cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Renal and hepatic lysosomal catabolism of luteinizing hormone

Abstract Following an intravenous injection of tritiated ovine luteinizing hormone (LH) into mature male rats, the liver and kidneys accumulate a significant portion of the non-excreted hormone. The subcellular distribution of total radioactivity in both tissues was found to be similar to that of β-galactosidase, a lysosomal enzyme marker. Moreover, the subcellular fraction with the highest relative specific activity of β-galactosidase exhibited the highest degradation rate of endogenous hormone under in vitro conditions. Based on these and other observations, it is concluded that the intracellular catabolism of LH by these tissues is due to lysosomal enzymes. An analysis of the radioactive degradation products produced by a lysosomal-rich subcellular fraction showed the presence of free amino acids and oligopeptides. Thus, the uptake and degradation of the hormone by these tissues appear to occur by endocytosis followed by lysosomal catabolism. This phenomenon may represent a regulatory role in the control of (circulating) hormone concentrations.
Developmental exposure to corticosterone: behavioral changes and differential effects on leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) gene expression in the mouse

Cytokines are found in both the peripheral and central nervous system. There has been increasing interest in their potential role in some of the behavioral features of depressive disorders. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), a proinflammatory cytokine, produces stimulation of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion in response to emotional and inflammatory stress and recently has been linked to depressive-type behavior. Both the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and the immune system, including cytokine-mediated responses, appear to be susceptible to long-term programming during fetal and neonatal development. The present study was designed to characterize the effects of perinatal exposure to corticostereone on behavior, hypothalamic LIF and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) mRNA expression, and basal plasma corticosterone levels in adult female mice. Corticosterone was added to the drinking water beginning the last week of gestation and continued until weaning. Behavior in the open field and forced swim tests, baseline plasma corticosterone levels, and hypothalamic LIF and CRH gene expression were evaluated in the adult offspring. Mice exposed to perinatal corticosterone showed increased immobility in the forced swim test and increased locomotor activity in the open field test. Although there were no differences between treatment groups in terms of basal plasma levels of corticosterone or hypothalamic CRH mRNA, LIF mRNA expression was increased in the hypothalamus. These results show that perinatal exposure to glucocorticoids can produce long-term behavioral changes and upregulation of central LIF mRNA expression.
Nationhood and Political Culture

Substate nationalism has noticeably affected the political and territorial stability of many countries, both democratic and democratizing, especially in the past fifteen years. The actors in conflicts of self-determination employ “nationhood” to identify themselves. Yet the fact that they claim national identity does not necessarily place them in the class of nations, nor does it immediately entitle them to self-determination. Judging the legitimacy of granting a particular group the right to self-determination requires determining first whether it in principle qualifies to advance the claim.Aclarification of how nationhood relates to self-determination and a commonly accepted definition of nationhood could introduce much-needed conceptual clarity to the assessment of substate groups’ entitlements and to the definition of the subjects of the right to self-determination. Presently, the very notion of “nation” is ambiguous. The word has several meanings, including “people,” “national minority,” “the population of a state,” “ethnic group,” and “title nation” or “majority.” The UN Charter declares the right of all peoples to self-determination, but “people” is not clearly defined and does not in principle exclude substate national groups from the entitlement. In current international practice and law, the terms “nation” and “state” are often used interchangeably. One document designed to protect national minorities, the European Framework Convention, for example, recognizes states as the undersigning parties and emphasizes its signatories’ respect for those states’ territorial integrity and national sovereignty. 1 Thus, the convention seems to introduce confusion between nationhood and statehood. International law overall does not define the status or the powers that non-state groups that claim to be nations in multinational states should have in relation to other groups, their citizens, and their own national minorities. The meaning of “national,” especially in light of terms like “national sovereignty,” needs to be clarified. My concern in this article is to offer a pragmatic definition of nationhood that can serve as an appropriate conceptual background for determining the status and norms for relations of national groups in multinational states. I do not defend any set of normative principles designed to regulate relations of self-determination among national groups. Rather, I first introduce two criteria that any definition of “nation” has to satisfy to be better at conceptualizing nationhood than the status quo, and I explain how rival conceptions of nationhood fail to satisfy the criteria. Then I put forward my definition of a nation—a collective agent characterized by a political culture of self-determination with which its members self-identify.
Perspective On Precision Machining, Polishing, And Optical Requirements

While precision machining has been applied to the manufacture of optical components for a considerable period, the process has, in general, had its thinking restricted to producing only the accurate shapes required. The purpose of this paper is to show how optical components must be considered from an optical (functional) point of view and that the manufacturing process must be selected on that basis. To fill out this perspective, simplistic examples of how optical components are specified with respect to form and finish are given, a comparison between optical polishing and precision machining is made, and some thoughts on which technique should be selected for a specific application are presented. A short discussion of future trends related to accuracy, materials, and tools is included.
Just War and the Supreme Emergency Exemption

Recently a number of liberal political theorists, including Rawls and Walzer, have argued for a ‘supreme emergency exemption’ from the traditional just war principle of discrimination which absolutely prohibits direct attacks against innocent civilians, claiming that a political community threatened with destruction may deliberately target innocents in order to save itself. I argue that this ‘supreme emergency exemption’ implies that individuals too may kill innocents in supreme emergencies. This is a significant theoretical cost. While it will not constitute a decisive refutation of all arguments for a supreme emergency exemption, my hope is that many will see this cost of endorsing the exemption as unacceptable.
A hole you can drive a MAC through

The complexity of host defense mechanisms is awe inspiring. A wide range of cell types can interact and produce an enormous spectrum of products that work together to protect the organism against the hostile environment in which it lives. The network of host defense is sufficiently fine-meshed and
The Management Clinic: Meeting the Challenge of Relevancy in Management Education

In this article the author discusses the status of management education by examining what is being taught, areas that need to be explored, areas that may be problematic and suggesting possible solutions to these problems. The author notes that while this article offers suggestions and innovations in management education, it is not a model for a management curriculum. The author notes that the main problem associated with management education is the growing divide between academics and practitioners. This divide has resulted in the education becoming largely theoretical without enough focus on real world applications. The author makes several suggestions for how to bridge this gap noting that students, schools and the business community all stand to benefit from this change.
Precision measurements of gamma-ray energies up to 2 MeV using a 2 m curved-crystal monochromator

Abstract Precision measurements of gamma-ray energies up to 2 MeV were performed using a 2m curved-crystal monochromator. Effective source activities of less than 40 mCur were used for the measurements of the transitions in the 2 MeV region. In the 150 keV region, effective source activities of less than 200 μCur may be used. Measurements have been performed on the transitions of energies less than 2150 keV which follow the decay of In116(54 min), Mn56 (2.6 h) and Sc46 (85 d). In addition, results are presented which indicate that the reflection coefficient is approximately linear with respect to wavelength for the second order reflection from the germanium (0 2 2) planes in the region of 6–90 mA (2000−135 keV).
Eosinophilic esophagitis in adults: an emerging problem with unique esophageal features.

Abstract Background Eosinophilic esophagitis is an inflammatory condition in which there is dense eosinophilic infiltration of the surface lining of the esophagus. Reports of eosinophilic esophagitis pertain almost exclusively to pediatric populations. However, eosinophilic esophagitis is emerging as a clinical affliction of adults. This report describes the clinical and endoscopic findings of eosinophilic esophagitis in the largest cohort of adult patients reported to date. Methods Twenty-nine patients (21 men, 8 women; mean age 35 years) with documented eosinophilic esophagitis (≥15 eosinophils per high-power field in biopsy specimens) and a significant history of chronic dysphagia for solid food (24 patients) were evaluated clinically and endoscopically during a 3-year period (1999–2002). Fourteen patients (48%) had a history of asthma, environmental allergy, or atopy. In a subset of 15 patients, the diagnostic accuracy of endoscopy was compared with that of barium contrast esophagography. Results Twenty-seven patients (93%) had abnormal endoscopic findings; 25 (86%) had unique esophageal structural changes, associated with a preserved mucosal surface, that were highly atypical for acid reflux injury. Structural alterations seen in adult patients with eosinophilic esophagitis may occur in combination or as a primary characteristic, e.g., uniform small-caliber esophagus, single or multiple corrugations (rings), proximal esophageal stenosis, or 1 to 2 mm whitish vesicles scattered over the mucosal surface. Barium contrast radiography combined with swallow of a barium-coated marshmallow identified 10 (67%) of the primary features observed endoscopically in 15 patients. However, radiography failed to detect other features noted at endoscopy (e.g., only 3/6 patients with proximal stenosis, 5/9 patients with concentric rings and none of 4 patients with small caliber esophagus). Eight of the 29 patients (20%) had a history of chronic heartburn. Twelve patients had been treated with a proton pump inhibitor and only 3 reported some improvement in the severity of dysphagia. Conclusions Relatively young age, a history of chronic dysphagia for solid food, and endoscopic detection of unique structural alterations atypical for GERD in an adult patient should prompt a suspicion of EE and subsequent biopsy confirmation. Acid reflux appears to have a secondary role in eosinophilic esophagitis. In an uncontrolled comparison, endoscopy was superior to barium contrast radiography for the diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis. The incidence of eosinophilic esophagitis in adults appears to be increasing.
Marriage pattern of the Korean population in Japan

The trends of intermarriage and the attitude to it of Koreans in Japan were examined. About 47 [percent] of total marriages of Koreans during the period 1965-79 comprised a husband and wife of different nationality. The proportion of Korean-Japanese marriages was higher than that of Korean-Korean marriages in recent years....The results suggest that mixed marriages of Koreans and Japanese will continue to increase and may influence the future fertility of Koreans in Japan. The data are from official Japanese vital statistics. (EXCERPT)
Stereoselective Synthesis of Trisubstituted Olefins

Abstract A new method for the highly stereoselective synthesis of trisubstituted olefins is. presented. The method involves the stereoselective construction of various β-hydroxy phosphonamidates followed by their thermolysis to provide trisubstituted olefins in extremely high geometrical purity (>99/1).
Consumer Credit Risk Management in an Emerging Market: The Case of China

With the liberalization of the financial service sector mandated by China's access to the WTO, China's credit card market has received a great deal of attention from global financial institutions. This paper examines the enormous growth opportunities and key barriers facing the development of the credit card industry in China, and discusses the importance and tools of consumer credit risk management. In the process of rapid expansion of China's consumer credit card industry, credit risk management should be treated as a top priority to avoid a pile up of bad debt in credit card receivables. This requires the development of an updated and comprehensive national consumer credit database and the use of credit risk modeling and scoring in predicting consumer behavior. As structured finance develops in China, the securitization of credit card receivables into asset-backed securities might also serve as an alternative to traditional credit risk management. (Edited by Zhinan Zhang)
An example of a function which is Denjoy integrable but not khinchin summable

The following result is proven: if ξ is an irrational number “anomalously badly“ approximable by rationals, then there are functions which are not Khinchin ξ-summable but which are Denjoy integrable. Let I be the interval 0 ≤ x ≤ 1, and let ξ be an irrational, 0 < ξ< 1. Let Tξ denote the transformation of I into itself defined as follows: $$T_\xi x = \left\{ {\begin{array}{*{20}c} {x + \xi ,ifx + \xi \in I;} \\ {x + \xi - 1} \\ \end{array} } \right.$$ otherwise.
Benefits of Cruise Design Optimization for High-Performance, Single-Engine Airplanes

A design study has been conducted to optimize a single-engine airplane for a high-performance cruise mission. The mission analyzed included a cruise speed of 300 knots, a cruise range of 1300 n.mi., and a six-passenger payload [5340 N (1200 Ib), including crew]. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the practicality of combinations of wing design, cruise power, and operating altitude required for the mission. The results show that these ambitious mission performance characteristics can be achieved with fuel efficiencies competitive with present-day high-performance, singleand twin-engine business airplanes. It is noted that relaxation of the present Federal Aviation Regulation, Part 23, stall-speed requirement for single-engine airplanes facilitates the optimization of the airplane for cruise fuel efficiency.
Differences between basal lung levels of select eicosanoids in rat and mouse.

AbstractMetabolites of arachidonic acid play an important role in mediating inflammation, cell proliferation, and oxidative stress that contribute to many pulmonary diseases. We hypothesized that the substantial differences between rats and mice in their responses to experimental pulmonary hypertensive stimuli would be associated with parallel differences in their basal eicosanoid profile. Rat and mouse lung extracts were subjected to liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry that was optimized for simultaneous separation and rapid quantification of the major hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs) and prostaglandins (PGs). Basal levels (pg/μg protein) of arachidonic acid metabolites differed significantly between rat and mouse lungs. Median values of the following major eicosanoids were significantly higher in mouse than in rat lungs: 5-HETE, 8-HETE, 12-HETE, 15-HETE, PGE2, and PGI2, as well as isoprostane-E2 and -F2α. In addition, the PGI2/TXB2 ratio was increased in mouse relative to rat lungs. On t...
A clinical trial of nifedipine in schizophrenia and tardive dyskinesia.

Abstract Effects of the dihydropyridine calcium channel inhibitor nifedipine on chronic schizophrenia and tardive dyskinesia were studied in an 8-week double-blind crossover trial. Four of the ten patients had tardive dyskinesia, and three of these were not receiving neuroleptics. No effects on symptoms of chronic schizophrenia were found using Psychiatric Symptom Assessment Scale ratings. In the four patients with tardive dyskinesia, an average improvement in total abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale scores of 57% was observed. These data suggest that dihydropyridine calcium channel inhibitors may be effective in the treatment of tardive dyskinesia in schizophrenic patients.
Noble gas constraints on air-sea gas exchange and bubble fluxes

[1] Air-sea gas exchange is an important part of the biogeochemical cycles of many climatically and biologically relevant gases including CO2 ,O 2, dimethyl sulfide and CH4. Here we use a three year observational time series of five noble gases (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe) at the Bermuda Atlantic Time series Study (BATS) site in tandem with a onedimensional upper ocean model to develop an improved parameterization for air-sea gas exchange that explicitly includes separate components for diffusive gas exchange and bubble processes. Based on seasonal timescale noble gas data, this parameterization, which has a 1s uncertainty of ±14% for diffusive gas exchange and ±29% for bubble fluxes, is more tightly constrained than previous parameterizations. Although the magnitude of diffusive gas exchange is within errors of that of Wanninkhof (1992), a commonly used parameterization, we find that bubble-mediated exchange, which is not explicitly included by Wanninkhof (1992) or many other formulations, is significant even for soluble gases. If one uses observed saturation anomalies of Ar (a gas with similar characteristics to O2) and a parameterization of gas exchange to calculate gas exchange fluxes, then the calculated fluxes differ by � 240% if the parameterization presented here is used compared to using the Wanninkhof (1992) parameterization. If instead one includes the gas exchange parameterization in a model, then the calculated fluxes differ by � 35% between using this parameterization and that of Wanninkhof (1992). These differences suggest that the bubble component should be explicitly included in a range of marine biogeochemical calculations that incorporate air-sea gas fluxes.
The acute toxicity of copper to blue tilapia in dilutions of settled pond water

Blue tilapia fingerlings (Oreochromis aureus) were exposed to copper (Cu) in a series of static toxicity tests. The water used in this study was composed of settled pond water or settled pond water diluted with deionized water. Estimates of mean 96-h LC50 values (median lethal concentration) were 43.06, 6.61, 0.69 and 0.18 mg/l Cu as copper sulfate) in waters having total alkalinities of 225, 112, 57 and 16 mg/l CaCO3, respectively. These data demonstrate the typical acute toxicity response of Cu, in which toxicity to tilapia increases as pH, total alkalinity and total hardness decrease. The results indicate that blue tilapia are relatively tolerant to Cu when compared to other species and that copper sulfate treatments in low-alkalinity waters may be detrimental to the health of blue tilapia.
Risk Factors for Noncompliance With Follow-up Among Normal-tension Glaucoma Suspects

Purpose To evaluate noncompliance with follow-up in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) suspects. Design Retrospective cohort study. Methods We reviewed 203 patient charts at a university eye clinic, identified as NTG suspects from a database of optic disk photographs. Noncompliance was defined as less than one year of follow-up and/or fewer than two completed visual field (VF) tests. Results Twenty-two patients (11%) were excluded because at least two VF tests were not ordered. The 181 patients analyzed included 45 (25%) non-Whites and 16 (9%) non-English speakers. Eighty-three patients (46%) were noncompliant. These patients were significantly younger (50.5 ± 15.0 years vs 55.1 ± 12.8 years; P = .028), were more likely to speak English ( P = .023), and were more likely to have no or unknown health insurance ( P Conclusions Almost half of NTG suspects lacked appropriate follow-up. Lack of health insurance may be a significant barrier to compliance with follow-up in this population.
Prepartum mixed type cavernous-capillary hemangioma arising in nevus flammeus ☆

Abstract Objective Capillary hemangioma may appear de novo and involute during the first decade of life, but rarely during pregnancy. This study describes the clinical and histologic findings of an eyelid mixed type cavernous-capillary hemangioma arising in a nevus flammeus and discusses the differential diagnosis of this lesion. Study design Clinicopathologic case report. Intervention A reddish, protruding eyelid mass arising from a nevus flammeus at the eyelid margin in a 26-year-old woman was monitored during her pregnancy. Postpartum, the mass was excised and examined histologically. Results The lobulated tumor recurred during the second pregnancy and partially regressed following delivery. It was composed of mixed elements of cavernous and capillary hemangioma that superficially resembled Kaposi sarcoma, set against the background of a nevus flammeus. Conclusion The differential diagnosis of discrete prepartum vascular tumor arising in nevus flammeus includes mixed capillary-cavernous hemangioma, pseudo-Kaposi sarcoma, granuloma gravidarum, and angiodermatitis. A common stimulus during pregnancy may be the inciting factor for the development of these tumors.
SU-FF-J-37: Cumulative Rectal Dose Surface Histogram (DSH) Using Homologous Point Sets

Purpose: Present a metric to compare the outer rectal wall surface cumulative daily treatment dose with the original plan. Materials and Methods: The rectum outer surface was contoured for 28 fractions of a patient undergoing prostate tomotherapy without bowel preparation. The rectal variations could be divided into three ranges corresponding to a rectal filling of “empty”, “half” and “full” with approximately 61%, 21% and 18% of the data in each respective region. We use points on the outer surface of the rectum to calculate a Dose Surface Histogram (DSH). The set of points on the planning surface is the reference for all daily treatments. Doses on the daily contour are mapped onto the reference contour. Every point on the planning contour has a homologous point on the daily contour. Rapid calculations are performed using an in‐house MATLAB algorithm. For each treatment fraction, the dose D(i) to point i on the planning contour is equal to the dose D(j) where j is the previously determined corresponding point on the daily contour. The cumulative dose to point i is the sum of all the daily D(j). Results: A DSH was calculated for the plan and a representative daily MVCT slice. The cumulative DSH was compared to the nominal “average” DSH computed by simply averaging the plan and daily DSHs. There are significant differences above 80% of the prescribed dose. DSHs for a representative contour in each of the empty, half, and full rectum regions indicated 5% difference between the cumulative and planned rectum for doses below 70% and variations of 10 to 20% at higher doses. Conclusions: Cumulative DSHs accurately indicate the dosimetric effect of daily variations in rectal filling. A general technique to compute cumulative DSHs has been developed as an efficient metric to determine if adaptive planning is required.
Raising Low Levels of High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Is an Important Target of Therapy

Recent clinical trials in patients with coronary heart disease indicate, for the very first time, that increasing low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol significantly reduces the cumulative occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in patients whose only lipid abnormality was low HDL with normal levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides. These data provide a compelling scientific basis for a more targeted and segmental approach to managing patients with dyslipidemia, where decreasing elevated levels of LDL cholesterol and increasing low levels of HDL cholesterol should comprise dual targets of pharmacotherapy.
Reproduction, adult survival and intrinsic rate of growth ofUrolepis rufipes [Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae], a pupal parasitoid of house flies,Musca domestica

Urolepis rufipes Ashmead, a recently discovered parasitoid of house flies at New York dairies, was reared at 15, 20, 25, 30 and 34°C to measure daily fertility, fecundity and adult survivorship. Little reproduction occurred at 15°C, and only a few ♀ successfully emerged at 34°C. The intrinsic rate of growth was fastest at 30°C (0.282 ♀/day), but fecundity was highest at 25°C (165.5 hosts attacked, producing 124.5 progeny). Some reproductive statistics at 25°C were: net reproductive rate (R0=72.1 ♀/♀, generation time =18.7 days, intrinsic rate of increase (rm)=0.228, finite rate of increase (λ)=1.26, daily birth rate =0.302, daily death rate =0.021 and Fisher's reproductive value =418. Sex ratio (average =75.9%) did not vary significantly with temperature (between 20–30°C) nor with mother's age.
Studies on Species of Asclepias. V. Chemistry

The results of chemical investigations carried out upon the roots of six members of the genus Asclepias are reported. The preliminary phase of this study consisted of a proximate analysis of the roots of A. tuberosa L., A. syriaca L., A. speciosa Torr., A. incarnata L. var. alba Hort., A. incarnata L. var. pulchra Hort., and A. curassavica L. The root of A. tuberosa L. was subjected to a phytochemical analysis which resulted in the separation of three fatty acids, a hydrocarbon, a sugar, a phytosterol, an oil, three unidentified crystalline fractions, and the concentration of a potent estrogenic substance into a biologically active fraction.
Nonlinear system identification and model reduction using artificial neural networks

Abstract We present a technique for nonlinear system identification and model reduction using artificial neural networks (ANNs). The ANN is used to model plant input–output data, with the states of the model being represented by the outputs of an intermediate hidden layer of the ANN. Model reduction is achieved by applying a singular value decomposition (SVD)-based technique to the weight matrices of the ANN. The sequence of state values is used to convert the model to a form that is useful for state and parameter estimation. Examples of chemical systems (batch and continuous reactors and distillation columns) are presented to demonstrate the performance of the ANN-based system identification and model reduction technique.
Finite common coverings of graphs

Abstract It is easily shown that two finite graphs share a common (possibly infinite) cover if and only if they have the same degree refinement. Angluin and Gardiner ( J. Combin. Theory Ser. B 30 (1981), 184–187) show that any pair of regular graphs with identical valence share a common finite cover. More generally, they conjecture that any pair of graphs with the same degree refinement share a common finite cover. In this paper, their conjecture is verified and a method of constructing a finite common covering of any pair of graphs with the same degree refinement is defined.
Complete Coding Sequence of Bovine Aggrecan: Comparative Structural Analysis

Abstract The previously available sequence for bovine aggrecan included only the KS domain, the C-terminal portion of the CS-2 domain, and the entire CS-3 and G3 domains. We have isolated cDNA clones for previously uncharacterized portions of the bovine aggrecan sequence, and, when we combined them with previously published incomplete sequences, have obtained a complete sequence for the entire core protein. The bovine aggrecan sequence, which is a composite of new sequence data and previously published incomplete sequences, is 2327 residues in length. Although there is significant conservation of G1, G2, and G3 globular domains between species, there are differences in the length of the interglobular domain, in the number of KS domain hexapeptide repeats and CS domain repeats, and in alternative splicing within the G3 domain. The bovine aggrecan KS domain contains 24 repeats of a hexapeptide motif. The largely uncharacterized CS-1 domain of bovine aggrecan was found to contain 27 variable repeats of a 21-residue consensus sequence. A notable feature of the bovine CS-1 domain is in the distribution of single Ser–Gly dipeptides, the majority of which are separated by 7 or 8 amino acids, compared to the human, where discrete pairs of Ser–Gly dipeptides are separated by 13 amino acids. The CS-2 domain contains a total of six “homology domains” with 4 complete and 2 partial ∼100-residue repeats. Each “homology domain” contains a “nodal” region with few sites for CS chain addition that is highly conserved between species, suggesting a possible role in aggrecan biosynthesis or catabolism.
A test of torque-control and equilibrium-point models of motor control

Abstract Based upon predictions of equilibrium-point (EP) models of motor control, a recent article by Jaric et al. (1999) [ Human Movement Sciences , 18 , 49–66] reported that the peak velocity (PV) of an inertially loaded single degree-of-freedom elbow movement was not altered to a statistically distinguishable degree by the accuracy of the subject's expectation about the size of the load. They concluded that their results confirmed their EP models and were incompatible with what they described as torque-control models. A review of the literature and analysis of a more extensive set of data does not support that conclusion. To the contrary, if the actual load is heavier (or lighter) than expected, it is moved more slowly (or faster) than it would have been, had expectation matched reality. Torque-control models predict those consequences, EP models do not.
Prescription opioid mortality trends in New York City, 1990-2006: Examining the emergence of an epidemic

Background: The drug overdose mortality rate tripled between 1990 and 2006; prescription opioids have driven this epidemic. We examined the period 1990-2006 to inform our understanding of how the current prescription opioid overdose epidemic emerged in urban areas. Methods: We used data from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to examine changes in demographic and spatial patterns in overdose fatalities induced by prescription opioids (i.e., analgesics and methadone) in New York City (NYC) in 1990-2006, and what factors were associated with death from prescription opioids vs. heroin, historically the most prevalent form of opioid overdose in urban areas. Results: Analgesic-induced overdose fatalities were the only types of overdose fatalities to increase in 1990-2006 in NYC; the fatality rate increased sevenfold from 0.39 in 1990 to 2.7 per 100,000 persons in 2006. Whites and Latinos were the only racial/ethnic groups to exhibit an increase in overdose-related mortality. Relative to heroin overdose decedents, analgesic and methadone overdose decedents were more likely to be female and to concurrently use psychotherapeutic drugs, but less likely to concurrently use alcohol or cocaine. Analgesic overdose decedents were less likely to be Black or Hispanic, while methadone overdose decedents were more likely to be Black or Hispanic in contrast to heroin overdose decedents. Conclusions: The distinct epidemiologic profiles exhibited by analgesic and methadone overdose fatalities highlight the need to define drug-specific public health prevention efforts. Language: en
DOSE A URETERAL ACCESS SHEATH FACILITATE URETEROSCOPY

Purpose: Ureteral access sheaths were initially developed to facilitate difficult ureteroscopic access. However, to our knowledge no formal evaluations have been performed to assess the routine use of ureteral access sheaths. Therefore, we prospectively analyzed intraoperative time, symptomatic outcome, major complications, stone-free rate and overall costs related to the routine use of a new ureteral access sheath during standard ureteroscopic procedures.Materials and Methods: Patients undergoing 6.5Fr semirigid or 7.5Fr flexible ureteroscopy were prospectively randomized to unaided ureteroscopy with no access sheath or ureteroscopy via a 12-14Fr ureteral access sheath. Patients who required ureteral dilatation were randomized to the ureteral access sheath used as a dilator or a standard 18Fr ureteral balloon dilator. Patients were evaluated postoperatively on days 0, 1 and 6 with a questionnaire to assess pain, irritative symptoms and complications. The stone-free rate and long-term complications were d...
Mineralization of atrazine during composting with untreated and pretreated lignocellulosic substrates

Composting offers a relatively inexpensive and environmentally safe method for the potential bioremediation of pesticide-laden rinsewater. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether degradation and mineralization of atrazine, a pesticide used extensively in the U.S., can be enhanced during composting with pretreated lignocellulosic materials. Wood that was subjected to steam explosion (STEX wood) or ammonia explosion (AFEX wood), untreated wood (native), and shredded newspaper were selected as the composting substrates. These substrates which differed in composition as determined by the quantitative saccharification and enzymatic hydrolysis techniques, were amended with [U-ring-14C]Atrazine (500 ppm, 5.6.μCi per composter) and composted in two-liter lab-scale composters. The results showed that the highest rate and extent of total organic matter mineralization to CO2 was observed with AFEX wood as the substrate, but atrazine mineralization was relatively higher (11 percent) with paper as the substr...
3D Structures of the Calcium Release-Activated Calcium Channel Orai

The plasma membrane protein Orai forms the pore of the calcium release-activated calcium (CRAC) channel and generates sustained cytosolic calcium signals when triggered by depletion of calcium from the endoplasmic reticulum. To investigate the mechanisms of this calcium channel, we have determined crystal structures of Orai and studied the function of reconstituted channels. The presentation will focus on structural and functional insights from these studies.
Napoleonic Germany and the Hometown Communities

Fundamentally in common among the towns I mean was the self-containment and separateness of each; they faced the power of Napoleonic reform as individual communities. It seems best to begin thinking of their common experience as though it were the experience of one.
Metformin is associated with improved survival in endometrial cancer

Abstract Objective Preclinical evidence suggests that metformin exhibits anti-tumorigenic effects in endometrial cancer. We sought to investigate the association of metformin on endometrial cancer outcomes. Methods A multi-institutional IRB-approved retrospective cohort analysis was conducted comparing endometrial cancer patients with diabetes mellitus who used metformin (based on medication review at the time of diagnosis) to those who did not use metformin from 2005 to 2010. Metformin use on treatment related outcomes (TTR: time to recurrence; RFS: recurrence free survival; OS: overall survival) were evaluated using univariate and multivariate modeling. Results 24% (363/1495) endometrial cancer patients were diabetic, of whom 54% used metformin. Metformin users were younger and heavier than non-users, though nearly all were postmenopausal and obese. 75% of both groups had endometrioid histology. Stage, grade, and adjuvant therapy distributions were similar. Metformin users had improved RFS and OS. Non-metformin users had 1.8 times worse RFS (95% CI: 1.1–2.9, p=0.02) and 2.3 times worse OS (95% CI: 1.3–4.2, p=0.005) after adjusting for age, stage, grade, histology and adjuvant treatment. Metformin use was not associated with TTR. Conclusion Metformin use was associated with improved RFS and OS but not TTR, most likely due to improving all-cause mortality. Its role in modifying cancer recurrence remains unclear. Prospective studies that capture metformin exposure prior to, during and post endometrial cancer treatment may help define the role of metformin upon cancer specific and overall health outcomes.
The Demand for Standardized Student Testing.

What does the American public think about standardized testing? D o Americans test too much? Does the public believe that tests are a good way to learn about how well students are doing and to encourage them to d o better? What d o students, teachers, and administrators think?
Qualitative Probabilities Revisited

Granted a de Finetti style qualitative comparative probability relation on a Boolean algebra, necessary and sufficient conditions are given for the existence of an agreeing probability measure on the algebra in finite, countable and arbitrary situations. Partially ordered linear spaces and order-preserving linear functionals are used in proving the results and in explaining why the axiomatization of qualitative probability relations is bound to be complex. The inherent technical difficulites can be overcome by relying on nonstandard representations that are also provided. Extensive work done by Suppes in this area is also discussed, in conjunction with the problem of uniqueness and simplicity. The central aim of this work is to provide a more holistic setting for the axiomatization of comparative probability and its associated representational methodology.
Total ionizing dose effects on voltage-to-frequency converters

Three different voltage-to-frequency converters were tested to determine how ionizing radiation affected their critical specifications. All three were fabricated with bipolar technologies. A popular charge-balancing architecture converter, AD652, was most sensitive with low dose rate (LDR) due to its tight specifications. The other astable-multivibrator architecture converters, AD537 and AD654, performed much better at high dose rate and low dose rate.
To treat or not to treat? No longer a question.

Evaluation of: Violari A, Paed FC, Cotton MF et al.: Early antiretroviral therapy and mortality among HIV-infected infants. N. Engl. J. Med. 359(21), 2233–2244 (2008). Violari and her colleagues report the first randomized, open-label trial showing that early diagnosis and treatment with antiretroviral therapy decreases mortality and HIV progression in HIV-infected infants. The reality of implementing this recommendation into clinical care is challenging in resource-poor countries. Support for earlier diagnosis and access to antiretrovirals is improving, but access to HAART for all HIV-infected infants and children is often lacking. A change in care systems advocating early institution of antiretroviral therapy for all infants in these developing countries is clearly needed.
Strategic Incapacitation and the Policing of Occupy Wall Street in New York City, 2011

The US national response to the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks accelerated the adoption and refinement of a new repertoire of protest policing we call ‘strategic incapacitation’ now employed by law enforcement agencies nationwide to police protest demonstrations. The occupation movement which formally began 17 September 2011 was the most significant social movement to utilise transgressive protest tactics in the United States in the last 40 years and posed a substantial challenge to law enforcement agencies. This research seeks to better understand the implementation of strategic incapacitation tactics through a detailed analysis of the policing of the first 2 months of Occupy Wall Street (OWS) protests in New York City. Original data for this study are derived from 2-week-long field observations made in New York City during the first and second month anniversaries of the OWS occupation in Zuccotti Park. These are supplemented by activist interviews, activist accounts posted on OWS websites, Facebook...
Psy-Zing up the Mainstreaming of “Gangnam Style”: Embracing Asian Masculinity as Neo-Minstrelsy?

Through the media mania of Psy’s “Gangnam Style,” this paper examines the ideological implications of the video’s crossover appeal and its celebrated reception on U.S. national television. This paper analyzes whether the celebratory reception of “Gangnam Style” offer alternative discourses or reinforce ideological constructions of Asian masculinity. A critical decoding of the audiovisual text and Psy’s U.S. media appearances identifies the ideological implications that reflect the emasculation discourse that situates Asian masculinity as neo-minstrelsy. Psy’s television appearances indicate that his celebratory embrace is due in part because his image and physicality conform to racialized constructions in the larger body politic. This inquiry provides critical insight into how the popular embrace of audiovisual text reflects the emasculation discourse that defines Asian men.
An assessment of the temporal dynamics of moral decisions.

In the domain of moral decision making, models in which emotion and deliberation constitute competing dual-systems have become increasingly popular. Currently, the favored explanation of this interaction is what Evans (2008) termed a ”default-interventionist” (DI) process where moral decisions are the result of a prepotent emotional response, which can be overridden with substantial deliberative effort. Although this ”emotion-then-deliberation” sequence is often assumed, existing methods have lacked the requisite process resolution to clearly depict the nature of this interaction. The present work utilized continuous mouse tracking, or response dynamics, to develop and test predictions of these DI models of moral decision making. Study 1 utilized previously published moral dilemmas to validate the method for use with such complex stimuli. Although the data replicated typical choice and RT patterns, the process metrics provided by the response trajectories did not demonstrate the online preference reversals predicted by DI models. Study 2 utilized more rigorously constructed stimuli and an alternative presentation format to provide the strongest possible test of DI predictions, but again failed to show the predicted reversals. In summary, neither experiment provided data in accordance with the predictions of popular DI dual-systems models, which suggests that researchers should consider models allowing for concurrent activation of deliberative and emotional systems, or reconceptualize moral decisions within the typical multiattribute decision framework.
3-D prestack full-wavefield inversion

A full-wavefield inversion algorithm for direct imaging of a 3-D compressional wave velocity distribution is based on the full 3-D scalar wave equation and operates on common-source data recorded by areal arrays. For each source, the method involves reverse-time extrapolation of the residual wavefield. Application of the image condition by crosscorrelation with the source wavefield at each time step produces a 3-D image whose amplitude at each point is proportional to the required velocity update at that point. Convergence to local minima is mitigated against by gradually increasing the wavenumber bandwidth in the estimated 3-D velocity distribution as iterations proceed, starting from the smallest wavenumber. The algorithm is illustrated by successful application to synthetic data for a multilayered monocline, and for a multilayered structure with the geometry of the standard French model. The latter demonstrates good performance with noisy, unequally spaced data with significant elevation statics.
SU‐FF‐T‐375: Machine Learning Methods for Radiobiological Outcomes Modeling

Purpose: Radiobiological outcomes models are important predictors of irradiation induced effects in terms of achieving tumor control or causing damage to surrounding normal tissues. They are also used to rank the quality of treatment plans. Outcomes models may depend on many variables such as dose-volume metrics and clinical factors. In particular, the best outcome model itself may vary depending on patient or treatment characteristics. General non-linear models, such as neural-networks, potentially allow us to capture this natural variation in models. Method and Materials: We studied feed-forward (FFNN) and general regression neural networks (GRNN). As representative data, we used a cohort 166 non-small cell lung cancer patients who received radiotherapy treatment, with endpoints of pneumonitis and esophagitis. Dosimetric variables were extracted using CERR. Results: We used resampling (bootstrap) methods to select optimal parameters for the networks, which include the number of neurons in FFNN's and the ‘width’ (σ) in GRNN's. In modeling pneumonitis, the optimal FFNN had 3 layers and 5 neurons in the hidden layer, with spearman rank correlation 0.49±0.27 in training and 0.11±0.07 in testing. The GRNN with σ=1.25, achieved a training spearman of 0.25±0.08 and testing spearman of 0.20±0.3. In modeling esophagitis, the FFNN had 5 neurons, with a spearman of 0.59±0.09 in training and 0.3±0.21 in testing. GRNN with σ=1.25, achieved a training spearman of 0.38±0.06 and a testing spearman of 0.39±0.12. Conclusion: We evaluated two machine learning algorithms to model outcome in cases of pneumonitis and esophagitis. Our preliminary results indicate that the GRNN was more straightforward to implement and, more importantly, had better generalizability than that of FFNN. Our experience to date indicates that neural networks may perform as well or better than multi-term logistic regression methods.
Isotope Exchange in Hydrogenated Silicon-Oxynitride (SiON) for 1.55μm Optical Waveguide Applications

We report a novel way of reducing the unwanted absorption loss in silicon-oxynitride (SiON) waveguides by replacing nitrogen-hydrogen (N-H) bonds with nitrogen-deuterium (N-D) bonds in an isotope exchange process. D was introd]ced to SiON layers in an atmospheric D anneal after the deposition of SiON. The deuterated SiON showed a factor of 2 less absorption at 1.51 μm than before the D anneal. This is an additional loss reduction, since a typical pre-anneal in N2 reduces the loss by a factor of 10. Compared to the loss in as-deposited SiON at this wavelength, the loss after D anneal is reduced by a factor of 20. The D annealing temperature varied from 450 to 950 °C. There is a correlation between the loss reduction and the level of isotope exchange in the SiON waveguide, and also, an onset temperature for thermal activation of the isotope exchange. This mechanism is characterized carefully by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS).