cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dietary and nutritional influences on cancer: a review of epidemiologic and experimental data

Investigation of dietary and nutritional influences on induction and development of cancer has produced a vast amount of data. This information has furthered understanding of basic mechanisms of carcinogenesis and explained certain aspects of cancer epidemiology. As is true in many areas, some relationships that were initially recognized and appeared simple have proved to be complex and to require major modification or qualification. Because the literature on diet and cancer is extensive we have limited our review of epidemiologic results to the more intensively studied nutrients and foods and to the cancers that occur most frequently in Western societies. The nutrients and foods examined in relation to cancer risk are: total calories, fat, cholesterol, fiber, alcohol, carotenoids, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, selenium, coffee, cruciferous vegetables, and protein. The sites considered are lung, breast, large bowel, prostate, ovary and pancreas. The experimental results discussed include many of the same subjects with the addition of nutrients and target organs that form a significant segment of the experimental literature.
Chapter One - TCA Precipitation

Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) precipitation of proteins is commonly used to concentrate protein samples or remove contaminants, including salts and detergents, prior to downstream applications such as SDS-PAGE or 2D-gels. TCA precipitation denatures the protein, so it should not be used if the protein must remain in its folded state (e.g., if you want to measure a biochemical activity of the protein).
Personal and environmental contextual factors as mediators between functional disability and quality of life in adults with serious mental illness: a cross-sectional analysis

To examine personal and environmental contextual factors as mediators of functional disability on quality of life (QOL) in a sample of individuals with serious mental illness (SMI). A cross-sectional analysis of 194 individuals with SMI (major depressive disorder = 38.1%; bipolar disorder = 35.6%; schizophrenia spectrum disorder = 25.8%) recruited from four psychosocial rehabilitation clubhouses was undertaken to test a multiple regression model assuming that personal (i.e., resilience, social competence, and disability acceptance) contextual factors and environmental (i.e., family support, support from friends, and support from significant others) contextual factors would mediate the relationship of functional disability on QOL. The bootstrap test for multiple mediators was then used to test for the significance of the indirect effects functional disability on QOL through the mediators. In the simple regression model, functional disability had a strong relationship with QOL; however, after introducing the potential mediators, its effect was significantly reduced indicating partial mediation effects. The final regression model yielded a large effect, accounting for 44% of the variance in QOL. Controlling for all other potential mediating factors, social competence, disability acceptance, family support, and support from friends were found to partially mediate the relationship between functional disability and QOL. Bias-corrected bootstrap procedure results further supported the mediation model. The findings from the study provide good support for the inclusion of person–environment contextual factors in conceptualizing the relationship between functional disability and QOL for individuals with SMI.
Posterior Thoracolumbar Instrumented Fusion for Burst Fractures: A Meta-analysis.

Study Design:This was a meta-analysis study.Objective:To compare different posterior spine fixation methods for burst fracture fixation.Summary of Background Data:This study was performed to elucidate if the current body of literature supports one posterior spinal fusion fixation method for burst fr
Deswelling Induced Morphological Changes in Dual pH and Temperature Responsive Ultra-Low Crosslinked Poly (N-isopropyl acrylamide)-co-Acrylic Acid Microgels.

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgels prepared without exogenous cross-linker are extremely “soft” as a result of their very low cross-linking density, with network connectivity arising only from the self-crosslinking of pNIPAm chains. As a result of this extreme softness, our group and others have taken interest in using these materials in a variety of bioengineering applications, while also pursuing studies of their fundamental properties. Here, we report deswelling triggered structural changes in poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (ULC10AAc) microgels prepared by precipitation polymerization. Dynamic light scattering suggests that the deswelling of these particles not only depends on the collapse of the pNIPAm chains but is also influenced by the ionization state of the acrylic acid moieties present in the copolymer. The ULC10AAc microgel behaves like a traditional cross-linked pNIPAm microgel at pH 3.5, showing a sharp decrease in the hydrodynamic diameter around the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of pNIPAm. As the pH is increased to 4.5, we observe multiple transitions in the deswelling curve, suggesting inhomogeneity in the structure and/or composition of the microgels. At pH 6.5, the microgels cease to be thermoresponsive over the studied temperature range due to increased charge repulsion between the fully deprotonated AAc groups and an increase in gel osmotic pressure due to solvated counterion ingress. Atomic force microscopy images of particles deposited at different temperatures reveal a temperature-induced morphological change, with punctate structures forming inside microgels at pH 4.5 and 6.5 and temperature above the gel volume phase transition temperature (VPTT).
End-of-Treatment PET/Computed Tomography Response in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

"PET imaging with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), integrated with PET/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT), is an effective management tool of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The results of end-of-treatment (EOT) FDG-PET/CT are more accurate for detection of active disease with residual masses on CT. Complete response defined by EOT FDG-PET/CT (PET-CR) correlates with long-term outcome of patients. Treatment efficacy is determined using EOT PET/CT rather than progression-free survival (PFS) for clinical trials assessing novel drugs. If the correlation of EOT PET/CT with PFS is further proven in large studies and meta-analyses, EOT PET-CR could serve as an expedited novel endpoint replacing PFS."
Analyzing Air Quality of Urban Cities in Korea and Vietnam

In recent years, environmental problems such as climate change and pollution are affecting people's daily lives all over the globe. Acknowledging this umbrella environmental dilemma, this project aims to (1) identify some factors that influence air quality, (2) find the insights with other social and health-related variables, (3) raise awareness with statistical evidence, and (4) find good replicable preventive solutions for other countries who suffer air pollution. This project investigates the trend of air quality---air quality index (AQI), particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), and particulate matter 10 (PM10)---from 2015 to 2018 in Asia, specifically in Vietnam and Korea, using Watson Analytics and data-driven methods. This study uses over 40 million data points (not limited to AQI and particulate matters) coming from various different sources including governmental official data, private NGOs, and the US embassy. One of the key results of this project is a clear relationship between PM2.5 and average humidity in Korea. Another key result includes the discovery of similar pattern in the correlations between AQI and the following time variable: yearly, quarterly, monthly, and daily.
Microstructure Modeling of High b-Value Diffusion-Weighted Images in Glioblastoma.

Apparent diffusion coefficient has limits to differentiate solid tumor from normal tissue or edema in glioblastoma (GBM). This study investigated a microstructure model (MSM) in GBM using a clinically available diffusion imaging technique. The MSM was modified to integrate with bi-polar diffusion gradient waveforms, and applied to 30 patients with newly diagnosed GBM. Diffusion-weighted (DW) images acquired on a 3 T scanner with b-values from 0 to 2500 s/mm2 were fitted in volumes of interest (VOIs) of solid tumor to obtain the apparent restriction size of intracellular water (ARS), the fractional volume of intracellular water (Vin ), and extracellular (Dex ) water diffusivity. The parameters in solid tumor were compared with those of other tissue types by Students' t test. For comparison, DW images were fitted by conventional mono-exponential and bi-exponential models. ARS, Dex , and Vin from the MSM in tumor VOIs were significantly greater than those in WM, GM, and edema (P values of .01-.001). ARS values in solid tumors (from 21.6 to 34.5 um) had absolutely no overlap with those in all other tissue types (from 0.9 to 3.5 um). Vin values showed a descending order from solid tumor (from 0.32 to 0.52) to WM, GM, and edema (from 0.05 to 0.25), consisting with the descending cellularity in these tissue types. The parameters from mono-exponential and bi-exponential models could not significantly differentiate solid tumor from all other tissue types, particularly from edema. Further development and histopathological validation of the MSM will warrant its role in clinical management of GBM.
Study of Firecracker MicroVM.

Firecracker is a virtualization technology that makes use of Kernel Virtual Machine (KVM). Firecracker belongs to a new virtualization class named the micro-virtual machines (MicroVMs). Using Firecracker, we can launch lightweight MicroVMs in non-virtualized environments in a fraction of a second, at the same time offering the security and workload isolation provided by traditional VMs and also the resource efficiency that comes along with containers \cite{b1}. Firecracker aims to provide a slimmed-down MicroVM, comprised of approximately 50K lines of code in Rust and with a reduced attack surface for guest VMs. This report will examine the internals of Firecracker and understand why Firecracker is the next big thing going forward in virtualization and cloud computing.
Think Spiral: the Divided Brain and Classical Liberalism

Iain McGilchrist richly explains the right and left hemispheres of the brain, how each functions and what each tends to do. This paper serves, firstly, as a primer to McGilchrist’s fascinating exposition. Second, it offers a formulation that uses a spiral to structure the iterative and layered relationship. Third, it presents McGilchrist’s concerns about how modernity has enfeebled the right hemisphere, and how the left hemisphere is, at it were, running amok. Fourth, it considers some of McGilchrist’s political overtones. Sharing McGilchrist’s concerns, finally, I elaborate why they might lead us to look to classical liberalism as the best way to avoid the traps of the left hemisphere, to invigorate the health of the right hemisphere, and to cope with modernity.
High-temperature metallic glasses: Status, needs, and opportunities

Metallic glasses that combine the mechanical properties of metals with the chemical durability of glasses are highly desirable, especially for applications in extreme environments such as those in nuclear and aerospace industries. However, commonly studied metallic glasses often crystallize at lower temperatures and are not suitable for such applications. In this research update, the authors highlight recent advances in metallic glasses with crystallization temperatures above 700\ifmmode \mathring{}\else \r{}\fi{}C. These high temperature metallic glasses are discussed in terms of the formation methods, the glass forming ability, as well as the thermodynamic properties and mechanical properties. An outlook section provides the reader with an overview of the areas of research that have thus far been neglected with a specific focus on corrosion and mechanical properties. Successful development of high temperature metallic glasses can lead to a new class of materials for extreme environments.
The daily Self-Weighing for Obesity Management in Primary Care Study: Rationale, design and methodology

Abstract Background Daily self-weighing (DSW) may be an effective harm-reduction intervention to disrupt continued weight gain. S elf- W eighing for O besity Management in P rimary Care (SWOP) is a 24-month randomized controlled trial in 400 adults with obesity (BMI: kg/m2 ≥ 30) receiving primary care through a clinical network affiliated with an academic medical center. Objective To test DSW as a potentially scalable way to deter age-related weight gain among primary care patients with obesity. Methods Randomized-controlled trial with two conditions: DSW (instruction to weigh daily and provision of a web-enabled digital scale with graphical weight feedback) or Standard Care (receive a monetary gift card equivalent to value of the scale). Both groups receive standardized weight management educational material. SWOP will test the causal effect of assignment to DSW (Aim 1) and adherence to DSW (Aim 2) on weight (primary outcome) and adoption of weight management practices (secondary outcomes), as well as evaluate the cost-effectiveness of DSW compared to standard care (Aim 3). Findings may inform clinical guidelines for weight management by providing evidence that DSW attenuates continued age-related weight gain among adults with obesity. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04044794).
Trichorhinopharyngeal Syndrome Type 1 and Trisomy 21: A Patient with 2 Genetic Mutations:

Trichorhinophalangeal syndrome (TRPS) Type I is a rare, autosomal dominant genetic syndrome with a spectrum of characteristics affecting hair, craniofacial, and skeletal development. It was first d...
Far-Subwavelength Spatial Resolution Using Relative Motion in Structured Illumination

Far-subwavelength spatial resolution based on relative motion between a structured field and an object with far-field intensity measurements is proposed, supported with numerical simulations, and demonstrated with speckle from random media to sense microstructure.
Entry to and exit from diapause arrest in Caenorhabditis elegans are both regulated by a steroid hormone pathway

Diapause arrest in animals such as Caenorhabditis elegans is tightly regulated so that animals make appropriate developmental decisions amidst environmental challenges. Fully understanding diapause requires mechanistic insight of both entry and exit from the arrested state. While a steroid hormone pathway regulates the entry decision into Caenorhabditis elegans dauer diapause, its role in the exit decision is less clear. A complication to understanding steroid hormonal regulation of dauer has been the peculiar fact that steroid hormone mutants such as daf-9 form partial dauers under normal growth conditions. Here, we corroborate previous findings that daf-9 mutants remain capable of forming full dauers under unfavorable growth conditions, and we establish that the daf-9 partial dauer state is likely a partially exited dauer that has initiated but cannot complete the dauer exit decision. We show that the steroid hormone pathway is both necessary for and promotes complete dauer exit, and that the spatiotemporal dynamics of steroid hormone regulation during dauer exit resembles that of dauer entry. Overall, dauer entry and dauer exit are distinct developmental decisions that are both controlled by steroid hormone signaling. Summary StatementIn animals such as Caenorhabditis elegans, a steroid hormone pathway controls both the entry and exit decisions into and out of the developmentally arrested dauer state in response to environmental signaling.
If You Can’t Sell Your Kidney, Can You Trade It? Examining the Morality of Alternative Kidney Exchange Institutions

In the absence of kidney markets, alternative institutions for exchanging kidneys have arisen to give donors incentives to donate. I examine thirteen such institutions, and ask whether moral arguments against markets, such as commodification, apply to them or not. I find that most arguments against kidney arguments also argue against these alternative institutions, meaning those arguments are not strong enough to prevent society from using institutions to exchange kidneys. Two arguments that do explain which kidney exchange institutions are socially accepted and which are not are that institutions should not be want-regarding and should not be exploitative.Screening donors to eliminate those with socially unacceptable motives for donation and those who are in a position of being exploited could make kidney markets acceptable, since they would then only be vulnerable to arguments which have not prevented alternative exchange institutions from functioning.
Microtubule Organizing Centers Regulate Spindle Positioning in Mouse Oocytes

During female meiosis I (MI), spindle positioning must be tightly regulated to ensure the fidelity of the first asymmetric division and faithful chromosome segregation. Although the role of F-actin in regulating these critical processes has been studied extensively, little is known whether microtubules (MTs) participate in regulating these processes. Here, we characterize a new class of MT organizing centers in the oocyte that does not contribute to spindle assembly, termed mcMTOCs. Using laser ablation, STED super-resolution microscopy and chemical manipulation, we show that mcMTOCs are required to regulate spindle positioning and faithful chromosome segregation during MI. We discuss how forces exerted by F-actin on the spindle are balanced by mcMTOC-nucleated MTs to anchor the spindle centrally and to regulate its timely migration. Our findings provide a new model for asymmetric cell division, complementing the current F-actin-based models, and implicate mcMTOCs as a new player in regulating spindle positioning, an indispensable function to avoid aneuploidy, the leading genetic cause of miscarriage and congenital abnormalities.
Irreversible electroporation for pancreatic cancer using intraprocedural cone-beam computed tomography fusion navigation: a case report.

Background Patients diagnosed with locally advanced pancreatic cancer are usually not eligible for surgical resection because of significant vascular involvement. Stereotactic body radiation therapy and chemotherapy are the treatments recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network criteria. For patients who do not respond to or tolerate stereotactic body radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy, a new option is irreversible electroporation. Irreversible electroporation is a nonthermal minimally invasive ablation technique that uses electrical pulses to induce apoptosis of tumor cells without damage to the extracellular matrix, thus preserving ducts and vessels. Irreversible electroporation requires very precise needle placement, which has limited its ubiquitous use. Intraprocedural cone-beam computed tomography with navigation can be fused with previous imaging to provide real-time tumor navigation capabilities during the procedure to allow for more accurate needle placement and treatment. Here, we present a patient who underwent percutaneous irreversible electroporation with intraprocedural cone-beam computed tomography fusion guidance to treat his pancreatic cancer. Case presentation The patient, an 88-year-old White male, initially presented with abdominal pain, and was ultimately diagnosed with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. He has an excellent performance status and no other comorbidities. He was started on chemotherapy and radiation therapy, with good response. However, continued vascular involvement of the tumors precluded him from safe surgical resection. The patient underwent irreversible electroporation with intraprocedural cone-beam computed tomography fusion navigation. The primary lesion demonstrates no residual tumor, and the soft tissue involvement of the adjacent vasculature has stabilized. Conclusions Although not curative on its own, irreversible electroporation holds promise as a treatment option for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer to increase downsizing to curative surgery or increase quality of life. Cone-beam computed tomography navigation can improve irreversible electroporation by providing guidance during needle guidance. Image fusion with previous advanced imaging can improve lesion visualization and targeting, thereby improving the effectiveness of irreversible electroporation.
Improved synthetic routes to tungsten(IV) bromide complexes

Convenient synthetic routes to the compounds WBr4 (1), WBr4(MeCN)2 (2), WBr4(THF)2 (3), WBr4(PPh3)2 (4), WBr4(bpy) (6), and WBr4(dppe) (7) are described via the solution-phase oxidation of W(CO)6 using two equivalents of bromine. These one-pot syntheses use inexpensive and readily available starting materials and produce analytically pure compounds with high yields under mild conditions. Attempts to grow crystals of 1 by heating in a sealed tube at ~200 °C resulted in formation of the previously reported compound WOBr4. Attempts to recrystallize 4 from dichloromethane solution produced [HPPh3]2[WBr6] (5). X-ray crystallographic studies showed that 5 consists of an array of [WBr6]2− anions and [HPPh3]+ cations and that 7·CH2Cl2 has the expected six-coordinate tungsten center. The synthesis of tungsten(IV) bromide compounds via oxidation of W(CO)6 is simple and provides better yields than previously reported methods. This synthetic route also has many advantages over the syntheses of similar tungsten(IV) chloride compounds which involve reduction of WCl6.
Preferential osmolyte accumulation: a mechanism of osmotic stress adaptation in diazotrophic bacteria.

A common cellular mechanism of osmotic-stress adaptation is the intracellular accumulation of organic solutes (osmolytes). We investigated the mechanism of osmotic adaptation in the diazotrophic bacteria Azotobacter chroococcum, Azospirillum brasilense, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which are adversely affected by high osmotic strength (i.e., soil salinity and/or drought). We used natural-abundance 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to identify all the osmolytes accumulating in these strains during osmotic stress generated by 0.5 M NaCl. Evidence is presented for the accumulation of trehalose and glutamate in Azotobacter chroococcum ZSM4, proline and glutamate in Azospirillum brasilense SHS6, and trehalose and proline in K. pneumoniae. Glycine betaine was accumulated in all strains grown in culture media containing yeast extract as the sole nitrogen source. Alternative nitrogen sources (e.g., NH4Cl or casamino acids) in the culture medium did not result in measurable glycine betaine accumulation. We suggest that the mechanism of osmotic adaptation in these organisms entails the accumulation of osmolytes in hyperosmotically stressed cells resulting from either enhanced uptake from the medium (of glycine betaine, proline, and glutamate) or increased net biosynthesis (of trehalose, proline, and glutamate) or both. The preferred osmolyte in Azotobacter chroococcum ZSM4 shifted from glutamate to trehalose as a consequence of a prolonged osmotic stress. Also, the dominant osmolyte in Azospirillum brasilense SHS6 shifted from glutamate to proline accumulation as the osmotic strength of the medium increased.
Generation of a single-cycle optical pulse

By electronically adjusting the phases of seven Raman sidebands which span 1.56 µm to 410 nm we generate a train rain of well-formed single-cycle optical pulses with a pulse width of 1.5 fs.
OXYGEN INTERCALATION, STAGE ORDERING, AND PHASE SEPARATION IN LA2NIO4+DELTA WITH 0.05 DELTA 0.11

We report neutron diffraction studies on a series of ${\mathrm{La}}_{2}$${\mathrm{NiO}}_{4+\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$ single crystals with 0.05\ensuremath{\lesssim}\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{\lesssim}0.11. At 300 K, all of the crystals have an average tetragonal structure (space group I4/mmm). On cooling below 290 K, one or more orthorhombic phases appear, characterized by incommensurate superlattice peaks at (0,k,l\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}\ensuremath{\Delta}) with k odd, l even, and 1/4\ensuremath{\le}1/2. The positions, widths, and intensities of the superlattice peaks are quite sensitive to the cooling rate. We show that the incommensurate peaks are evidence of intercalated layers of oxygen spaced periodically along the c axis, with a one-dimensional ordering similar to the staging of intercalates in graphite. The structure of the ${\mathrm{La}}_{2}$${\mathrm{NiO}}_{4}$ lattice between the interstitial layers is of the Bmab-type; the superlattice peaks result from the ordered antiphase domain boundaries induced by the interstitial oxygens, which sit at (1/4, 1) / 4 , 1/4)-type positions. Observed orderings involve interstitial layers separated by two to four Ni-O layers. Peak shapes and positions are modelled quantitatively using the formulas of Hendricks and Teller for one-dimensional disorder in a layer lattice. Besides the one-dimensional ordering of the intercalant layers, temperature-dependent phase separations are observed. Because of the slow ordering kinetics, phase separation can be suppressed by rapid cooling.
Iconographic Method in New World Prehistory

1. Preliminaries: an iconography of prehistoric images 2. Style 3. Form and referent 4. Configurational analysis 5. Ethnographic analogy 6. The logic of iconographic method in prehistory.
Design and implementation of interleaved Vienna rectifier with greater than 99% efficiency

In this paper, the design and implementation of a 3 kW, three-phase, two-channel interleaved Vienna rectifier with greater than 99% efficiency is presented. The operation principle of an interleaved Vienna rectifier is introduced, with particular attention paid to the circulating current generated by interleaving operation. The design procedure for achieving maximum efficiency is described. Methods for loss calculation and hardware implementation involved in the optimization procedure are introduced. Finally, a prototype of the proposed converter is constructed, which achieves 99.08% efficiency at nominal load.
Monoamine oxidase: An important intracellular regulator of gastrin release in the rat

Abstract The role of monoamine oxidase (MAO) in the meal-induced or amino acid-induced release of gastrin was investigated. Rats that were pretreated with the nonspecific MAO inhibitor nialamide (200 mg/kg) showed a greater rise in meal-induced serum gastrin than did untreated controls. In vitro experiments demonstrated that gastrin secretion from dispersed antral G cells in response to a stimulatory dose of phenylalanine or methylbenzylamine (10 mM) was markedly enhanced if the cells were treated with nialamide. Studies with the more specific MAO inhibitors clorgyline and deprenyl indicated that antral mucosa contained predominantly type A activity. Inhibition of MAO type A with clorgyline, both in vivo and in vitro, resulted in a greater release of gastrin after stimulation by a meal or phenylalanine. It is concluded that MAO may play an important role in the regulation of gastrin release from the G cell by partially controlling the level of amines within the cell.
Quasicrystals: the view from les houches

Soon after the announcement of their discovery in 1984 [1], quasi-crystals hit the headlines. Here was a substance—an alloy of aluminum and manganese—whose electron diffraction patterns exhibited clear and unmistakable icosahedral symmetry (a view along a five-fold axis is shown in Figure 25-1). A clear and unmistakable diffraction pattern of any sort is evidence of “long-range order”: The diffraction pattern is a picture of a Fourier transform. Long-range order is usually synonymous with periodicity, and every periodic structure has a translation lattice. But a simple argument shows that five-fold rotational symmetry is incompatible with lattices in R 2 and R 3: every lattice has a minimum distance d between its points, but if two points at this distance are centers of five-fold rotation about parallel axes, the rotations will generate an orbit with smaller distances between them (Figure 25-2). By this chain of reasoning, it appeared that the impossible had occurred.
Seed biomass production and germination rates of Cyperus entrerianus1

Abstract Cyperus entrerianus (Boeckler) (deeprooted sedge, deeproot sedge, woodrush flatsedge) has become naturalized throughout the Texas coastal prairie ecoregion and is now found throughout much of the southeastern United States. Originally from Argentina, its successful naturalization is linked to its rapid growth, morphological plasticity, and generalized habitat requirements, but little work has focused upon its seed biology or ecology. Research was conducted to quantify phytomorphological variability, develop seed yield prediction models, and quantify germination requirements for C. entrerianus to aid in future control and management efforts of this exotic invasive sedge, particularly those focused upon seedbanks. Cyperus entrerianus phytomorphology, seed production, and seed germination were extremely variable among study areas, and provide evidence for its successful naturalization. Although plants varied morphologically, spike cluster area and inflorescence diameter explained much of the variati...
Identification of tension hemopneumothorax on supine chest radiograph: Value of the visceral pleural line sign

Tension hemopneumothorax is a life-threatening condition produced by either blunt or penetrating chest or thoracoabdominal trauma. The purpose of this study is to describe and illustrate the signs of tension hemopneumothorax on the supine chest radiograph. Review of the initial supine chest radiograph of 11 patients who were thought to have tension hemopneumothorax secondary to major blunt chest trauma constitutes the method of the study. The results of the study indicate that signs of tension hemopneumothorax include the visceral pleural line sign and shift of the mediastinal structures to the opposite side with or without a deep sulcus sign. These observations on the supine chest radiograph were confirmed by erect chest radiography in one patient, axial computed tomography in two patients, and clinically at the time of tube thoracostomy and by postthoracostomy intubation supine chest radiographs in eight patients. We conclude, therefore, that tension hemopneumothorax is recognizable on supine chest radiographs by the visceral pleural line sign and contralateral mediastinal shift with or without a deep sulcus sign, that tension hemopneumothorax is distinguishable from hemopneumothorax, hemothorax, and extrapleural hematoma, and that the radiologic distinction is clinically significant.
Understanding the appeal of user‐generated media: a uses and gratification perspective

Purpose – User‐generated media (UGM) like YouTube, MySpace, and Wikipedia have become tremendously popular over the last few years. The purpose of this paper is to present an analytical framework for explaining the appeal of UGM.Design/methodology/approach – This paper is mainly theoretical due to a relative lack of empirical evidence. After an introduction on the emergence of UGM, this paper investigates in detail how and why people use UGM, and what factors make UGM particularly appealing, through a uses and gratifications perspective. Finally, the key elements of this study are summarized and the future research directions about UGM are discussed.Findings – This paper argues that individuals take with UGM in different ways for different purposes: they consume contents for fulfilling their information, entertainment, and mood management needs; they participate through interacting with the content as well as with other users for enhancing social connections and virtual communities; and they produce their...
New competencies in democratic communication? Blogs, agenda setting and political participation

Contrary to initial predictions Internet-mediated forms of communication have not become mediums of mass communication. Traditional media still reach far more people than even the most popular websites. Still, there is evidence that blogs in particular help mobilize opinions, and set the agenda for political elites such as journalists and politicians, while providing interested citizens with a new technology of knowledge as well as a surprisingly effective way to participate in politics. This study focuses on how the presence of blogs has altered the structure of political communication.
Testicular germ cell loss in children with renal failure

Delayed puberty, hypergonadotropism, impaired spermatogenesis, decreased libido and infertility have been reported in males with chronic renal failure (CRF). The number of spermatogonia per seminiferous tubule was quantitated in 22 children with renal failure (RF) in this study using anti-neuron-specific enolase to selectively label these cells. Results were compared to those of puberty and age-matched controls and were subjected to statistical analysis. This study showed that: 1) Children and adolescents with RF have a significantly decreased number of spermatogonia per seminiferous tubule, compared to puberty and age-matched controls; 2) Germinal cell counts in infants with RF under 3 months of age compared to control infants do not reach statistical significance but are borderline; 3) Children with RF over 3 months of age have statistically fewer germinal cells than age-matched controls, a difference which appears to increase with age; 4) Not all children with RF have decreased numbers of spermatogonia...
Loss of Coastal Strand Habitat in Southern California: The Role of Beach Grooming

We investigated the role of beach grooming in the loss of coastal strand ecosystems. On groomed beaches, unvegetated dry sand zones were four times wider, macrophyte wrack cover was >9 times lower, and native plant abundance and richness were 15 and >3 times lower, respectively, compared to ungroomed beaches. Experimental comparisons of native plant performance were consistent with our survey results: although initial germination was similar, seed bank, survival, and reproduction were significantly lower in groomed compared to ungroomed plots. Rates of aeolian sand transport were significantly higher in groomed plots, while native plants or wrack placed in that zone reduced sand transport. Our results suggest beach grooming has contributed to widespread conversion of coastal strand ecosystems to unvegetated sand. Increased conservation of these threatened coastal ecosystems could help retain sediment, promote the formation of dunes, and maintain biodiversity, wildlife, and human use in the face of rising sea levels.
Trypanosoma cruzi: responses by cells from infected mice to alloantigens.

Abstract In unidirectional mixed lymphocyte cultures containing (as responders, stimulators, or regulators) spleen cells from mice infected with Trypanosoma cruzi , alloantigen responses were less than in cultures containing normal spleen cells only. Depletion of plastic adherent cells from infected spleen cells (stimulators or regulators) reversed their inhibitory effect on normal spleen cells (responders); removal of adherent responder cells and/or B lymphocytes did not alter the low alloantigen responses of normal spleen cells (stimulated by infected spleen cells) or infected spleen cells (stimulated by normal spleen cells). Infected spleen cells were effective in regulating mixed lymphocyte cultures only when added at the initiation of the culture. Serum from infected mice suppressed mixed lymphocyte cultures containing responder spleen cells syngeneic to the serum donor if added up to 24 hr after initiation of cultures, whereas the “suppressor serum” had to be present at the initiation of cultures when responder cells were allogeneic to the serum donor. Cultures of infected spleen cells (whole or macrophage enriched) produced a factor which was suppressive when added to mixed lymphocyte cultures containing syngeneic responder cells at initiation. It is proposed that the serum suppressor substance regulates cell-mediated immune responses directly by suppressing the response-potential of cells and indirectly by triggering the release of a factor from adherent splenic cells which induces a hyporesponsive state in T lymphocytes.
Exposure rates during special procedures with C-arm type fluoroscopic systems.

PURPOSE: To test for regulatory compliance of free-in-air entrance air kerma rates (EAKR) in C-arm type fluoroscopic equipment, measurements are frequently made under minimum source-to-image receptor distance (SID) and at 300 mm from the image intensifier. However, this is not representative of normal patient geometry, and the automatic brightness controls on these units frequently increase tube output as SID increases. This study investigated effects of these circumstances on actual EAKRs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Typical patient geometries were observed and recorded for 23 consecutive body vascular procedures. EAKRs were measured under compliance and normal patient geometries with use of five modern C-arm type systems for special procedures. RESULTS: SIDs of 1 m were typical when rapid film changers were employed and the patient's entrance skin surface was typically 500 mm from the image receptor. Actual EAKRs were found to be up to 2.5 times those measured under compliance geometry. CONCLUSION: Actual pa...
Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance: interlaboratory comparison and quality assurance monitors.

The Bethesda System recognizes “Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance” (ASCUS) as a category of epithelial cell abnormality. Neither the acceptable rate of ASCUS nor the clinical follow-up are well defined. This study focused on interlaboratory comparison and quality assurance methods for evaluating the rate and outcome of ASCUS. Data was collected from questionnaire surveys from the College of American Pathologists Interlaboratory PAP Program and the four authors' laboratories. Most PAP laboratories (82.5%) limit the use of “atypia” terminology to abnormalities of undetermined significance. According to PAP data, the median rate of ASCUS in 1992 was 2.9%, with 10% of laboratories reporting rates greater than 9.0%. The median squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) rate was 2.2%, with a median ASCUS/SIL ratio of 1.3. The authors' laboratories (university, independent, and hospital) revealed ASCUS rates of 1.6–9.0%, while SIL rates were 2.1–9.0%. The ASCUS/SIL ratio was less variable, 0.8–2.7. Follow-up of ASCUS patients in the authors' laboratories showed 10.3–43% with SIL, but less than 6% with high grade SIL. The ratio ASCUS/SIL may serve as a useful laboratory monitor. Peer review and follow-up studies of ASCUS serve to validate laboratory criteria and consequent clinical follow-up. Communication with clinicians is vital in ensuring optimal patient care. Diagn Cytopathol 1994; 11:390–396. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Women rising in resistance: A direct action network

Abstract This article describes the actions of the Grassroots Group of Second Class Citizens in the ERA campaign in Illinois in 1982 and the formation and activities of Women Rising in Resistance, a network of feminists engaged in direct action. It discusses some obstacles to women's direct action and the importance of education concerning its history and effectiveness.
Crack growth in a directionally solidified ψ/ψ′ + δ eutectic alloy under creep and fatigue conditions

Abstract Crack growth rates under cyclic, static and combined loads have been determined for a directionally solidified eutectic alloy (Ni/Ni 3 Al + Ni 3 Nb) at 1000 °C. The data were analyzed using linear elastic fracture mechanics. Effects of orientation and solidification structure on crack growth rate were investigated. Crack growth rate is significantly sensitive to the orientation of the crack plane with reference to lamellae orientation and to variation in solidification structure. Crack growth occurs readily under fatigue but not under static load in the transverse orientation (nothc perpendicular to growth axis) due to microcrack nucleation parallel to the lamellae, i.e. perpendicular to the main crack front. Specimen failure, however, occurs readily owing to the growth of these secondary cracks. Premature failure due to such secondary crack nucleation also occurs under combined loads.
Herbert Blankenhorn in the Third Reich

The early career of Herbert Blankenhorn (1904–1991) illustrates important trends in the transition from Nazi Germany to the Federal Republic. During the 1930s and 1940s he served as a diplomat in the German Foreign Office and also joined the Nazi Party in 1938. After 1945 he would play a very public role in the creation of a new political culture in West Germany. Konrad Adenauer thought that the exceptional political sense of his young personal assistant, who also served as Secretary General of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in the British Zone, helped him become chancellor of the Federal Republic in 1949. Through the mid-1950s Blankenhorn remained one of Adenauer's most intimate advisors, especially on matters concerning foreign policy. From late 1949 to mid-1950, he also oversaw the creation of what became the West German Auswartiges Amt (Foreign Office), and thereafter he was the head of its Political Division and deputy to State Secretary Walter Hallstein until 1955. He went on to serve as West German ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (1955–1958), France (1958–1963), Italy (1963–1965), and the United Kingdom (1965–1970). After retiring from the diplomatic service in 1970, Blankenhorn functioned as the West German representative in the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Executive Council until 1976.
Heart rate patterns under stress in three species of macaques

Cardiac responses during one hour exposures to three stressful experimental conditions were compared among juvenile females of three species of the genus Macaca (M. mulatta, M. radiata, and M. fascicularis). M. fascicularis showed the highest overall heart rate, and M. mulatta the lowest, in all three conditions. The principal difference between species was in the pattern of change in heart rate over the test sessions. Heart rate declined during the hour for all three species in the first two conditions (home cage novel environment), and the change was most rapid in M. mulatta and slowest in M. fascicularis. In the third and most stressful condition (physical restraint), each species showed a distinct temporal pattern. Heart rate increased over the hour in M. fascicularis, declined in M. radiata, and increased rapidly then declined gradually in M. mulatta. Individual differences in heart rate tended to be consistent within and across conditions. Correlations between behavioral measures of somatic activity and heart rate were generally modest. The results are in accord with other behavioral and physiological differences obtained for the same subjects, and suggest that responses to environmental stimuli reflect fundamental aspects of temperament that may vary substantially even among closely related species. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Accurate and efficient gp120 V3 loop structure based models for the determination of HIV-1 co-receptor usage.

HIV-1 targets human cells expressing both the CD4 receptor, which binds the viral envelope glycoprotein gp120, as well as either the CCR5 (R5) or CXCR4 (X4) co-receptors, which interact primarily with the third hypervariable loop (V3 loop) of gp120. Determination of HIV-1 affinity for either the R5 or X4 co-receptor on host cells facilitates the inclusion of co-receptor antagonists as a part of patient treatment strategies. A dataset of 1193 distinct gp120 V3 loop peptide sequences (989 R5-utilizing, 204 X4-capable) is utilized to train predictive classifiers based on implementations of random forest, support vector machine, boosted decision tree, and neural network machine learning algorithms. An in silico mutagenesis procedure employing multibody statistical potentials, computational geometry, and threading of variant V3 sequences onto an experimental structure, is used to generate a feature vector representation for each variant whose components measure environmental perturbations at corresponding structural positions. Classifier performance is evaluated based on stratified 10-fold cross-validation, stratified dataset splits (2/3 training, 1/3 validation), and leave-one-out cross-validation. Best reported values of sensitivity (85%), specificity (100%), and precision (98%) for predicting X4-capable HIV-1 virus, overall accuracy (97%), Matthew's correlation coefficient (89%), balanced error rate (0.08), and ROC area (0.97) all reach critical thresholds, suggesting that the models outperform six other state-of-the-art methods and come closer to competing with phenotype assays. The trained classifiers provide instantaneous and reliable predictions regarding HIV-1 co-receptor usage, requiring only translated V3 loop genotypes as input. Furthermore, the novelty of these computational mutagenesis based predictor attributes distinguishes the models as orthogonal and complementary to previous methods that utilize sequence, structure, and/or evolutionary information. The classifiers are available online at http://proteins.gmu.edu/automute .
Chromosomal polymorphism in two species of the guarani group of drosophila

Studies of chromosomal polymorphism in natural populations of D. guaramunu and D. griseolineata in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, confirmed and extended previous findings in these species. The more common D. guaramunu is much more polymorphic than its closest but less common relative D. griseolineata. In the former species, the frequencies of four inversions showed differences from locality to locality, and five inversions of the same species showed temporal changes in the population of Bexiga. It was not possible to correlate the differences with any particular factor in the environment, though the temporal changes were perhaps due to seasonal climatic cycles.
Is match ethics an oxymoron

Abstract Background: Graduate medical education has undergone economic and structural changes—changes that have placed increasing pressure on medical students and programs to match effectively. This study documents the experiences, perceptions, and ethical dilemmas of medical students with the 1998 match process. Methods: Surveyed were 437 senior students from three medical schools. Students were questioned about: interviewing practices, communication with programs, commitments made, ethical dilemmas faced, and the match process itself. Data were analyzed using Student’s t test, the chi-square test, and descriptive statistics. Results: In all, 314 (72%) students responded. Programs expect postinterview communication from students (57%). Students perceive that programs are making “informal” commitments (43%), lying to them (33%), and encouraging their unethical behavior in order to match (21%). Ethical dilemmas are related to requests for informal commitments. Conclusions: The NRMP’s ruling that denounces prematch commitments is being broken by students and programs alike, resulting in the promotion of unprofessional behavior and gamesmanship.
Multiplexed memory-insensitive quantum repeaters

Long-distance quantum communication via distant pairs of entangled quantum bits (qubits) is the first step towards secure message transmission and distributed quantum computing. To date, the most promising proposals require quantum repeaters to mitigate the exponential decrease in communication rate due to optical fiber losses. However, these are exquisitely sensitive to the lifetimes of their memory elements. We propose a multiplexing of quantum nodes that should enable the construction of quantum networks that are largely insensitive to the coherence times of the quantum memory elements.
Recursive moving polynomial fit of sampled-data time series

A polynomial is fit to a sampled-data time series and updated at each new sample point with small memory and computation requirements. An exponentially weighted square-error criterion is used.