urethral dilations, 10,986 (10.0%) DVIU, and 4349 (3.9%) urethroplasties were identified, with 99 (0.9%) using graft and 405 (9.3%) staged procedures. Overall ratio of urethral dilation/DVIU to urethroplasty was 24.5:1. More recent log year and new certification correlated with a decrease in ratio of dilation/DVIU to urethroplasty, but stable use of graft. The ratio of dilation/DVIU to urethroplasty for new certification was much lower (7.9:1), compared to first (24.4:1), second (63.3:1), and third recertification cycles (99.5:1), wherein urethroplasty was increasingly rare. Newly certifying urologists performed urethroplasty 4.5 times more often than those recertifying. Academically affiliated urologists were 8 times more likely to perform urethroplasty. Conclusion Most urethral strictures are treated with dilation/DVIU, but a changing paradigm favoring urethroplasty is evident. Most urethroplasties are performed by a small number of urologists with high volume, academic affiliation, recent residency graduation, and residence in a state with a reconstructive urology fellowship.
Changing the Conceptualization of Stress in Social Anxiety Disorder: Affective and Physiological Consequences

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a pervasive problem associated with debilitating impairments in social settings. This research explored the affective and physiological reactions to social evaluati...
ESTIMATION BIAS IN REGIONAL INPUT-OUTPUT MODELS USING SECONDARY DATA*

Regional input-output models are widely utilized in policy oriented research relating to regional economic growth and development problems. National coefficients are frequently used in conjunction with existing secondary data to estimate regional input-output models, with regional exports and regional imports being estimated on net or residual basis. This paper illustrates and clarifies the nature of inaccuracy that may exist in trade, technical and interdependence coefficients and multipliers when this technique is utilized. Methods of improving regional estimates are suggested Les modeles regionaux interindustriels sont souvent utilises dans le cas de recherche pour une politique concernant les problemes de developpement el de progres economique dans une region. Les coefficients nationaux sont souvent employes en connection avec les donnees secondares existantes pour estimer les modeles, regionaux interindustriels, avec ľexportation regionale et ľimportation regionale qui sont evaluees sur une base nette ou residuelle. Cette etude met au jour et clarifie la nature de ľinexactitude technique qui peut exister dans le commerce, et ľinterdependance des coefficients et des multipliants on se sen de cette technique. On donne des methodes pour ameliorer ľevaluation des estimations regionales.
A Comparison of Unsupervised Dimension Reduction Algorithms for Classification

Distance preserving dimension reduction (DPDR) using the singular value decomposition has recently been introduced. In this paper, for disease diagnosis using gene or protein expression data, we present empirical comparison results between DPDR and other various dimension reduction (DR) methods (i.e. PC A, MDS, Isomap, and LLE) when using support vector machines with radial basis function kernel. Our results show that DPDR outperforms, as a whole, other DR methods in terms of classification accuracy, but at the same time, it gives significant efficiency compared with other methods since it has no parameter to be optimized. Based on these empirical results, we reach a promising conclusion that DPDR is one of the best DR methods at hand for modeling an efficient and distortion- free classifier for gene or protein expression data.
Forefoot angle determines duration and amplitude of pronation during walking

The biomechanical mechanisms that link foot structure to injuries of the musculoskeletal system during gait are not well understood. This study had two parts. The purpose of part one was to determine the relation between clinical rearfoot and forefoot angles and foot angles as they make contact with the ground. The purpose of part two was to determine the effects of large vs. moderate values of both forefoot and rearfoot inversion angles at foot contact on foot kinematics. Clinical foot angle, the relationship between the foot and an axis extrinsically defined relative to the ground, was calculated from digital photographs taken in a prone position. During three speeds of over-ground walking, we measured frontal plane rearfoot and forefoot angle relative to the ground at foot contact, and the following stance phase kinematic measures: amplitude of rearfoot and forefoot eversion, duration of rearfoot and forefoot eversion, and duration between heel-off and onset of rearfoot and forefoot inversion. We found that the clinical forefoot angle predicted the forefoot angle at foot contact. Individuals with a large inversion forefoot angle at contact also had greater amplitude of forefoot eversion and everted longer during stance. We discuss the possible mechanisms for the increased risk of injury to the hip reported for individuals that have a large clinical forefoot angle in non-weight bearing. Equally important is the finding that rearfoot angle at contact did not predict the motions of the rearfoot or forefoot during stance.
Adaptive IP encapsulation for real-time traffic over Ethernet

Quality of service support for multimedia applications has to date focused on "core-network" schemes, with little attention to the last-mile issue. In this paper, we extend the QoS support to Ethernet users through a novel adaptive encapsulation scheme. The scheme supports both real-time (RT) and non-real-time (NRT) traffic types. It is adaptive in that it dynamically varies the number of IP packets in an Ethernet frame, depending on the delay requirements of the transported packets, the framing overhead, and the state of the shared medium. For RT traffic, the proposed scheme is designed to maximize the encapsulation efficiency while probabilistically guaranteeing the delay requirements of the traffic. For NRT traffic, the scheme aims at maximizing the efficiency. Extensive simulations are conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed scheme. The results indicate a substantial improvement in the effective throughput, ranging from 20% to more than 200%, depending on the type of traffic (RT or NRT) and on the underlying packet sizes
Inline control of an ultra low-k ILD layer using Broadband Spectroscopic Ellipsometry

As chip dimensions are scaling down new challenges develop in the back-end-of-line. In order to keep the capacitance small while decreasing the volume of the inter-layer dielectric (ILD), new materials and processes have been introduced over the past years to lower the dielectric constant of the ILD layers. For design rules of 45nm and below porous Ultra low-k materials are widely used in today's semiconductor process flows. Beside process challenges this introduces stringent requirements for metrology not only to monitor film thickness but other properties of the material as well. This paper discusses the development and implementation of a Broadband Spectroscopic Ellipsometer for inline process control of a SiCOH based porous ultra low-k film. After deposition the material is cured with UV light to introduce the porosity. The challenge for the metrology is to measure both the thickness and an adequate metric for the chemical properties which do no longer correlate with optical properties. In addition the chemical properties vary as a gradient from top to bottom of the film. We discuss the methodology to develop a metrology recipe resulting in the thickness of a metric layer and the percentaged thickness shrink being the best parameters to sense and track the process adequately. Results demonstrate the sensitivity of the technique to process variations. Short term precision, long term stability and tool-to-tool matching results prove that the technique enables routine process monitoring in a high volume automated semiconductor fab.
A leaky-wave antenna using a two-dimensional periodic array of metal patches

One way to construct a leaky-wave antenna is to place a simple source (such as a dipole) between a ground plane and a highly reflective surface. Examples of reflective surfaces that have been used in the past include one or more dielectric layers of high permittivity, a metal strip grating, and a thin film of superconducting material. In this paper, a leaky-wave antenna using a reflective surface made from a two-dimensional periodic array of metal patches is studied.
High Accuracy Numerical Methods for Thermally Perfect Gas Flows with Chemistry

The compressible Navier Stokes equations can be extended to model multi-species, chemically reacting gas flows. The result is a large system of convection-diffusion equations with stiff source terms. In this paper we develop the framework needed to apply modern high accuracy numerical methods from computational gas dynamics to this extended system. We also present representative computational results using one such method. The framework developed here is useful for many modern numerical schemes. We first present an enthalpy based form of the equations that is well suited both for physical modeling and for numerical implementation. We show how to treat the stiff reactions via time splitting, and in particular how to increase accuracy by avoidng the common practice of approximating the temperature. We derive simple, exact formulas for the characteristics of the convective part of the equations, which are essential for application of all characteristic-based schemes. We also show that the common practice of using approximate analytical expressions for the characteristics can potentially produce spurious oscillations in computations.We implement these developments with a particular high accuracy characteristic-based method, the finite difference ENO space discretization with the 3rd order TVD Runge?Kutta time discretization, combined with the second order accurate Strang time splitting of the reaction terms. We illustrate the capabilities of this approach with calculations of a 1-D reacting shock tube and a 2-D combustor.
Congenital rubella syndrome in Haiti

Objective. To determine if there is an unrecognized problem of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) in Haiti, a country without a national rubella immunization program. Methods. During March 2001 and June 2001, screening physicals were conducted on approximately 80 orphans at three orphanages in Haiti that accept disabled children. Children were classified as probable CRS cases based on established clinical criteria. Photo documentation of findings was obtained whenever possible. Results. Six children met the criteria for probable CRS. Using data from surrounding Caribbean countries and from the United States of America prior to rubella immunization, we estimated that there are between 163 and 440 new cases of CRS per year in Haiti. Conclusions. CRS exists in Haiti, but its presence is generally unrecognized. A national rubella immunization policy should be considered.
Genistein Inhibits Matrix Metalloproteinase Type 2 Activation and Prostate Cancer Cell Invasion by Blocking the Transforming Growth Factor β-Mediated Activation of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase-Activated Protein Kinase 2-27-kDa Heat Shock Protein Pathway

Genistein is a candidate cancer chemopreventive drug being tested in clinical trials. We have shown that genistein blocks prostate cancer (PCa) cell invasion, that p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase regulates activation of matrix metalloproteinase type 2 (MMP-2) and cell invasion, and that genistein prevents transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) from activating p38 MAP kinase. More recently, we identified MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MAPKAPK2) and the 27-kDa heat shock protein (HSP27) as downstream regulators of p38 MAP kinase. However, MAPKAPK2 and HSP27 can be regulated by factors other than p38 MAP kinase, and HSP27 is up-regulated during PCa progression. The current study was undertaken to examine the role of MAPKAPK2 and HSP27 in modulating genistein-mediated regulation of PCa cell invasion. Genistein inhibited TGFβ-mediated phosphorylation of MAPKAPK2 and HSP27. Inhibitory effects by genistein upon cell signaling, inhibition of MMP-2, and inhibition of invasion were retained when both PC3 and PC3-M cells were transfected with either wild-type MAPKAPK2 or HSP27. However, transfection with dominant-negative MAPKAPK2 or nonphosphorylatable mutant HSP27 led to decreases in cell invasion and to abrogation of responsiveness to either TGFβ-mediated increases or genistein-mediated decreases in MMP-2 and cell invasion. It is noteworthy that, after transfection with constitutive active MAPKAPK2 or with pseudophosphorylated HSP27, levels of MMP-2 activation and cell invasion were high and overcame any inhibitory effect of genistein. These findings demonstrate that genistein-mediated inhibition of cell invasion rests upon blocking activation of the MAPKAPK2-HSP27 pathway, and that its activation during cancer progression has the potential to mitigate therapeutic efficacy.
Evaluation of Methods To Increase the Sensitivity and Timeliness of Detection of Streptococcus agalactiae in Pregnant Women

Direct culture of rectovaginal specimens on Granada agar was compared to culture on sheep blood agar plate (SBAP) and AccuProbe detection of group B streptococcus from overnight LIM broth enhancement cultures (LIM-SBAP). Both broth-enhanced methods demonstrated excellent sensitivity (97.5% for LIM-SBAP and 93.5% for AccuProbe), while Granada agar demonstrated a sensitivity of only 40.3%.
Low Complexity Affine MMSE detector for Iterative Detection-Decoding MIMO OFDM system

Iterative turbo processing between detection and decoding shows near-capacity performance on a multiple-antenna system. Combining iterative processing with optimum front-end detection is particularly challenging because the front-end maximum a posteriori (MAP) algorithm has a computational complexity that is exponential in the throughput. Sub-optimum detector such as the soft interference cancellation linear minimum mean square error (SIC-LMMSE) detector with near front-end MAP performance has been proposed. The asymptotic computational complexity of SIC-LMMSE remains O(nt2nr+ntnr3+ntMc2Mc) per detection-decoding cycle where nt is number of transmit antenna, nr is number of receive antenna, and Mc is modulation size. A lower complexity detector is the hard interference cancellation LMMSE (HIC-LMMSE) detector. HIC-LMMSE has asymptotic complexity of O(nt2nr+ntMc2Mc)but suffers exta performance degradation. In this paper, we introduce a frontend detection algorithm that achieves asymptotic computational complexity of O(ntMc2Mc). Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed low complexity detection algorithm offers exactly same performance as their full complexity counterpart in an iterative receiver while being computational more efficient.
Modified Waterfilling Algorithms for MIMO Spatial Multiplexing with Asymmetric CSI

This paper studies the transmit power-multiplexing tradeoff in MIMO systems when two users with different priorities are to be accommodated simultaneously. In the general problem formulation, a minimum information rate must be guaranteed for a prioritized user whose channel state information (CSI) is known, while the data rate for the other user with completely unknown CSI is "best-effort." The drawbacks of the classic spatial water-filling algorithm are discussed, and two modified water-filling algorithms are proposed that either balance the required transmit power with the number of spatial dimensions available for each user, or minimize the number of transmit spatial dimensions allocated for the prioritized user. We then specialize to applications in the MIMO wiretap channel, the MIMO multiuser downlink channel, and spectrum underlay in MIMO cognitive radio networks, where existing methods are not applicable under the asymmetric CSI scenario. Numerical results verify the performance advantages of the proposed transmission schemes for each of these case studies.
Optimizing Distance-Based Fares and Headway of an Intercity Transportation System with Elastic Demand and Trip Length Differentiation

An efficient fare structure combined with good service quality can stimulate demand and increase revenue. This paper presents an optimization approach for an intercity transportation system where demand is sensitive to fare and wait time and the fare sensitivity further varies with trip length. The approach jointly optimizes service headway and distance-based fare structure to maximize total profit, subject to service capacity and fleet size constraints. The optimal fares are also differentiated on the basis of trip length. An efficient solution method is developed and applied to solve the profit maximization problem. The model is applied to a case study of the Taiwan High-Speed Rail System. Numerical results, including optimal solutions and sensitivity analyses, are presented. Insights that may lead to managerial decisions are discussed.
A Survey of Imprinted Gene Expression in Mouse Trophoblast Stem Cells

Several hundred mammalian genes are expressed preferentially from one parental allele as the result of a process called genomic imprinting. Genomic imprinting is prevalent in extra-embryonic tissue, where it plays an essential role during development. Here, we profiled imprinted gene expression via RNA-Seq in a panel of six mouse trophoblast stem lines, which are ex vivo derivatives of a progenitor population that gives rise to the placental tissue of the mouse. We found evidence of imprinted expression for 48 genes, 31 of which had been described previously as imprinted and 17 of which we suggest as candidate imprinted genes. An equal number of maternally and paternally biased genes were detected. On average, candidate imprinted genes were more lowly expressed and had weaker parent-of-origin biases than known imprinted genes. Several known and candidate imprinted genes showed variability in parent-of-origin expression bias between the six trophoblast stem cell lines. Sixteen of the 48 known and candidate imprinted genes were previously or newly annotated noncoding RNAs and six encoded for a total of 60 annotated microRNAs. Pyrosequencing across our panel of trophoblast stem cell lines returned levels of imprinted expression that were concordant with RNA-Seq measurements for all eight genes examined. Our results solidify trophoblast stem cells as a cell culture-based experimental model to study genomic imprinting, and provide a quantitative foundation upon which to delineate mechanisms by which the process is maintained in the mouse.
Predicting Human-Carnivore Conflict: a Spatial Model Derived from 25 Years of Data on Wolf Predation on Livestock

Many carnivore populations escaped extinction during the twentieth century as a result of legal protections, habitat restoration, and changes in public attitudes. However, encounters between carnivores, live- stock, and humans are increasing in some areas, raising concerns about the costs of carnivore conservation. We present a method to predict sites of human-carnivore conflicts regionally, using as an example the mixed forest-agriculture landscapes of Wisconsin and Minnesota (U.S.A.). We used a matched-pair analysis of 17 land- scape variables in a geographic information system to discriminate affected areas from unaffected areas at two spatial scales (townships and farms). Wolves (Canis lupus) selectively preyed on livestock in townships with high proportions of pasture and high densities of deer (Odocoileus virginianus) combined with low proportions of crop lands, coniferous forest, herbaceous wetlands, and open water. These variables plus road density and farm size also appeared to predict risk for individual farms when we considered Minnesota alone. In Wisconsin only, farm size, crop lands, and road density were associated with the risk of wolf attack on livestock. At the level of townships, we generated two state-wide maps to predict the extent and location of future predation on livestock. Our approach can be applied wherever spatial data are available on sites of conflict between wildlife and humans.
Re-evaluating the costs and limits of adaptive phenotypic plasticity

When the optimal phenotype differs among environments, adaptive phenotypic plasticity can evolve unless constraints impede such evolution. Costs and limits of plasticity have been proposed as important constraints on the evolution of plasticity, yet confusion exists over their distinction. We attempt to clarify these concepts by reviewing their categorization and measurement, highlighting how costs and limits are defined in different currencies (and may describe the same phenomenon). Conclusions from studies that measure the costs of plasticity have been equivocal, but we caution that these conclusions may be premature owing to a potentially common correlation between environment-specific trait values and the magnitude of trait plasticities (i.e. multi-collinearity) that results in imprecise and/or biased estimates of the costs. Meanwhile, our understanding of the limits of plasticity, and how they may be underlain by the costs of plasticity, is still in its infancy. Based on our re-evaluation of these constraints, we discuss areas for future research.
A Mixed Double-Sided Incremental Forming Toolpath Strategy for Improved Geometric Accuracy

Double-sided incremental forming (DSIF) is a relatively new dieless forming process which uses two hemispherical ended tools, one on each side of the sheet, moving along a predefined trajectory to locally deform a peripherally clamped sheet of metal. DSIF provides greater process flexibility, higher formability, and eliminates the tooling cost when compared to conventional sheet forming processes. While DSIF provides much improved geometric accuracy compared to other incremental forming processes, current toolpath planning strategies suffer from long forming times. A novel mixed double-sided incremental forming (MDSIF) toolpath strategy is proposed in the present study. It simultaneously reduces the total forming time by half while preserving the best currently achievable geometric accuracy. The effect of the forming parameters, i.e., of the incremental depth and of tool positioning on the geometric accuracy of the parts formed with MDSIF was investigated and compared to those formed by traditional DSIF strategies.
Simone de Beauvoir’s Algerian war: torture and the rejection of ethics

This article discusses the trajectory of Simone de Beauvoir’s concern with the issue of torture. It argues that Beauvoir’s interest in torture extends back at least to World War II and that her activities and writings against torture during the French-Algerian War of 1954–1962 were pivotal in prompting her to reject ethical philosophical language and to embrace, in its place, a new concept of politics based on need. It further suggests that exploring the development of Beauvoir’s ideas about torture helps elucidate her belated turn to feminism and that in Beauvoir’s disarray and disillusionment regarding the use of torture by the French during the French-Algerian War and her compatriots’ complaisance with regard to this, there are lessons of sorts, though not necessarily entirely comforting ones, for Americans and others facing similar situations.
Detection of forgery in paintings using supervised learning

This paper examines whether machine learning and image analysis tools can be used to assist art experts in the authentication of unknown or disputed paintings. Recent work on this topic [1] has presented some promising initial results. Our reexamination of some of these recently successful experiments shows that variations in image clarity in the experimental datasets were correlated with authenticity, and may have acted as a confounding factor, artificially improving the results. To determine the extent of this factor's influence on previous results, we provide a new “ground truth” data set in which originals and copies are known and image acquisition conditions are uniform. Multiple previously-successful methods are found ineffective on this new confounding-factor-free dataset, but we demonstrate that supervised machine learning on features derived from Hidden-Markov-Tree-modeling of the paintings' wavelet coefficients has the potential to distinguish copies from originals in the new dataset.
The Vsa Shield of Mycoplasma pulmonis Is Antiphagocytic

The infection of mice with Mycoplasma pulmonis is a model for studying chronic mycoplasmal respiratory disease. Many in vivo and in vitro studies have used the organism to gain a better understanding of host-pathogen interactions in chronic respiratory infection. The organism's Vsa proteins contain an extensive tandem repeat region. The length of the tandem repeat unit varies from as few as 11 amino acids to as many as 19. The number of tandem repeats can be as high as 60. The number of repeats varies at a high frequency due to slipped-strand mispairing events that occur during DNA replication. When the number of repeats is high, e.g., 40, the mycoplasma is resistant to lysis by complement but does not form a robust biofilm. When the number of repeats is low, e.g., 5, the mycoplasma is killed by complement when the cells are dispersed but has the capacity to form a biofilm that resists complement. Here, we examine the role of the Vsa proteins in the avoidance of phagocytosis and find that cells producing a protein with many tandem repeats are relatively resistant to killing by macrophages. These results may be pertinent to understanding the functions of similar proteins that have extensive repeat regions in other microbes.
The lag of cerebral hemodynamics with rapidly alternating periodic stimulation: modeling for functional MRI

A mathematical model that characterizes the response of venous oxygenation to changes in cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and oxygen consumption has been previously presented. We use this model to examine the dampening phenomenon in functional MRI (fMRI) signals with rapidly alternating periodic stimulation bursts. Using a mass balance approach, the equations for an input-output model are derived and solved using Matlab (the Math Works Inc.). Changes in venous oxygenation are related to the results of fMRI experiments using progressively shorter periods of stimulation. An impulse-response function for the model is derived in an attempt to explore the source of the lag in cerebral hemodynamics. Increasing the frequency of stimulation bursts eventually produces a dampening in the fMRI signal. The dampening phenomenon in fMRI signals occurs with stimulation of high frequency on-off alternation. The dynamics of signal dampening, as well as the impulse-response function of a blood oxygen level-dependent model, lend strong indirect support to the hypothesis that blood oxygen level-dependent contrast at the level of the venous blood pool, rather than R1 inflow effects or changes in oxygenation at the level of the capillary bed, underlies the observed signal changes in fMRI.
Content of Gastric Inhibitory Substance in Saliva of Patients with Various Gastric Disorders

Summary Samples of saliva were collected from normal individuals and from patients with duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer, and gastric cancer. The concentration of gastric inhibitory substance in saliva pooled from these various groups of subjects was measured by bioassay on gastric secretion of rats after ligation of the pylorus. Saliva from patients with gastric ulcer and gastric cancer had a significantly greater concentration of inhibitory substance than saliva from patients with duodenal ulcer.
Unstandardized Responses to a "Standardized" Test: The edTPA as Gatekeeper and Curriculum Change Agent.

We examine edTPA (a teacher performance assessment) implementation at one private university during the first year that our state required this exam for initial teaching certification. Using data f...
Finite Element Analysis of Wave Diffraction by a Crack

The time history of mode III stress intensity factor K\d3 is calculated, and compared with exact solutions. It is found that crack-tip elements with a singular strain field are much less effective in elastodynamics than elastostatics. The nonsingular (ordinary) crack tip element whose crack-opening displacement is calibrated against the exact value of k\d3 by means of a static finite element solution for load applied at remote boundaries was found to be most effective. Detailed studies have also been carried out for implicit and explicit time-step algorithms; proper sizes of elements; methods for solving equation systems; the questions of nonreflecting boundary; lumping of mass matrix; and elimination of spurious oscillations superimposed on the correct solution. The convergence and accuracy of various singular crack-tip elements have been examined. Finally, application of the technique for in-plane motions is also presented.
Death and the City Female Public Suicide and Meaningful Space in Modern Mexico City

Poised on the cusp of the twentieth century, many urban citizens believed their societies to be sickened by suicide epidemics. It was assumed that rapid modernization and technological advance caused some individuals to develop nervous conditions that negated their impulses for self-preservation. Although statistical evidence pointed to higher rates of suicide among adult men, society believed that youth and women were most vulnerable to the epidemic. This article examines cases of young women carefully planning their suicides in symbolic spaces of Mexico City. It argues that public suicides made self-conscious decisions on how they would die, in particular choosing the sites of their deaths for their cultural meanings. How society viewed their deaths depended upon their virtue in life; nevertheless, Mexicans perpetuated their culture of commemorating the dead by erecting ephemeral memorials at the sites of death. Language: en
Medical oncologists' perception of palliative care programs and the impact of name change to supportive care on communication with patients during the referral process. A qualitative study.

Objective:In a simultaneous care model, patients have concurrent access to both cancer-directed therapies and palliative care. As oncologists play a critical role in determining the need/timing of referral to palliative care programs, their understanding of the service and ability to communicate this with patients is of paramount importance. Our study aimed to examine oncologists' perceptions of the supportive care program at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and to determine whether renaming “palliative care” to “supportive care” influenced communication regarding referrals.Method:This qualitative study used semi-directed interviews, and we analyzed data using grounded theory and qualitative methods.Results:We interviewed 17 oncologists. Supportive care was perceived as an important time-saving application, and symptom control, transitioning to end-of-life care, family counseling, and improving patients' ability to tolerate cancer therapies were cited as important functions. Although most claimed that early referrals to the service are preferable, oncologists identified several challenges, related to the timing and communication with patients regarding the referral, as well as with the supportive care team after the referral was made. Whereas oncologists stated that the name change had no impact on their referral patterns, the majority supported it, as they perceived their patients preferred it.Significance of results:Although the majority of oncologists favorably viewed supportive care, communication barriers were identified, which need further confirmation. Simultaneous care models that effectively incorporate palliative care with cancer treatments need further development.
A Revision of the Genus Ephemerella (Ephemeroptera: Ephemerellidae) VI. The Subgenus Serratella in North America

The 13 known species of the subgenus Serratella include E. ( S. ) velmae from California. This new species, like E. Carolina Berner and Allen, and E. spiculosa Berner and Allen, is known only from the nymphal stage. Ephemerella molita McDunnough is of uncertain status; E. teresa Traver (= E. cognata Traver), new synonymy. Illustrated keys are given to the known nymphs and adults, and distributions and complete synonymies are given for each species.
Epidemic Prevention in Reconstruction Stage after Wenchuan Earthquake in Sichuan Province

Objective To analyze the performance of epidemic prevention of Sichuan Province in the reconstruction stage after Wenchuan earthquake,so as to provide references for future epidemic prevention when such emergencies occur.Methods Data about the relief work were collected from the archives of Centers of Disease Control and Prevention in earthquake-stricken areas.And then the data were classified and analyzed.Results In the reconstruction stage,epidemic prevention followed principals of local-based,local-management,assistance-relied and joint-forces-pushed.The strategies included strengthening the capacity of CDCs through personnel training and improving abilities of hygiene service.Owing to these strategies,the epidemic prevention in Sichuan Province was conducted vigorously,orderly and e ectively.Conclusion The epidemic prevention strategies in the reconstruction stage in Sichuan Province are accurate and effective,which could be recommended when such emergencies occur in future.
Transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract: evaluation of prognostic factors by histopathology and flow cytometric analysis.

Abstract: Prognostic factors in transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract were assessed with histopathological examination and flow cytometric analysis in a series of 127 patients operated upon between 1976 and 1988. In particular, we evaluated the usefulness of flow cytometry to identify patients who require adjuvant treatment among those with low grade and low stage disease (51% in this series). A multivariate analysis was done on 92 cases, considering patient age and sex, stage, grade and number of lesions (unifocal versus multifocal), site (renal pelvis versus ureter), presence of vesical tumors, recurrences along the urinary tract or in the bladder, type of operation and nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) ploidy (diploid versus tetraploid/aneuploid tumors). Only the stage (p = 0.001), grade (p = 0.001) and, to a lesser extent, the DNA pattern (p = 0.031), as well as the number of lesions (p = 0.061) were determinant for prognosis. In regard to the subgroup of 41 patients with grade 2 or...
Fiber Optic Link Requirements

This chapter illustrates the performance requirements of a fiber link and presents some design trade-offs involved in link planning and implementation. It emphasizes on the performance of point-to-point data links. These data links are the most common building blocks of data communication networks. These are used to build up more complex logical topologies, such as switched stars, rings, and so forth. The performance of a network system depends on the interaction of many elements, including both hardware and software, and is largely application dependent. Most data links are full duplex, thus permitting a two-way communication among the attached devices. Data link design is driven by the cost of optoelectronic transceivers and adapters, and not by optimization of the fiber bandwidth. Another unique requirement of datacom systems is distance. Fiber optic links are capable of error-free transmission over tens of km at data rates significantly higher than those of copper systems, which were earlier used. This increase in the data rate-distance product has opened up the data center and is partly responsible for recent distributed computing strategies. It has also enabled new applications, such as real-time data backup at a remote location for emergency disaster recovery.
The Need for an Analysis of Human Agency

In the previous chapter, by examining reasons for thinking volitional accounts are problematic, we had hints at another way of conceiving of voluntary conduct—a way that flows more naturally from how we ordinarily distinguish voluntary conduct in its various forms. We have, also, begun to see that the assessments we make concerning what neu-ropsychological studies reveal about whether we are voluntary agents are predicated on our ideas about what voluntary conduct is. Thus, misconceptions concerning what voluntary conduct is can lead to erroneous assessments concerning what neuropsychology reveals about whether we are, in fact, voluntary agents. In this case, an in-depth analysis of voluntary conduct is crucial for assessing what neuropsychological studies reveal about whether we are voluntary agents. Here, I begin to lay the groundwork for such an analysis (an analysis which will be my task over the next several chapters) in order to make such an assessment (ultimately, my task in Chapter 7).
Prospero and Caliban: Decolonization and the United States

The study of state behavior usually, and in the case of third world states almost always, includes the study of the attempts of polities to align their internal possibilities to the realities of the international environment. To examine where a state is moving, on a spectrum of behavior from “extreme maladaptation” (South Vietnam, which went out of existence), to “ideal adaptation” (Japan, moving from defeated power to economic superpower), requires an inspection of the state’s internal behavior and its drive mechanisms and then an examination of the foreign policy possibilities. This requires an understanding of the historical, geographic, and economic realities in which the state finds and defines itself. For the Philippines, these realities to an extraordinary extent involve relations with the United States.
The relative contribution of the medial and lateral femoral circumflex arteries to the vascularity of the head and neck of the femur: a quantitative MRI-based assessment.

Aims We aimed to quantify the relative contributions of the medial femoral circumflex artery (MFCA) and lateral femoral circumflex artery (LFCA) to the arterial supply of the head and neck of the femur. Materials and Methods We acquired ten cadaveric pelvises. In each of these, one hip was randomly assigned as experimental and the other as a matched control. The MFCA and LFCA were cannulated bilaterally. The hips were designated LFCA-experimental or MFCA-experimental and underwent quantitative MRI using a 2 mm slice thickness before and after injection of MRI-contrast diluted 3:1 with saline (15 ml Gd-DTPA) into either the LFCA or MFCA. The contralateral control hips had 15 ml of contrast solution injected into the root of each artery. Next, the MFCA and LFCA were injected with a mixture of polyurethane and barium sulfate (33%) and their extra-and intra-arterial course identified by CT imaging and dissection. Results The MFCA made a greater contribution than the LFCA to the vascularity of the femoral head (MFCA 82%, LFCA 18%) and neck (MFCA 67%, LFCA 33%). However, the LFCA supplied 48% of the anteroinferior femoral neck overall. Conclusion This study clearly shows that the MFCA is the major arterial supply to the femoral head and neck. Despite this, the LFCA supplies almost half the anteroinferior aspect of the femoral neck. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1582–8.
Extent of pelvic lymphadenectomy and use of adjuvant vaginal brachytherapy for early-stage endometrial cancer

Abstract Objective To examine trends of adjuvant radiotherapy choice and to examine associations between pelvic lymphadenectomy and radiotherapy choice for women with early-stage endometrial cancer. Methods The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program was used to identify surgically treated stage I-II endometrial cancer between 1983 and 2012 (type 1 n=79,474, and type 2 n=25,020). Piecewise linear regression models were used to examine temporal trends of intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) and whole pelvic radiotherapy (WPRT) use, pelvic lymphadenectomy rate, and sampled node counts. Multivariable binary logistic regression models were used to identify independent predictors for ICBT use. Results There was a significant increase in ICBT use and decrease in WPRT use during the study period. ICBT use exceeded WPRT use in 2003 for type 1 stage IA, and in 2007 for type 1 stage IB and type 2 stage IA diseases. In addition, number of sampled pelvic nodes significantly increased over time in type 1–2 stage I-II diseases (mean, 7.0–12.7 in 1988 to 15.2–17.6 in 2012, all P 10 nodes versus no lymphadenectomy in stage IA (1.38/2.40), IB (2.75/6.32), and II (1.36/2.91) diseases. Similar trends were observed for type 2 cancer: adjusted-odds ratios for stage IA (1.69/3.73), IB (2.25/5.65), and II (1.36/2.19) diseases. Conclusion Our results suggest that surgeons and radiation oncologists are evaluating the extent of pelvic lymphadenectomy when counseling women with early-stage endometrial cancer for adjuvant radiotherapy.
A Conditional Risk Model for Chemotherapy-Induced Anemia (CIA) in Cancer Patients.

Abstract Anemia represents the most common hematological toxicity in cancer patients receiving systemic chemotherapy and is associated with considerable morbidity and cost. Current guidelines for chemotherapy-induced anemia call for intervention at a hemoglobin Methods: 3640 patients with solid tumors or malignant lymphoma initiating a new regimen have been prospectively registered at 110 randomly selected U.S. practice sites. A logistic regression risk model for hemoglobin Results: Over a median of 3 cycles of chemotherapy, hemoglobin 1 g/dL (OR=4.48; P 100000/mm3 (OR=1.54;P Discussion: This conditional risk model based on both pretreatment characteristics and first cycle events identified cancer patients receiving chemotherapy at substantial risk for clinically significant anemia. The use of ESAs early in the course of treatment based on individual risk assessment must consider both the potential benefit and risks and careful monitoring is essential.
Sustainability and inequality: confronting the debate

A debate has arisen about the relevance of social justice and inequality issues for the sustainability goals of cities. Many cities exclude these goals as a part of their program as do some authors...