cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synergistic effects of biomass building blocks on pyrolysis gas and bio-oil formation

Abstract Before biobased fuels can replace fossil fuels, several key issues must be addressed. Bio-oils derived through pyrolysis of lignocellulosic material have high acidity and viscosity, and poor energy density and stability. To address these issues, this paper examines the individual and combined behavior of lignocellulosic feedstock components to shed light on the potential to generate preferential biofuel properties through biomass mixing. Dry lignocellulosic biomass is mostly composed of cell wall polysaccharides (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin), which vary widely in type and concentration across biomasses. This heterogeneity leads to increased unpredictability in biobased fuel formation during pyrolysis. Using derivative thermogravimetric (DTG) analysis, gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy, and residual gas analysis, this work explores the synergistic interactions of lignocellulosic biomass components during pyrolysis to manipulate bio-oil and gas product composition based on desired compound classes. Cellulose, xylose, xylan, and lignin were blended at different ratios to determine the extent of synergistic effects during pyrolysis. For each mixture, an ‘expected’ outcome was developed by summing the individual behavior (e.g. mass loss rate, H2 gas evolution, etc.) of the individual components based on mass fraction present. Mixtures containing lignin and/or xylan yield peak DTG mass loss rates at lower temperatures than predicted with corresponding reductions in biochar yield suggesting synergistic interactions that promote devolatilization. By itself, lignin produces large amounts of hydrogen gas, and when mixed with other biomasses promotes dehydrogenation. Lignin increases CO2 formation, resulting in lower oxygen concentrations in the bio-oil and biochar. While suppressing bio-oil generation, the presence of lignin – even at low concentrations – increases the number of phenol compounds produced, while decreasing the yield of furans. The synergistic interactions between different polysaccharides could be exploited depending on the desired biorefinery products – allowing for targeted selection of lignocellulosic biomass mixes to fine-tune resulting fuels.
COVID-19 in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: a Review of the Current Literature.

The approach to ongoing organ transplantation and management of COVID-19 in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTR) has evolved tremendously since the pandemic’s beginning. We summarize the current literature surrounding the virology of SARS-CoV-2, epidemiology of COVID-19 in transplant recipients, review the clinical features and complications of COVID-19 in SOTR, and discuss the safety and efficacy of current therapies and candidate vaccines in this population. Despite initial suspensions in organ transplantation during early 2020, routine donor testing and de-crowding of hospitals have allowed transplant activity to resume at pre-pandemic rates. COVID-19-associated mortality in SOTR is similar to that of the general population, and lower than that of patients with end-organ disease awaiting transplant. The optimal approach to immunosuppression in SOTR with COVID-19 is unknown and disease severity may influence management decisions. Many vaccines in development are likely to be safe for immunocompromised hosts, though post-marketing investigations will be required to determine the efficacy in the SOTR. Though there are multiple unique considerations in the care of SOTR with COVID-19, immunosuppression does not appear to have a detrimental impact on overall outcome. Organ transplantation remains a lifesaving intervention and can be safely performed despite a global pandemic.
HDAC3 regulates senescence and lineage specificity in non-small cell lung cancer

Summary Transcriptional deregulation is a common feature of many cancers, which is often accompanied by changes in epigenetic controls. These findings have led to the development of therapeutic agents aimed at broad modulation and reprogramming of transcription in a variety of cancers. Histone Deacetylase 3, HDAC3, is one of the main targets of HDAC inhibitors currently in clinical development as cancer therapies, yet the in vivo role of HDAC3 in solid tumors is unknown. Here, we define the role of HDAC3 in two genetic engineered models of the most common subtypes of Kras-driven Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), KrasG12D, STK11−/− (KL) and KrasG12D, p53−/− (KP), where we found that HDAC3 is strongly required for tumor growth of both genotypes in vivo. Transcriptional profiling and mechanistic studies revealed that HDAC3 represses p65 NF-κB-mediated induction of the Senescence Associated Secretory Program (SASP) and HDAC3 binds directly at the promoters of SASP CXC chemokines. Additionally, HDAC3 was found to cooperate with the lung cancer lineage transcription factor NKX2-1 to mediate expression of a common set of target genes. Leveraging observations about one HDAC3/NKX2-1 common target, FGFR1, we identified that an HDAC3-dependent transcriptional cassette becomes hyperactivated as Kras mutant cancer cells develop resistance to the MEK inhibitor Trametinib, and this can be rescued by treatment with the Class I HDAC inhibitor Entinostat. These unexpected findings reveal new roles for HDAC3 in proliferation control in tumors in vivo and identify specific therapeutic contexts for the utilization of HDAC3 inhibitors, whose ability to mechanistically induce SASP may be harnessed therapeutically.
Successfully engaging the business community in the vocational rehabilitation placement process

This article is an abstract of a best practices presentation made November 7, 2007 to national Veteran's Administrative personnel in Atlanta, Georgia. It initially reviews the relatively minimal research related to effective vocational rehabilitation placement strategies with the business community. The larger portion of this work deals with external and internal vocational rehabilitation (VR) program strategies for effectively engaging the business community adapted from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Project with Industry (PWI) program. External strategies include securing the support of veteran's groups and service groups such as Rotary, and staff memberships in employment-related organizations such as Chambers of Commerce, Human Resource (HR) organizations, HR diversity subcommittees, etc. Internal strategies include include developing an employer board, using a business advisory committee composed of HR representatives, developing a job fair cycle at your site, and involving employer/business volunteers in roles critical to your vocational program's success. The approach basically involves such frequent and substantive interaction between business and one's VR program that vocational placement activity becomes an almost seamless transaction between the vocational rehabilitation unit and the business community.
Japanese Family via Webcam: An Ethnographic Study of Cross-Spatial Interactions

This paper investigates an ethnographic understanding of family relationships across spaces and the management of discursive practices using a webcam. Through turn-by-turn analyses of video-recorded webcam-mediated conversations between Japanese families who live in the United States and their extended family members in Japan, I analyze how the reciprocal expectations of showing and watching each other’s spaces are woven into unfolding processes in webcam-mediated interactions. I specifically focus on the organizational features of a ‘show-and-narrate’ activity in which and through which aspects of everyday lives are introduced. I examine how show-and-narrate activities are discursively marked, how children’s interactional behaviors are structured, and how participants are socialized into this technologically mediated family space.
The Synthesis and Metal Complexes of Sulfur-Containing Models for Nitrogenase Enzymes

Recently there has been a great deal of interest in synthetically modelling the active site of the enzyme nitrogenase.1 Nitrogenase is a member of a class of metalloenzymes which bind molybdenum at their active sites. The molybdoenzymes are responsible for many important naturally occurring redox processes. In the case of nitrogenase the redox process is the reductive fixation of atmospheric dinitrogen, N2. In nitrogen fixation, N2 is first bound to the active site of nitrogenase and then through a series of unknown intermediates reduced to ammonia. The exact structure of the active site of nitrogenase is not known, but EXAFS data shows it to consist of a cluster of approximate composition MoFe(6–8)S(4–8). 2 The molybdenum atom is believed to be the site where N2 is bound, but the precise nature of the coordination is not known.1 It is hoped that a good synthetic model of the active site will show the mode of nitrogen binding.
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY ON CURVED BACKGROUNDS. II. SPACETIME SYMMETRIES

We study space-time symmetries in scalar quantum field theory (including interacting theories) on static space-times. We first consider Euclidean quantum field theory on a static Riemannian mani- fold, and show that the isometry group is generated by one-parameter subgroups which have either self-adjoint or unitary quantizations. We analytically continue the self-adjoint semigroups to one-parameter uni- tary groups, and thus construct a unitary representation of the isometry group of the associated Lorentzian manifold. The method is illustrated for the example of hyperbolic space, whose Lorentzian continuation is Anti-de Sitter space.
The Bluegrass Reader

Reviewed Medium: book Year: 2006 Pages: 376 Publisher: University of Illinois Press ISBN: 0-252-02914-3 (hard cover). Prices: $34.95 USD(hard cover).
Information Processing for Remote Sensing

The sections in this article are 1 Feature Extraction 2 Multispectral Image Data Classification 3 Classification Using Neural Networks 4 Image Segmentation 5 Hyperspectral Data
Corporate Social and Financial Performance: The Role of Size, Industry, Risk, R&D and Advertising Expenses as Control Variables

This article investigates the role of commonly specified control variables in moderating the relationship between corporate social performance (CSP) and corporate financial performance (CFP). In addition, there are separate measures for positive (strengths) social actions, and for negative (concerns) social actions. The results support the positive relationship between CSP and CFP. The best model, as determined using factorial analysis of variance, is one which has the following control variables: size, industry, risk, and research and development expenditures. In examining the CSP/CFP relationship, researchers must control for these variables, in order to properly specify the model.
Embryos, Camera, Laser, Action!

The Arabidopsis embryo establishes polarity and main tissue types with the first five rounds of cell division. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Gooh et al. (2015) provide tools toward elucidating this poorly understood process through the first movies and targeted manipulations of early embryos developing inside cultured seeds.
Chemopreventive effects of nobiletin and its colonic metabolites on colon carcinogenesis

SCOPE: Nobiletin (NBT) is a major citrus flavonoid with various health benefits. Herein, we investigated the colon cancer chemopreventive effects of NBT and its colonic metabolites in a colitis‐associated colon carcinogenesis mouse model as well as in human colon cancer cell models. METHODS AND RESULTS: In azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium treated mice, oral administration of NBT effectively decreased both incidence and multiplicity of colonic tumors. NBT showed significant antiproliferative, proapoptotic, and anti‐inflammatory effects in the mouse colon. HPLC analysis revealed that oral administration of NBT resulted in high levels of metabolites, i.e. 3′‐demethylnobiletin (M1), 4′‐demethylnobiletin (M2), and 3′,4′‐didemethylnobiletin (M3) in the colonic mucosa. In contrast, the colonic level of NBT was about 20‐fold lower than the total colonic level of three metabolites. Cell culture studies demonstrated that the colonic metabolites of NBT significantly inhibited the growth of human colon cancer cells, caused cell‐cycle arrest, induced apoptosis, and profoundly modulated signaling proteins related with cell proliferation and cell death. All of these effects were much stronger than those produced by NBT alone. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that oral administration of NBT significantly inhibited colitis‐associated colon carcinogenesis in mice, and this chemopreventive effect was strongly associated with its colonic metabolites.
Fracture tolerance of the patellofemoral joint in frontal knee impacts of 75 and 35 year-old males

This study investigates the peak force and force at fracture in the patella complex from an axial load similar to that of a knee bolster impact during a frontal automobile collision. A rigid impactor and a 689 kPa padded impactor are used to compare the mechanical behaviour of ‘older’ (mean = 74 years) and ‘younger’ (35 years) post-mortem human surrogate (PMHS) populations. Age-related differences in peak forces and fracture patterns were observed using both impactors, and we hypothesise that the stiffer response of the patella complex in the 74-year-old PHMS group is responsible for these differences. Furthermore, four fracture detection methods (acoustic sensors, strain gauges, piezo-electric sensors and accelerometers) were investigated; the acoustic sensor was found to give the most useful crack detection data. These experimental results can assist numerical modelling and design efforts aimed at reducing the incidence and severity of automotive-related knee injuries.
Flood control failures in a Third World City: Benin City, Nigeria — some environmental factors and policy issues

Inspite of step-up efforts at controlling flood hazards in Third World cities, the frequency and magnitude of the flood problem have more than doubled in recent years. A survey of the causal factors for failure of flood control structures in mitigating urban flood, illustrated with the example from Benin City, Nigeria, identified four broad categories to be very important. They are: (a) land use and physical development control problems, (b) gaps in basic hydrologic data, (c) design and implementation problems and (d) cultural factors. A number of policy issues emerged and they border on (a) flood control co-ordination between relevant departments, (b) flood control policy focus and re-orientation, (c) validity of design concepts and criteria and (d) new role for flood generators in policy articulation and implementation.
Effects of Diet and Exercise on Metabolic Disturbances in High Fat Diet-Fed Mice

Consumption of a high-fat diet (HFD) is associated with white adipose tissue (WAT) inflammation, which contributes to key components of the metabolic syndrome, including insulin resistance (IR) and hepatic steatosis (HS). To determine the differential effects of exercise training (EX), low-fat diet (LFD), and their combination on WAT inflammation, Balb/cByJ male mice (n=34) were fed an HFD for 12 wks before they were randomized into one of four intervention groups: HFD-EX, LFD-EX, HFD-sedentary (SED), or LFD-SED. EX mice performed 12 wks of exercise training on a motorized treadmill (1h/d, 5d/wk, 12 m/min, 5% grade, approximately 65% VO(2) max), while SED mice remained sedentary in their home cages. WAT gene expression of adipokines was assessed using rt-PCR. IR was measured using HOMA-IR, and HS via hepatic triglyceride content. EX significantly reduced (53%) WAT gene expression of MCP-1, and LFD significantly reduced (50%) WAT gene expression of the macrophage specific marker, F4/80 as well as the adipocytokine IL-1 ra (25%). EX independently improved IR, while both EX and LFD improved HS. These findings suggest that both diet and exercise have unique beneficial effects on WAT inflammatory markers and the mechanism by which each treatment improves metabolic complications associated with chronic consumption of an HFD may be different.
What if increases in atmospheric CO2 have an inverse greenhouse effect? I: Energy balance considerations related to surface albedo

An analysis of northern, low and southern latitude temperature trends of the past century, along with available atmospheric CO2 concentration and industrial carbon production data, suggests that the true climatic effect of increasing the CO2 content of the atmosphere may be to cool the Earth and not warm it, contrary to most past analyses of this phenomenon. A physical mechanism is thus proposed to explain how CO2 may act as an inverse greenhouse gas in Earth's atmosphere. However, a negative feedback mechanism related to a lowering of the planet's mean surface albedo, due to the migration of more mesic-adapted vegetation onto arid and semi-arid lands as a result of the increased water use efficiency which most plants experience under high levels of atmospheric CO2, acts to counter this inverse greenhouse effect. Quantitative estimates of the magnitudes of both phenomena are made, and it is shown that they are probably compensatory. This finding suggests that we will not suffer any great climatic catastrophe but will instead reap great agricultural benefits from the rapid increase in atmospheric CO2 which we are currently experiencing and which is projected to continue for perhaps another century or two into the future.
Increased Urinary Glomerular Basement Membrane Products in Pyelonephritis

Soluble glomerular basement membrane products (gbm-p) are excreted in urines of normal children, but increased excretion of these products occurs in various types of glomerular disease. [Abstracts, Soc. for Ped. Res. p.9, May 1969.] Since pyelonephritis is a disease in which glomeruli may be involved, gbm-p were searched for in the urines of such patients. Twenty-four hour urine samples from 83 subjects were concentrated and examined by immunodiffusion against sheep anti-human gbm globulin. Slight to marked increases in gbm-p exceeded the level found in 3 patients with acute glomerulonephritis. In 2 additional children with acute pyelonephritis the quantity of gbm-p excreted equaled that found in one of the patients with glomerulonephritis. Patients with treated pyelonephitis, cystitis, and congenital renal anomalies without infection excreted gmb-p in the range found of healthy controls. Sterile urine samples from normal subjects were inoculated wi th a strain of E. coli (0–6) isolated from a patient with acute pyelonephritis, and tested by the same technique in order to rule out cross-reactivity with bacterial antigen. All these tests were negative. These preliminary studies suggest: (1) that increased excretion of gbm-p may be manifestation of glomerular involvement in acute pyelonephritis, and (2) that this technique might prove useful in the differential diagnosis of upper vs. lower urinary tract infection.
Focal contact assembly through cytoskeletal polymerization: steady state analysis

For many cell types, initial receptor-mediated attachment to a ligand-coated surface is followed by the formation of focal contacts - strong, specialized, discrete adhesive connections between cell and substrate in which receptors are clustered and simultaneously linked to extracellular ligand and cytoskeletal proteins. Since adhesion affects many aspects of cellular physiology including growth, differentiation, and motility, understanding the biochemical factors which regulate focal contact assembly should enhance our understanding of these phenomena. In this paper, we present a mathematical model to examine how receptor-ligand, receptor-cytoskeleton, and cytoskeleton-cytoskeleton interactions affect the formation of receptor clusters which serve as precursors to mature focal contacts. Receptor clustering is presumed to occur through self-recognition of cytoskeletal elements which induce the polymerization of ligand-receptor-cytoskeleton complexes. Polymerization only occurs when the ligand density is above a critical value and a decrease in the receptor-ligand affinity shifts the critical ligand density to higher values. While cytoskeletal protein expression and receptor-cytoskeleton affinity influence the concentration of monomeric complexes, the formation of polymeric ligand-receptor-cytoskeleton aggregates is most sensitive to changes in the self-association affinity between cytoskeletal proteins. We find that a 100-fold enhancement in the affinity between cytoskeletal elements can produce a substantial increase in the total fraction of adhesion receptors associated with focal contact precursors (from 5% to over 90%). Our results suggest that under physiological conditions, cellular control of focal contact assembly most likely occurs through modulation of specific cytoskeletal proteins to solidify cytoskeleton-cytoskeleton connections within precursor focal contact structures.
Trends in Drug Use of Indian Adolescents Living on Reservations: 1975-1983

Anonymous surveys on drug use were administered to 7th-12th grade students in Indian reservation schools. A large number of tribes were surveyed from 1975 through 1983. There is reason to believe the results are reasonably representative of Indian youth living on reservations. Lifetime prevalence for most drugs is higher than that for non-Indian youth throughout this period, and rates for alcohol, marijuana, and inhalants, the most frequently tried drugs, were particularly high. Since 1981 there has been a slight drop in lifetime prevalence for most drugs. Current use figures show the same trends, with increasing current use through 1981 and a drop since that time. Analysis of patterns of drug use, classifying youth according to number, type, and depth of involvement with drugs, shows a similar trend, with radical increases until 1981 and then a drop in all but one of the more serious drug use types. Despite this drop, 53% of Indian youth would still be classified as “at risk” in their drug involvement, c...
Joining of Hastelloy X to Inconel 718 using an infrared process

Abstract Joining of Hastelloy X to Inconel 718 by a rapid infrared processing technique has been investigated at 1150 °C using a nickel-based brazing alloy AMS 4777, Ni7Cr3Fe3.2B4.5Si0.06C in wt.%. With this infrared technique, joining typically was completed in seconds in ambient argon. The effects of the infrared joining time on the joint and base material microstructures, elemental distribution within the microstructures and the resulting joint shear strength were investigated. Results show that excellent joint shear strengths of as high as 503 MPa were obtained when processed at approximately 1150 °C for 120 s. Micro-structural examinations of the joint with an optical microscope and a scanning electron microscope indicate that good wetting existed between the brazing alloy and both Hastelloy X and Inconel 718. The braze-affected zone width increased with increasing joining time but did not show a direct correlation with the joint strength. Hastelloy X and Inconel 718 exhibited no noticeable change in microstructures due to the rapid heating cycle of infrared processing.
Bound on the maximum negative ionization of atoms and molecules

It is proved that N c the number of negative particles that can be bound to an atom of nuclear charge z, satisfies N c <2 Z + K. For a molecule of K atoms, N, <2Z + K where Z is the total nuclear charge. As an example, for hydrogen N c = 2, and thus HH-- is not stable, which is a result not proved before. The bound particles can be a mixture of different species, e.g., electrons and π mesons; statistics plays no role. The theorem is proved in the static-nucleus approximation, but if the nuclei are dynamical, a related, weaker result is obtained. The kinetic energy operator for the particles can be either [p — eA (x)/c]2 − 2m (nonrelativistic with magnetic field) or {[pc —eA(x)] 2 + m 2 c 4 } 1/2 − mc 2 (relativistic with magnetic field). This result is not only stronger than that obtained before, but the proof (at least in the atomic case) is simple enough to be given in an elementary quantum-mechanics course.
Differential Relations between Mothers’ and Fathers’ Parenting Practices and Child Externalizing Behavior

We examined differences in mothers’ and fathers’ parenting practices in relation to child externalizing behavior. Data were collected from a community sample of 135 cohabiting couples with a child aged 6–12. The couples were recruited through undergraduate and graduate students. Both parents were required to complete a series of questionnaires assessing demographic, parental, and child variables. Results indicated that after controlling for parental depression and marital conflict, all parenting variables were significantly related to child externalizing behavior; however, parent and/or child sex moderated these relations. Specifically, parental involvement was only significant for fathers and sons, positive parenting was only significant for mothers and sons, poor monitoring/supervision was only significant for girls, and only mothers’ inconsistent discipline was related to externalizing behavior. These results offer practical information regarding identification of children at risk for behavioral problems, as well as potential targets for prevention and intervention.
Muscle morphogenesis in axolotl limb regenerates after removal of stump musculature

Abstract This research was designed to determine whether or not a normal stump musculature is required for normal morphogenesis of muscle within the regenerating amphibian limb. Limbs of adult axolotls were amputated proximal to the elbow, and approximately 99% of the skeletal muscle was removed from the limb stump. The early stages of regeneration and blastema formation followed a relatively normal morphological and temporal course. In all cases grossly normal limbs regenerated. These regenerated limbs all contained large amounts of muscle, which was usually arranged into anatomically recognizable muscles in both the forearm and hand. It is concluded that muscle morphogenesis in the regenerating amphibian limb is not dependent upon an anatomically normal stump musculature.
Visual imagery and the discrimination of differences between altered pictures simultaneously and successively presented.

Ten ‘good’ visual imagers and ten ‘poor’ imagers, representing the upper and lower halves of an unselected sample of adult volunteers, were given a task of detecting differences between altered pictures presented in pairs, either simultaneously or successively. Performance was measured by reaction time. ‘Good’ imagers reacted faster than ‘poor’ imagers, and the mode of presentation (simultaneous v. successive) did not affect their performances. ‘Poor’ imagers, on the other hand, reacted significantly slower when the pictures compared were presented successively. The results suggest that self-rated visual imagery can be used to predict the successful recall of visual information required in a discrimination task.
High Bone Mass in a Female Hutterite Population

We examined a Hutterite population (n = 243) to determine if their agriculturally diverse, self-sufficient communal lifestyle promotes optimal bone mass attainment because of adequate calcium intake and high physical activity levels during growth and young adulthood. We measured total body (TB) and lumbar bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) in 39 school-age (younger) females and 204 working (older) females. Forty-five percent of older females and 79% of younger females currently consumed > or = 3 servings (svg) of dairy per day. Older females had lumbar (0.6 +/- 1.3) and TB (1.1 +/- 1.1) BMD Z scores greater than 0 (both, p < 0.001). The lumbar BMD Z score of younger females was not different from 0 (-0.1 +/- 1.0; p = 0.5). Both lumbar (r = 0.46; p < 0.001) and TB (r = 0.20; p = 0.02) BMD Z scores increased with increasing age. In multiple regression analyses for older females, lumbar bone area (p < 0.001), weight (p < 0.001), current hours on feet per day (p = 0.01), colony workload (p < 0.01), and estrogen status (p = 0.06) predicted lumbar BMC. TB bone area (p < 0.001), current hours on feet per day (p < 0.001), and colony workload (p < 0.01) predicted TB BMC. For younger females, lumbar bone area (p < 0.001), weight (p < 0.01), years in present colony (p = 0.02), and menses (p < 0.001) predicted lumbar BMC. TB bone area (p < 0.001), height (p < 0.01), years in present colony (p = 0.03), and menses (p < 0.01) predicted TB BMC. The effect of colony workload could not be separated from other factors different by colony. A heritability estimate of 0.66 was calculated for lumbar BMD using mother and daughter Z scores. Adequate calcium intake during growth, high physical activity early in life, and genetic factors may be contributing to above normal BMD levels in adult female Hutterites.
Fluorescent Pigment and Immersion Stain Marking Techniques for Lepidomeda mollispinis and Cyprinodon nevadensis

Abstract Two methods of marking, immersion dyeing and spraying with fluorescent pigments, were tested for use on Lepidomeda mollispinis and Cyprinodon nevadensis. Three dyes were used: Bismarck Brown Y, Rhodamine B and Trypan Blue. All three were rejected for use on L. mollispinis because of poor marking consistency and severe stress. Bismarck Brown Y was found suitable for C. nevadensis for short-term mark and recapture experiments. Fluorescent pigment marking with compressed air produced permanent marks in both species but resulted in high mortality to C. nevadensis in the laboratory.
Treatment Strategies for Prostate Cancer

To the Editor. —The study by Fleming et al 1 is of limited relevance to current prostate cancer management and fails to demonstrate that watchful waiting is as effective as active treatment in men over the age of 65 years. Moreover, it may impart misleading information for treating individual patients. Fleming et al based their estimates of cancer progression rates on a patient population that overrepresented patients most likely to die of other causes, such as elderly men with stage A disease, and underrepresented younger patients with more aggressive tumors. This introduced a bias in favor of watchful waiting. The historical data used for estimates of treatment outcomes do not accurately reflect the current ability to detect prostate cancer early and to treat it effectively. Recent studies have demonstrated a dramatic increase in the detection of early, curable prostate cancer through screening with serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measurements. 2,3 Fleming
Chylous ascites following treatment for gynecologic malignancies.

Abstract Background. Chylous ascites is a rare complication following abdominal radiation or para-aortic lymph node dissection in the management of gynecologic malignancies. Treatment options include dietary restriction with addition of medium-chain triglycerides, serial paracenteses, total parenteral nutrition, and somatostatin. Current opinion advocates that surgical exploration and peritoneo-venous shunts be reserved for refractory cases. Cases. Two patients developed chylous ascites, one after completion of surgical staging and chemoradiation for stage IIB squamous carcinoma of the cervix and one following para-aortic lymph node dissection for recurrent malignant mixed mullerian tumor of the endometrium. In both cases resolution of the chylous ascites followed placement of a peritoneo-venous shunt. Conclusions. Chylous ascites should be considered in the differential diagnosis of ascites in patients with gynecologic malignancy treated with radiation or para-aortic lymph node dissection.
Responses of brain and behavior to changing day-length in the diurnal grass rat (Arvicanthis niloticus)

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a major depressive disorder that recurs in the fall and winter when day-length gets short. It is well accepted that day-length is encoded by the principal circadian clock located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), but very little is known about day-length encoding in diurnal mammals. The present study utilized the grass rat, Arvicanthis niloticus, to investigate how the circadian system responds to photoperiodic changes in a diurnal mammal that shows day-length-dependent mood changes. The animals were initially housed in equatorial day-length (12h, EP) followed by either long (16h, LP) or short (8h, SP) photoperiods. The LP animals showed an expansion of the peak phase of the PER1 and PER2 rhythm in the SCN as well as an extended behavioral active phase. In contrast, the SP animals did not show any compression of their active phase nor a change in the peak duration of PER1 or PER2 expression, compared to those in EP. The results suggest that the circadian system in the diurnal grass rats is less responsive when day-length gets short compared to when it gets longer. The depression-like behaviors were assessed using sweet solution preference (SSP) and forced swimming test (FST). Animals in the SP group showed decreased SSP and increased immobility time in FST as compared to the EP group, suggesting a depressive phenotype. The present study serves as the first step toward exploring the role that the circadian system plays in SAD using a diurnal rodent model.
Short-term nurse scheduling in response to daily fluctuations in supply and demand

Hourly changes in patient census and acuity require hospitals to update their staffing needs on a continuing basis. This paper discusses the problem that management faces several times a day as the demand for nursing services departs from the planned schedule. Prior to the start of each shift, the number of nurses who are scheduled to be on duty over the next 24 hours is compared with the number actually available, and if shortages exist a series of decisions have to be made to ensure that each unit in the hospital has sufficient coverage. These decisions involve the use of overtime, outside nurses, and floaters. To address this problem, we have developed an integer programming model that takes the current set of rosters for regular and pool nurses and the expected demand for the upcoming 24 hours as input, and produces a revised schedule that makes the most efficient use of the available resources. The model is formulated and solved at a hospital-wide level rather than for each unit separately. To determine its applicability, a representative set of scenarios was investigated using data obtained from a medium-size facility in the U.S. with 14 units. The results indicate that problem instances with up to 120 nurses can be solved in a negligible amount of time.
Nonspreading Crustal Blocks at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Transverse ridges consisting of protrusions into crustal fractures of ultramafic bodies derived from the upper mantle exist at the intersection of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge with equatorial fracture zones. Shallow-water limestones containing detrital grains of quartz, microcline, and orthoclase 1 millimeter in diameter were found on the summit of one such transverse ultramafic body at the Vema Fracture Zone; these findings are explained on the assumption that the limestones were deposited within a narrow, shallow proto-Atlantic and were left behind during the further opening of the Atlantic. Transverse ultramafic bodies from the offset zones of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge behave as nonspreading blocks plastered between spreading crustal plates.
Does Humor Explain Why Relationally Aggressive Adolescents are Popular

The association between relational aggression and popularity during early adolescence is well established. Yet, little is known about why, exactly, relationally aggressive young adolescents are able to achieve and maintain high popular status among peers. The present study investigated the mediating role of humor in the association between relational aggression and popularity during early adolescence. Also considered was whether the association between relational aggression and humor varies according to adolescents' gender and their friends' levels of relational aggression. Participants were 265 sixth-grade students (48% female; 41% racial/ethnic minority; M age = 12.04 years) who completed peer nomination and friendship measures in their classrooms at two time points (Wave 1: February; Wave 2: May). The results indicated that Wave 1 relational aggression was related to Wave 1 and 2 popularity indirectly through Wave 1 humor, after accounting for the effects of Wave 1 physical aggression, ethnicity, and gender. Additional analyses showed that relational aggression and humor were related significantly only for boys and for young adolescents with highly relationally aggressive friends. The results support the need for further research on humor and aggression during early adolescence and other mechanisms by which relationally aggressive youth achieve high popular status.
Coherent phase stability in Al-Zn and Al-Cu fcc alloys: The role of the instability of fcc Zn

The coherent phase stability of fcc-based Al-Zn and Al-Cu alloys is studied theoretically by first-principles total energy calculations, a mixed-space cluster expansion approach, and Monte Carlo thermodynamic simulations. We find that a large portion of the differences between Al-Zn and Al-Cu can be explained by the differences between fcc-Zn and fcc-Cu: While Zn is stable in the hcp structure, fcc-Zn shows an instability when deformed rhombohedrally along (111). In contrast, fcc-Cu is the stable form of Cu and is elastically extremely soft when deformed along (100). These elastically soft directions of the constituents permeate the phase stability of the alloys: (111) superlattices are the lowest energy coherent structures in Al-Zn, while (100) superlattices are stable coherent phases in Al-Cu. The short-range order of both Al-rich solid solutions show clustering tendencies, with the diffuse intensity due to short-range order in Al-Zn and Al-Cu showing streaks along (111) and (100), respectively. The mixing enthalpies and coherent phase boundaries are also calculated and found to be in good agreement with experimental data, where available.
A LOCOS process for an electrostatic microfabricated motor

Abstract A novel process based on local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) for fabricating planar electric micron-scale radial-gap motors is described. Issues relating to the design, fabrication and performance of these micromotors are discussed, with particular emphasis given to the LOCOS process. Functioning variable-capacitance motors with rotors of 50 μm radii are described in detail and qualitative results of their operation with air levitation are presented. Finally, the integration of electronics with the micromotors on the same substrate is discussed. We have discussed the main issues involved in designing and fabricating electric variable-capacitance motors. Radial-gap motors have been selected for controllable instability and ease of fabrication. Furthermore, by examining the fabrication requirements of high-precision thick structures, we conclude that planarization is required unless greatly increased process complexity can be tolerated. The LOCOS-based process has thus been developed because it is inherently planar, unlike standard surface micromachining processes. Micron-scale motors and other structures have been successfully fabricated using the new LOCOS-based process. These motors were spun electrostatically up to speeds over 10 00O rpm, without visible signs of wear, when levitated by an externally generated air bearing. We are investigating the use of reduced-friction coatings such as Si 3 N 4 [2] or Teflon [19] in the bearing structure to eliminate the need for external air levitation. The inherent planarization of the motor not only facilitates the fabrication but may also facilitate the development of certain applications that require some form of direct cover or package. Starting and load transients must be sensed and controlled for stable VC motor performance. Closed-loop control, however, is virtually impossible witho
Pedestrian crashes: higher injury severity and mortality rate for light truck vehicles compared with passenger vehicles.

Introduction: During the last two decades changes in vehicle design and increase in the number of the light truck vehicles (LTVs) and vans have led to changes in pedestrian injury profile. Due to the dynamic nature of the pedestrian crashes biomechanical aspects of collisions can be better evaluated in field studies. Design and settings: The Pedestrian Crash Data Study, conducted from 1994 to 1998, provided a solid database upon which details and mechanism of pedestrian crashes can be investigated. Results: From 552 recorded cases in this database, 542 patients had complete injury related information, making a meaningful study of pedestrian crash characteristics possible. Pedestrians struck by LTVs had a higher risk (29%) of severe injuries (abbreviated injury scale ⩾4) compared with passenger vehicles (18%) (p = 0.02). After adjustment for pedestrian age and impact speed, LTVs were associated with 3.0 times higher risk of severe injuries (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26 to 7.29, p = 0.013). Mortality rate for pedestrians struck by LTVs (25%) was two times higher than that for passenger vehicles (12%) (p Conclusion: Vehicle type strongly influences risk of severe injury and death to pedestrian. This may be due in part to the front end design of the vehicle. Hence vehicle front end design, especially for LTVs, should be considered in future motor vehicle safety standards.
Providing a Human Biology Laboratory for Distant Learners

Abstract This paper describes the development and pilot testing of a human biology laboratory course delivered over the Education Network of Maine. The project serves as an illustrative case of the general problem of teaching science laboratory courses at a distance. The development process is described within the framework of an instructional systems design (ISD) model. The model is described in some detail and the decisions and actions taken at each stage are outlined to provide a “snapshot” of the course and a description of the critical issues that were considered at various stages of the development process. Finally, the development team reflects on the experience and discusses some generally applicable issues that arise when considering the development of laboratory courses for distance delivery.
A rapid and sensitive fluorimetric assay for adenosine, inosine, and hypoxanthine.

Abstract A rapid and sensitive fluorimetric assay for inosine and adenosine is described in which either or both metabolites are enzymically converted to hypoxanthine, which is then estimated by the rate of appearance of hydrogen peroxide after the addition of xanthine oxidase. The method has been used to assay solutions over the range 0.2 to 30 μmol/liter although this is not the ultimate sensitivity possible. Uranyl acetate as protein precipitant gave good recovery of inosine and adenosine from blood and was compatible with the assay.
Corrigendum to “Cognitive processing and acrophobia: Validating the Heights Interpretation Questionnaire” [J. Anxiety Disord. 25 (2011) 896–902]

The authors regret errors in this paper due to the mean of the HIQ calculated incorrectly (specifically, the average item score was multiplied by 18 to create the total, instead of by 16). Additionally, the statistics reported in Table 4 are incorrect (due to an incorrect version of the predictor variable being used): Please note that the errors do not change any of the conclusions drawn in the original paper (e.g., all results that were significant in the paper remain significant with these errors corrected). This error affects the following statistics: In page 897, the range of the HIQ should be 16–62, with a mean of 27.95 and a SD of 8.29. In page 898, the t-test in Section 1.2.4 should read: t(503) = 3.80, p < .001, d = .34. In page 898, Table 2 should read:
Tasks and Strategies of In-house Lobbyists in American Colleges and Universities

How do in-house lobbyists for American colleges and universities compare with other types of lobbyists in their roles, tasks, and strategies? To answer this question 105 in-house lobbyists were surveyed using an instrument that reiterated key questions asked in earlier researchers' studies on private or special interest lobbyists, such as the gun lobby, and public interest lobbyists such as consumer, or environmental groups. This replication of research with other types of lobbyists made it possible to compare and contrast the tasks and strategies of in-house lobbyists with those of other types of lobbyists. Also 20 indepth on-site interviews of in-house lobbyists were conducted at universities across the country to learn more regarding their roles, tasks, and strategies; and interviews were conducted with ten presidents from among those 20 universities to provide another viewpoint on the roles, tasks, and strategies of inhouse lobbyists in universities.
Maternal Provision of Structure in a Deliberate Memory Task in Relation to Their Preschool Children’s Recall

Strategic remembering emerges gradually during the preschool years. Socialization practices, specifically mother-child social interactions, might provide the foundation for the development of skills necessary for effective organization of information in memory. In the current study, 48 mothers and their 40-month-olds were engaged in the process of remembering (i.e., study and recall) categorically related picture stimuli in a laboratory context. Children's recall was reliably predicted by the way in which mothers structured both the study and recall periods of the deliberate memory task. Specifically, maternal verbal and physical behaviors that focused on organization of items, such as sorting items into distinct groups and providing the name of a category, were most beneficial in supporting children's memory. Moreover, some mothers employed a number of different mnemonic techniques that emphasized categorical connections among items, suggesting systematic approaches in the manner in which mothers help children to learn effective ways of remembering.
X-Ray Yields from μ-Mesonic Atoms

The interesting suggestion has been made that the rapid drop in the yield of mesonic $K$ x rays in the light elements may be associated with the capture of $\ensuremath{\mu}$ mesons into the metastable $2s$ state. The mechanisms for making transitions from the $2s$ to the $1s$ state and from various $p$ states into the $2s$ state have been investigated in detail for Li, Be, and B. It is found that the paradoxical reduction of $K$ x rays remains unexplained. (1) Stark mixing of the mesonic $2s$ and $2p$ states by the electric fields of the atomic electrons allows "mixed" Auger-radiative transitions to the $1s$ state to compete favorably with radiationless transitions. These mixed transitions give a high-energy x ray and a relatively negligible (10-50 ev) electronic excitation and so contribute to the observed ${K}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}$ yield. (2) Even if the above "mixed" transitions are ignored, there is no mechanism which gets a large fraction of $\ensuremath{\mu}$ mesons into the $2s$ state that at the same time does not violently contradict both theoretical estimates and observed $K$ x-ray yields from light $\ensuremath{\pi}$-mesonic atoms.
Analysis of Biological Tissues for Selenium by Thin Layer Chromatography

Abstract Selenium is oxidized by the method of Poole1 as modified by Stahr, et al4 to free it from matrix encumbrances. It is reduced by HC1 dissolution and complexed with DAN (Diaminonapthalene) then extracted into cyclohexane and analyzed by TLC (reverse phase Whatman high performance plates) thin layer chromatography densitometry. TLC allows observation of 0.1 ng of the selenium (piazselenole) complex. Separation of the Se containing complex allows elimination of other potentially interfering fluorescent compounds. 100% recoveries of Se75 (radiolabelled) are achieved through the digest step and 85–90% are achieved through the complete test. Radioautography shows only the gold piazselenole spot contains selenium. Agreement with Bureau of Standards results on freeze dried liver is 100% ± 2%.