cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
USING TETRAD WITH EQS AND LISREL

This chapter presents the discovery of casual structure using TETRAD with EQS and LISREL. The LISREL and EQS programs are among the most widely used computer packages for estimating and testing structural equation models. EQS is always, and LISREL is usually, straightforward to use on models found with TETRAD. The appearance of the LISREL programs made available full information regarding maximum likelihood estimation and testing. Under the assumption of normality, the program made possible the estimation and testing of a great range of structural equation models. The LISREL programs impose certain classifications of variables, however, and these classifications and the restrictions that accompany them can sometimes cause difficulties in representing causal models. The LISREL program permits the user to specify covariances and variances among the phi variables, the psi variables, the theta delta variables, and the theta epsilon variables. In directed graph representations of a causal model, covariances of these sorts are represented as undirected or bidirected edges connecting error variables. On the other hand, the EQS program is considerably easier to use than LISREL, but the PC version can often take 15 minutes or more for a single run. If one wants to estimate and test 20 models, 5 hours might be required.
El Pueblo Afroecuatoriano: Su Situación Actual y las Medidas Nacionales y Internacionales para Reformarla

En 1553, un barco parte de Panama camino al Peru y queda encallado en el litoral ecuatoriano. El grupo de esclavos a bordo logra escapar y fundar bajo el liderazgo de Alonso de Illescas la ciudad-santuario que hoy es la capital de la provincia de Esmeraldas. Este es un solo grupo de los muchos afroecuatorianos arribados al Ecuador como esclavos desde el Africa occidental en el siglo XVI para trabajar en las zonas costenas y las plantaciones. Otros grupos llegaron desde Colombia o vinieron luego con los Jesuitas para trabajar en los canaverales, mientras al final del siglo XVIII llegaron muchos esclavos para trabajar como lavadores del oro que se descubrio en el Rio Santiago, provincia de Esmeraldas.
A Combined Electronic Structure and Molecular Dynamics Approach to Computing the OH Vibrational Feature of Strongly Hydrogen-Bonded Carboxylic Acids

Medium and strong hydrogen bonds give rise to vibrational features that can span several hundreds of wavenumbers and have unusual line shapes. For example, dimers consisting of carboxylic acids hydrogen-bonded to nitrogen-containing aromatic bases exhibit a vibrational feature that spans over 900 cm-1 and contains two very broad peaks. In this report, we demonstrate how this feature can be reproduced using a combined molecular dynamics (MD) and electronic structure "spectral map" approach, which has been very successful in modeling the vibrational spectrum of water in different environments. In this approach, spectral maps are created, relating the transition frequencies and probabilities to the electric field along the OH bond, which are obtained from the density functional theory calculations of snapshots taken from a classical MD simulation. This map was used to compute the spectral properties of thousands of geometries of the pyridine-acetic acid dimer sampled by a MD simulation, which were used to compute the overall spectral feature. It was found that this approach reproduced the experimental spectrum better than the previous dimer stretch approaches (which were based on describing the dimer geometries harmonically) through a more accurate sampling of dimer geometries. The broadness of these vibrational features largely originates from the range of geometries present in the condensed phase, while the unusual line shape is caused by strong Fermi resonances.
Metabolism in Cancer Cells and Pluripotent Stem Cells

Both cancer cells and pluripotent stem cells have the ability to rapidly proliferate, but one major difference between them is the ability of pluripotent stem cells to control the cell cycle thus evading malignancy. Studying the mechanisms that both cell types have in common versus those that are differentially regulated could provide researchers with novel drug targets to “kill” malignant cancer cells.
Rethinking Post-Tenure Malaise: An Interactional, Pathways Approach to Understanding the Post-Tenure Period

The decades between tenure and retirement constitute the longest yet least understood period of a faculty member’s career. Previous research depicts the midcareer as fraught with reduced job and ca...
Recent progress of graphene-based photoelectrode materials for dye-sensitized solar cells

Graphite with a single atomic layer known as graphene shows great capability in energy conversion and storage devices. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have attracted intense interests due to offering high photo-to-electric conversion efficiencies. DSSCs are built from a photoelectrode (a dye-sensitized nanocrystalline semiconductor), an electrolyte with redox couples, and a counterelectrode. In this review article, we outline the strategies to enhance the efficiency and reduce the cost by introducing graphene into the DSSCs as the photoelectrode. First, the development of DSSCs and the properties of graphene are briefly described. Then, the applications of graphene-based materials for photoelectrodes (transparent electrode, semiconductor layer, and dye sensitizer) in DSSCs are deeply discussed. Finally, an outlook for graphene materials in DSSCs is provided.
Optimal Angiographic Technique and Quantitative Analysis

The rapid rise of new percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) techniques and devices has necessitated standardized methods of evaluating coronary artery disease (CAD) severity and the effect of treatments on the natural history of the disease. Coronary angiography is the gold standard for evaluating coronary artery disease (CAD), but subjective evaluation of angiographically apparent CAD is limited by high levels of intra- and inter-observer variability. Thus, methods and algorithms for quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) have been developed in order to objectively quantify the extent of CAD. This chapter will discuss proper techniques for angiographic image acquisition, the current tools and practice of quantitative angiographic analysis, and common angiographic measurement parameters.
Nonlinear X-ray Compton Scattering

We use XFEL pulses to observe the most fundamental nonlinear X-ray-matter interaction: nonlinear Compton scattering. In contrast to theoretical predictions, we measure an anonymous and yet to be explained red-shift in the observed photon energy.
Prospective Surveillance Screenings to Identify Physical Therapy Needs During Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Surviviorship: A Case Report.

Breast cancer and its treatments can cause detrimental effects to function and quality of life (QoL). These patients do not conventionally receive physical therapy services until impairments and functional limitations have become extensive. Emerging treatment models advocate for early rehabilitation screenings and proactive interventions, which are termed prospective surveillance. The purpose of this case report was to describe two prospective surveillance screenings at initial diagnosis and survivorship and subsequent physical therapy episodes of care for a patient with breast cancer. A 39-year-old female was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma of the right breast. Approximately three months after the initial diagnosis, the patient had a right nipple-sparing mastectomy and immediate reconstruction with an expander. In addition, one lymph node was removed and underwent a biopsy, which was negative for metastases. The patient was screened by a physical therapist after her initial cancer diagnosis at the breast multidisciplinary clinic. This was after her mastectomy with an expander; the therapist recommended an episode of outpatient physical therapy due to impairments in pain, fatigue, loss of range of motion, weakness, and limitations in performance of her activities of daily living. The patient was seen initially for five visits. She underwent her final reconstructive surgery one month after discharge from physical therapy. Six months after her final reconstructive surgery, she was screened by the same physical therapist in the cancer survivorship clinic. Once again, therapy was recommended due to pain as well as deficits to her range of motion, strength, and functional status. The second episode of care lasted 14 visits and the patient showed improvements in pain, range of motion, shoulder strength and gains in the patient-specific functional scale and upper extremity functional index. This case reflects the importance of prospective surveillance screenings to overall patient outcomes. This patient may not have otherwise received physical therapy and its associated benefits without the prospective screenings by the physical therapist.
Does an antibiotic nail made in a lubricated tube release antibiotic

The treatment of long-bone osteomyelitis has long been a difficult problem. Recently, antibiotic-impregnated intramedullary rods for the treatment of infected long-bone fractures have been gaining popularity but they are quite difficult to fabricate. Recently, a new technique that utilizes mineral oil to coat the inside of a chest tube mold prior to introduction of cement has been proven to ease fabrication. We hypothesized that the use of mineral oil would alter the elution characteristics of tobramycin from the intramedullary device. Two groups of antibiotic nails were fabricated under sterile conditions. The control group utilized a chest tube mold. The study group utilized a chest tube that was coated with mineral oil prior to cement injection. Each intramedullary nail was placed in pooled human serum and incubated under physiologic conditions. The level of tobramycin in each sample was measured at timepoints 0, 1, 6, and 24 h. There was no significant difference when comparing control with the experimental group at any timepoint. Antibiotic nails eluted tobramycin at a rapid rate in the first 6 h of exposure to serum, regardless of their preparation with oil or without oil. The rate of elution fell precipitously between 6 and 24 h. We believe that although this study, as with any study, cannot perfectly recreate in vivo conditions, we have clearly shown that mineral oil has no significant effect on elution of tobramycin from antibiotic nails.
Hierarchical assembly governs TRIM5α recognition of HIV-1 and retroviral capsids

TRIM5α is a restriction factor that senses incoming retrovirus cores through an unprecedented mechanism of nonself recognition. TRIM5α assembles a hexagonal lattice that avidly binds the capsid shell, which surrounds and protects the virus core. The extent to which the TRIM lattice can cover the capsid and how TRIM5α directly contacts the capsid surface have not been established. Here, we apply cryo-electron tomography and subtomogram averaging to determine structures of TRIM5α bound to recombinant HIV-1 capsid assemblies. Our data support a mechanism of hierarchical assembly, in which a limited number of basal interaction modes are successively organized in increasingly higher-order structures that culminate in a TRIM5α cage surrounding a retroviral capsid. We further propose that cage formation explains the mechanism of restriction and provides the structural context that links capsid recognition to ubiquitin-dependent processes that disable the retrovirus.
The evolution of political memes: Detecting and characterizing internet memes with multi-modal deep learning

Abstract Combining humor with cultural relevance, Internet memes have become an ubiquitous artifact of the digital age. As Richard Dawkins described in his book The Selfish Gene, memes behave like cultural genes as they propagate and evolve through a complex process of ‘mutation’ and ‘inheritance’. On the Internet, these memes activate inherent biases in a culture or society, sometimes replacing logical approaches to persuasive argument. Despite their fair share of success on the Internet, their detection and evolution have remained understudied. In this research, we propose and evaluate Meme-Hunter, a multi-modal deep learning model to classify images on the Internet as memes vs non-memes, and compare this to uni-modal approaches. We then use image similarity, meme specific optical character recognition, and face detection to find and study families of memes shared on Twitter in the 2018 US Mid-term elections. By mapping meme mutation in an electoral process, this study confirms Richard Dawkins’ concept of meme evolution.
Not Phenomenology’s ‘Other’: Historical Epistemology’s Critique and Expansion of Phenomenology

While there are important tensions between French historical epistemology and classical phenomenology as modes of thought, fixation on these differences has obstructed recognition of their similarities. Using the writings of Jean Cavailles and Gaston Bachelard as case studies, this chapter shows that historical epistemology may be read as simultaneously critiquing and expanding the phenomenological project originated by Husserl in the early twentieth century. The author rebuffs the widespread conception that historical epistemology is phenomenology’s ‘Other’ and calls for further research on their historical and philosophical relationships.
Food of a Chinese jumping mouse, Eozapus setchuanus (Pousargues, 1896)

This note is the only information on food of this species. Food from the stomach was examined using a binocular dissecting microscope. Results from this analysis indicate that the food of this species is similar to that of other zapodids, consisting of several different food items, rather than to the finely ground green vegetation eaten by microtine rodents.
The role of working memory capacity in analytic and multiply-constrained problem-solving in demanding situations:

Working memory processes are important for analytic problem-solving; however, their role in multiply-constrained problem-solving is currently debated. This study explored individual differences in working memory and successful completion of analytic and multiply-constrained problem-solving by having participants solve algebra and compound remote associate (CRAT) problems of varying difficulty under low and high memory demand conditions. Working memory was predictive of both algebra and multiply-constrained problem-solving. Specifically, participants with high working memory solved more problems than those with low working. Memory load did not differentially affect performance for low and high working memory participants. However, for multiply-constrained problem-solving the effect of item difficulty was more detrimental for high-span participants than low-span participants. Together, these findings suggest that working memory processes are important for both types of problem-solving and that participants with low working memory capacity may need to offload internal memory demands onto the environment to efficiently solve problems.
Conditional survival among patients with oropharyngeal cancer treated with radiation therapy and alive without recurrence 5 years after diagnosis

Background Risk of recurrence among patients with oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) who survive 5 years is low. The goal of this study was to assess long-term survival of patients with OPC alive without recurrence 5 years after diagnosis. Methods This study included newly diagnosed patients with OPC, who had been treated with radiation and were alive without recurrence 5 years after diagnosis. Overall survival (OS) probabilities beyond 5 years were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Factors associated with OS were determined using Bayesian piecewise exponential survival regression. Standardized mortality ratios for all-cause death were estimated controlling for study year, age, and sex in the US general population. Results Among 1699 patients, the additional 2-year, 5-year, and 10-year OS probabilities were 94%, 83%, and 63%, respectively, and were lower than those in the general population. Patients who were older, were current or former smokers, had other than tonsil or base of tongue tumors, or had T4 tumors had a higher risk of death. Patients who had base of tongue tumors and had received intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) or lower-radiation doses had a lower risk of death. Standardized mortality ratios were higher among current and heavy smokers and lower among recipients of IMRT and lower radiation doses. Conclusions In this large cohort, long-term survival among patients with OPC was good but lower than predicted for the general population. Patients treated with IMRT and those with less tobacco exposure had better outcomes.
Relationship between altered knee kinematics and subchondral bone remodeling in a clinically translational model of ACL injury

Abnormal joint kinematics are commonly reported in the acute and chronic stages of recovery after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and have long been mechanistically implicated as a primary driver in the development of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). Though strongly theorized, it is unclear to what extent biomechanical adaptations after ACL injury culminate in the development of PTOA, as data that directly connects these factors does not exist. Using a pre-clinical, non-invasive ACL injury rodent model, our objective was to explore the direct effect of an isolated ACL injury on joint kinematics and the pathogenetic mechanisms involved in the development of PTOA. Thirty-two, sixteen-week-old Long-Evans rats were exposed to a non-invasive ACL injury. Marker-less deep learning software (DeepLabCut) was used to track animal movement for sagittal-plane kinematic analyses and micro computed tomography was used to evaluate subchondral bone architecture at days 7, 14, 28 and 56 following injury. There was a significant decrease in peak knee flexion during walking (p<0.05), which had a moderate-to-strong negative correlation (r=-.59 to r=-.71, p<0.001) with subchondral bone plate porosity in all load bearing regions of the femur and tibia. Additional comprehensive analyses of knee flexion profiles revealed dramatic alterations throughout the step cycle. This occurred alongside considerable loss of epiphyseal trabecular bone and substantial changes in anatomical orientation. Knee flexion angle and subchondral bone microarchitecture are severely impacted after ACL injury. Reductions in peak knee flexion angle after ACL injury are directly associated with subchondral bone plate remodeling. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Right parahippocampal volume deficit in an older population with posttraumatic stress disorder.

Abstract Background Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an increasingly prevalent condition among older adults and may escalate further as the general population including veterans from recent conflicts grow older. Despite growing evidence of higher medical comorbidity, cognitive impairment and dementia, and disability in older individuals with PTSD, there are very few studies examining brain cortical structure in this population. Hence, we examined cortical volumes in a cross-sectional study of veterans and civilians aged ≥50 years, of both sexes and exposed to trauma (interpersonal, combat, non-interpersonal). Methods Cortical volumes were obtained from T1-weighted structural MRI and compared between individuals with PTSD and Trauma Exposed Healthy Controls (TEHC) adjusting for age, sex, estimated intracranial volume, depression severity, and time elapsed since trauma exposure. Results The PTSD group (N = 55) had smaller right parahippocampal gyrus compared to TEHC (N = 36), corrected p(pFWER) = 0.034, with an effect size of 0.75 (Cohen's d), with no significant group differences in other cortical areas. Conclusions These findings are different from the structural brain findings reported in studies in younger age groups (larger parahippocampal volume in PTSD patients), suggesting a possible significant change in brain structure as PTSD patients age. These results need replication in longitudinal studies across the age-span to test whether they are neuroanatomical markers representing disease vulnerability, trauma resilience or pathological neurodegeneration associated with cognitive impairment and dementia.
Successful Recruitment Strategies for Engaging Pregnant African American Women in Research

Participation by people of color in research studies is important for generalizability and to mitigate health disparities. Barriers to recruitment are well documented, but less well known is how to...
Issue Salience, Ownership, and Cross-Pressures in the American Electorate: 2016 ANES Pilot Study Technical Report

The purpose of our proposed battery of questions was two-fold. First, we wanted to introduce an alternative measure of issue salience: one based on rankings rather than ratings. The goal here is to identify the relative importance of issues to voters, something that can be lost with Likert-type ratings (in which respondents can rate all or most issues are "extremely important.") Second, because perceived party competence has a conditioning effect on the relationship between salience and vote choice, we wanted to include an ownership question asking respondents which party they believe would be better at handling salient issues. The findings from the ANES 2016 Pilot Study are promising. First, the salience rankings reveal the diversity of issue salience attitudes, and how salience attitudes are split along partisan lines, in the American electorate. In addition, economic growth and inequality represent different, and important, conceptions of the broad stimulus "the economy" across parties. Second, the competence measures show that Democrats and Republicans are willing to rate either the other party or no party as competent handlers of at least one personally salient issue. Finally, both the salience and ownership measures are significant predictors of vote choice in both primary and general election matchups. We recommend including both items on the regular 2016 ANES Time Series study.
Developmental biology: Nanotubes in the niche.

In fruit flies, protrusions can extend from stem cells in the testes to cells in a regulatory hub, mediating intercellular signalling and stem-cell maintenance. The implications of this finding are presented here from two angles. See Letter p.329 Stem cell niches provide short-range signals to which only stem cells — and not their differentiating progeny — respond. It is still not clear how such specificity is achieved. Yukiko Yamashita and colleagues report that Drosophila male germline stem cells form previously unrecognized structures, microtubule-based nanotubes, which extend into the hub, a major component of the niche, to mediate the stem-cell-niche signalling. These nanotubes carry receptors for signals sent by the niche and are required for the transmission of such self-renewing signals to the germline stem cells.
The strong radical and finite-dimensional ideals

Let A be a semi-prime Banach algebra with strong radical R (intersection of its two-sided modular maximal ideals). A minimal left or right ideal K of A is infinite-dimensional if and only if K C R. Thus all minimal one-sided ideals in A are finite-dimensional if A is strongly semi-simple.
The Vacant See: Ritual and Protest in Early Modern Rome

UNLIKE CONTEMPORARY KINGS, the popes of the early modern period could die. No ceremonial fiction maintained a papal reign in the way that funeral rituals prolonged the rule of the Renaissance kings of France.' Indeed, at the time when such performances reached their apex in sixteenth-century France, papal legislation aimed in precisely the opposite direction. The pontiffs strove to ensure that no individual or body in Rome inherited their authority at their death. Until the cardinals of the Holy Roman Church gathered and elected a new pope, no papal courts functioned, no new laws could be made, and curial offices ceased.2 In short, during the interregnum or Vacant See, normal government in Rome was suspended. This hiatus in absolute rule was a distinctly demarcated, if indefinite, interval; usually lasting one or two months, it had its own rituals, symbols,
Naturally Occurring Reticuloendotheliosis in Turkeys: Transmission

This report describes the natural occurrence and experimental transmission of reticuloendotheliosis in a turkey flock. In the naturally affected turkeys, lesions were present in the liver, spleen, heart, intestines, and peripheral nerves, and were composed mainly of lymphoreticular cells. The disease was experimentally reproduced in turkey poults with cellfree tissue extracts of infected birds. A type-C RNA virus similar to reticuloendotheliosis virus (strain T) was present in the tissues of turkey poults experimentally inoculated. This virus was unrelated to the type-C RNA viruses of the avian leukosis sarcoma complex.
Research in Teacher Education: Assessing Inservice Training Needs Through Teacher Responses

The Research in Teacher Education section is devoted to re ports and reviews of research that have implications for teacher education. Research reports that address the topics of teacher effec tive...
Characteristics of occupational burns in Oregon, 2001-2006.

BACKGROUND: Occupational burns are known to be a serious public health concern. This article describes work-related burns in Oregon between 2001 and 2006. METHODS: Oregon Workers' Compensation (WC) burn claims were analyzed; data from a commercial insurance carrier (CIC) was used to characterize non-disabling burn claims. To ensure that our primary data source (WC) captures as many burn cases as possible, we compared hospitalized cases to a regional burn center (RBC) and Oregon hospital discharge index (HDI) data. RESULTS: The WC burn injury rate ranged from a high of 1.8 per 10,000 workers in 2001 to a low of 1.4 per 10,000 in 2004. We identified 2,165 accepted burn claims in CIC data, of which 85% were non-disabling. We matched data from a regional burn center to a subset of hospitalized claims from WC data and found an additional 44 cases of occupational hospitalized burns representing a 3% increase in total cases captured. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational burns continue to be a problem for working Oregonians, and the use of additional data sources outside of WC augments our surveillance system. Language: en
Gender differences in managerial attitudes towards unearned privilege and favoritism in the retail sector

This paper describes the concepts of unearned privilege and favoritism and tests if there are differences in managerial attitudes towards the use of these behaviors based on respondent gender. Respondents included 180 managers employed with a large retail organization located in the southern part of the United States. The results indicate that female managers more strongly disapproved of the use of unearned privilege in making promotion decisions and more strongly disapproved of the decision to use favoritism in decision making related to customer relations. The results also indicated that male managers were less likely to disapprove of the use of unearned privilege when they had greater years of management experience. In addition, the most experienced female managers reported disapproval levels for the use favoritism in decision making related to customer relations equal to that of the most experienced male managers.
THE EFFECTS OF CO AND LIGHT ON THE OXYGEN CONSUMPTION AND ON THE PRODUCTION OF CO2 BY GERMINATING SEEDS OF LUPINUS ALBUS

The consumption of oxygen by germinating seeds of Lupinus albus can be reversibly inhibited by CO to a maximum extent of 36 per cent with a mixture of 24 per cent O2 and 76 per cent CO at 18°, in darkness. This inhibition is completely abolished when the seed is illuminated. On returning to air, after a period in the CO-O2 mixture, the rate of oxygen consumption is accelerated to as much as 68 per cent over what it had been previously, in air. The production of CO2 is apparently not inhibited by CO. The bearing of these findings on the study of the rates of gas exchange of the seeds as a function of temperature is discussed.
Response of nanostructured ferritic alloys to high-dose heavy ion irradiation ☆

Abstract A latest-generation aberration-corrected scanning/transmission electron microscope (STEM) is used to study heavy-ion-irradiated nanostructured ferritic alloys (NFAs). Results are presented for STEM X-ray mapping of NFA 14YWT irradiated with 10 MeV Pt to 16 or 160 dpa at −100 °C and 750 °C, as well as pre-irradiation reference material. Irradiation at −100 °C results in ballistic destruction of the beneficial microstructural features present in the pre-irradiated reference material, such as Ti–Y–O nanoclusters (NCs) and grain boundary (GB) segregation. Irradiation at 750 °C retains these beneficial features, but indicates some coarsening of the NCs, diffusion of Al to the NCs, and a reduction of the Cr–W GB segregation (or solute excess) content. Ion irradiation combined with the latest-generation STEM hardware allows for rapid screening of fusion candidate materials and improved understanding of irradiation-induced microstructural changes in NFAs.
Recessive Inheritance of Obesity in Familial Non—Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, and Lack of Linkage to Nine Candidate Genes

Summary Segregation analysis of body-mass index (BMI) supported recessive inheritance of obesity, in pedigrees ascertained through siblings with non—insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). BMI was estimated as 39 kg/m 2 for those subjects homozygous at the inferred locus. Two-locus segregation analysis provided weak support for a second recessive locus, with BMI estimated as 32 kg/m 2 for homozygotes. NIDDM prevalence was increased among those subjects presumed to be homozy-gous at either locus. Using both parametric and non-parametric methods, we found no evidence of linkage of obesity to any of nine candidate genes/regions, including the Prader-Willi chromosomal region ( PWS ), the human homologue of the mouse agouti gene ( ASP ), and the genes for leptin ( OB ), the leptin receptor ( OBR/DB ), the b 3 -adrenergic receptor ( ADRB3 ), lipoprotein lipase ( LPL ), hepatic lipase ( LIPC ), glycogen synthase ( GYS ), and tumor necrosis factor a ( TNFA ).
CT Colonography: Pertinent Issues for the Colorectal Surgeon

Computed tomography colonography (CTC) has rapidly evolved into a clinically effective tool since its initial introduction in 1994. Although not in widespread use for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in part due to reimbursement issues, there is emerging consensus that advances in hardware and software technology as well as in specific protocol techniques have allowed polyp detection performance characteristics equivalent to optical colonoscopy. CTC issues relevant to the colorectal surgeon revolve around both those concerning CRC screening and those regarding focused problem-solving for specific clinical situations. This article will outline the basic components of a CTC examination as well as the specific parameters in current use in a large-scale screening CTC program. The potential roles of CTC in the CRC screening realm, performance characteristics with state-of-the-art techniques, theorized radiation risks, and the issue regarding extracolonic findings will be addressed. The utility of standardized lexicon and reporting system will be highlighted. Problem-solving issues pertinent for the colorectal surgeon to be addressed include lesion localization for preoperative planning, synchronous lesion assessment, and submucosal lesion characterization.
Factors Controlling the Delimitation of Littoral Benthic Marine Algal Zonation

SYNOPSIS. The physiological and morphological responses of various littoral algal species to the stresses imposed upon the adults and sporelings by a number of interrelated factors in different latitudes are discussed in so far as there is experimental evidence that they delimit the vertical range of a species. The upper limits of algal zones in the eulittoral region are primarily determined by the resistance of the species to loss of water during midday exposure, by the effects of desiccation upon metabolism, by the ability to adjust their osmoregulatory processes during the periods of exposure to the rapid changes of salinity, and by the degree of tolerance to diurnal and seasonal changes of air temperatures. Low intensity of light reduces the metabolic efficiency and affects the resistance to desiccation and to variations in temperature and salinity. The lower limits of the eulittoral algal zones are primarily controlled by the intensity of light, by the competition with algae and invertebrates for space and light, and by grazing animals. The primary factors controlling the upper limits of the sublittoral algae are the depth of the wave base; the ability to utilize the submarine illumination as affected by turbidity and wave action in the layers of surface water; and the resistance to hydrostatic pressure. The lower limits of the sublittoral algae and both the upper and lower limits of theelittoral algal zones are controlled by the illumination and its effect upon the compensation-depth, the hydrostatic pressure, and the availability of nutrients.
Relationship Between Level of Consumption and Harms in Assessing Drink Cut-Points for Alcohol Research: Commentary on “Many College Freshmen Drink at Levels Far Beyond the Binge Threshold” by White et al.

In this commentary, we describe the use of a 5/4 drink summary measure of heavy episodic alcohol consumption, or "binge" drinking, in survey research and its usefulness for preventing negative alcohol-related consequences. Data from 4 nationally representative surveys of more than 50,000 college students are utilized to examine the utility of this measure in comparison with alternative cut-points. Our analysis demonstrates that while higher drink threshold measures incrementally improve the ability to identify correctly students who experience harms or who meet DSM-IV diagnostic criteria of alcohol abuse and dependence, they capture only a small proportion of those college students experiencing harms. We conclude that the selection of a measurement tool should be consistent with the purpose for which it is to be used. The 5/4 measure of binge drinking provides a valuable means for understanding and preventing alcohol-related harms in a college population and can be utilized as a screen to identify students who may need additional clinical assessment for intervention.
Finite element applications to explore the effects of partial bonding on metal matrix composite properties

The mechanics of materials approach (definition of E, G, Nu, and Alpha) and the finite element method are used to explore the effects of partial bonding and fiber fracture on the behavior of high temperature metal matrix composites. Composite ply properties are calculated for various degrees of disbonding to evaluate the sensitivity of these properties to the presence of fiber/matrix disbonding and fiber fracture. The mechanics of materials approach allows for the determination of the basic ply material properties needed for design/analysis of composites. The finite element method provides the necessary structural response (forces and displacements) for the mechanics of materials equations. Results show that disbonding of fractured fibers affect only E sub (111) and alpha sub (111) significantly.
Short period multilayers: Interface-dominated structures

Abstract The dimensional scale of materials synthesis techniques has extended to an atomic level. As such, the structure and properties of composite materials are unlike those of the bulk constituents. This is especially true for the case of artificially composition-modulated materials, i.e. multilayers. The statistical presence of interfaces is high in short period multilayers, which in turn affects the stable configuration of atoms in the lattice. The metastable arrangement which results from the one-dimensional ordering in metallic multilayers will be examined using diffraction techniques. The careful selection of compatible materials has enabled the fabrication of amorphous superlattices with near-monolayer composition modulation. An examination of these structures and their use in X-ray optical systems will be presented.
The reduction of dioxygen and the oxidation of hydrogen at polypyrrole film electrodes containing nanodispersed platinum particles

Polypyrrole (ppy) films containing a three-dimensional array of nanometer-sized platinum catalyst particles have recently been developed in this laboratory. The catalytic activity of these “nanocomposite” (ppy+Pt) films towards the dioxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) was tested in 0.05 M H3PO4 and 0.5 M H2SO4 respectively, with the polymer film thickness and platinum catalyst loading as variables. In both cases an increase in the reaction cross-section with the polymer film thickness was noted, consistent with the facile permeation of the substrates into the polymer+catalyst framework. The hydrodynamic voltammetry data were analyzed and found to be diagnostic of rate control being exercised by the bimolecular catalyst-substrate charge-transfer reaction for both the ORR and HOR. For the HOR, the ppy + Pt. films exhibited a remarkable enhancement (five times) in the reaction rate relative to a massive platinum comparison standard. While polypyrrole itself showed negligible catalytic activity towards the HOR, the ORR proceeded at a fast rate at the polymer matrix even in the absence of the platinum catalyst. Comparisons with available data on the ORR and HOR at other types of platinum modified polypyrrole samples are presented.
CD40 ligation restores cytolytic T lymphocyte response and eliminates fibrosarcoma in the peritoneum of mice lacking CD4 + T cells

Absence of CD4+ T cell help has been suggested as a mechanism for failed anti-tumor cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) response. We examined the requirement for CD4+ T cells to eliminate an immunogenic murine fibrosarcoma (6132A) inoculated into the peritoneal cavity. Immunocompetent C3H mice eliminated both single and repeat intraperitoneal (IP) inoculums, and developed high frequency of 6132A-specific interferon-γ (IFNγ)-producing CTL in the peritoneal cavity. Adoptive transfer of peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) isolated from control mice, protected SCID mice from challenge with 6132A. In contrast, CD4 depleted mice had diminished ability to eliminate tumor and succumbed to repeat IP challenges. Mice depleted of CD4+ T cells lacked tumor-specific IFNγ producing CTL in the peritoneal cavity. Adoptive transfer of PEC from CD4 depleted mice failed to protect SCID mice from 6132A. However, splenocytes isolated from same CD4 depleted mice prevented tumor growth in SCID mice, suggesting that 6132A-specific CTL response was generated, but was not sustained in the peritoneum. Treating CD4 depleted mice with agonist anti-CD40 antibody, starting on days 3 or 8 after initiating tumor challenge, led to persistence of 6132A-specific IFNγ producing CTL in the peritoneum, and eliminated 6132A tumor. The findings suggest that CTL can be activated in the absence of CD4+ T cells, but CD4+ T cells are required for a persistent CTL response at the tumor site. Exogenous stimulation through CD40 can restore tumor-specific CTL activity to the peritoneum and promote tumor clearance in the absence of CD4+ T cells.
A laboratory investigation of the effectiveness of various skin and surface decontaminants for aliphatic polyisocyanates.

Isocyanates may cause contact dermatitis and respiratory sensitization leading to asthma. Dermal exposure to aliphatic isocyanates in auto body shops is very common. However, little is known about the effectiveness of available commercial products used for decontaminating aliphatic polyisocyanates. This experimental study evaluated the decontamination effectiveness of aliphatic polyisocyanates for several skin and surface decontaminants available for use in the auto body industry. The efficiency of two major decontamination mechanisms, namely (i) consumption of free isocyanate groups via chemical reactions with active hydrogen components of the decontaminant and (ii) physical removal processes such as dissolution were studied separately for each decontaminant. Considerable differences were observed among surface decontaminants in their rate of isocyanate consumption, of which those containing free amine groups performed the best. Overall, Pine-Sol® MEA containing monoethanolamine was the most efficient surface decontaminant, operating primarily via chemical reaction with the isocyanate group. Polypropylene glycol (PPG) had the highest physical removal efficiency and the lowest reaction rate with isocyanates. All tested skin decontaminants performed similarly, accomplishing decontamination primarily via physical processes and removing 70–80% of isocyanates in one wiping. Limitations of these skin decontaminants are discussed and alternatives presented. In vitro testing using animal skins and in vivo testing with field workers are being conducted to further assess the efficiency and identify related determinants.
The effects of the ovarian cycle and pregnancy on uterine vascular impedance and uterine artery mechanics

Objectives: Uterine vascular resistance (UVR) is the ratio of systemic mean arterial pressure to mean uterine blood flow and is sensitive to changes in small arteries and arterioles. However, it provides little or no insight into changes in large, conduit arteries. Fluctuations in estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P4) levels during the ovarian cycle are thought to cause uterine resistance artery vasodilation; the effects on large arteries are unknown. Herein, our objective was to use the uterine vascular impedance, which is sensitive to changes in small and large arteries, to determine the effects of the ovarian cycle and pregnancy on the entire uterine vasculature. Study design: Uterine vascular perfusion pressure and flow rate were recorded simultaneously in anesthetized sheep in the nonpregnant (NP) luteal (NP-L, n = 6) and follicular (NP-F, n = 7) phases and in late pregnancy (CP, n = 10). Impedance and metrics of impedance (input impedance Z O , index of wave reflection R W , characteristic impedance Z C ) were calculated. E2 and P4 levels were measured from jugular vein blood samples. Finally, from pressure-diameter tests post-mortem, large uterine artery circumferential elastic modulus (E Circ ) was measured. Significant differences were evaluated by two-way ANOVA or Student's t-test. Results: As expected, E2:P4 was higher in the NP-F group compared to the NP-L group (p < 0.05). Also as expected, UVR and Z O decreased in the follicular phase compared to the luteal (p < 0.05), but R W , Z C , and E Circ were unaltered. Pregnancy not only substantially decreased UVR (and Z O ) (p < 0.00001) but also decreased Z C (p < 0.001), Rw (p < 0.0001), E Circ (p < 0.01), and pulse wave velocity (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The E2:P4 ratio mediates resistance artery vasodilatation in nonpregnant states, but has no effect on conduit artery size or stiffness. In contrast, pregnancy causes dramatic vasodilation and remodeling, including substantial reductions in conduit artery stiffness and increases in conduit artery size, which affect pulsatile uterine hemodynamics.
A test of the progression-regression hypotheses in a cognitive inference task☆

Abstract The study was designed to test the validity of the progression-regression hypotheses of Fitts et al. in the context of performance on a cognitive inference task. Using parabolas as stimuli, subjects were required to make predictive responses. The correct response for each parabola was based upon an equation which involved the first and second derivatives of each stimulus figure. Two groups of 11 subjects each experienced 12 days of training followed by 2 days of transfer under mild stress followed by 5 more days of transfer under heavier stress. The groups differed in degree of specificity of instructions. Evidence for the progression hypothesis was obtained in both groups, but no evidence at all was found for the regression hypothesis under the stress conditions.
TACITUS: a message understanding system

TACITUS is a general and domain-independent natural language processing system, used so far primarily for message processing. It performs a syntactic analysis of the sentences in the text, producing a logical form. Next, inferential pragmatics processing is applied to the logical form to solve problems of schema recognition, reference resolution, metonymy resolution, and the interpretation of vague predicates. An analysis component then produces the desired output for the application. TACITUS has been applied to several quite different domains, including naval equipment failure reports, naval operations reports, and terrorist reports.
Best practices in mentoring: complexities and possibilities

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the complexity that underlies categorizing best practices in the field of mentoring. A further purpose is to propose a way to deal with this issue in order to begin to develop and identify research-based best practices in mentoring in education. Design/methodology/approach – This is a conceptual paper proposing a structure for identifying best practices in mentoring. Findings – The field of mentoring is replete with suggestions about best practices in education, but many are unsubstantiated by empirical research. The authors believe this is due in part to the breath of mentoring resulting in the use of so many different terms, conceptualizations, and applications that it is difficult for practitioners to converse about mentoring and for researchers to synthesize what is already known. They suggest an additional problem is the ambiguity regarding the term best practice. The authors cite these challenges and offer suggests for defining best practices and sy...
Chemoradiation in the Management of Esophageal Cancer

The combination of chemotherapy, fluorouracil and cisplatin, and radiation has improved outcome for patients with esophageal cancer. A randomized controlled trial confirmed a long-term survival benefit when this chemotherapy was added to radiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma, but the approach has not been definitively assessed in patients with adenocarcinoma. Preoperative chemoradiotherapy has been tested in numerous phase II studies and underpowered or flawed phase III studies. Nevertheless, collectively, the evidence strongly suggests that preoperative chemoradiotherapy improves outcome, and thus, this strategy has become a standard treatment option. Attempts to improve outcome by intensifying conventional cytotoxic drugs or increasing the radiation dose have not been successful. Camptothecin and taxane-based regimens combined with radiation have altered the toxicity profile, but substantial improvement in survival outcomes has yet to be demonstrated. Future improvements will likely require the incorporation of targeted agents that add minimally to existing toxicity, the use of molecular predictors of response to individualize selection of the chemotherapeutic regimen, and early identification of responders such that therapy might be altered dynamically.