cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Warring fictions : American literary culture and the Vietnam War narrative

Although the Vietnam conflict ended two decades ago, a fierce cultural war over how its literature is to be perceived continues to be waged. Warring Fictions accuses American critics of twenty years of whitewash and reminds us that Vietnam was not just an American anguish and its fiction a rock-and-roll acid trip. From the blind patriotism of The Green Berets to the postmodern hip of Dispatches this book brings history and politics back to the Vietnam War novel. It is a brilliant case study of canon formation and of the role commercial and academic literary institutions have played in assessing Vietnam War fiction; it exposes their complicity in the writing of recent American history and rebukes academic literary culture that speciously purports a radical calling for itself. Beyond an aca-demic audience, this book will challenge all who are piqued by studies of the war and of Vietnam War fiction. And it raises important questions about the interlocking interests and ideologies of literary culture, the publishing industry, the mass media, and the academy. With its exemplary command of actual history and its well-documented investigation of the Vietnam fiction canon, this book throws a probing light on a literary culture whose tastes and attitudes have helped enforce a conservative interpretation of the war. In extraordinary readings of The Quiet American, The Ugly American, The Prisoners of Quai Dong, The Laotian Fragments, Dispatches, The Things They Carried, and In Country, Warring Fictions provides a radical historical perspective on the fiction that emerged from the Vietnam War. Jim Neilson is an instructor in the department of arts and sciences at Trident Technical College.
The Erwinia chrysanthemi Type III Secretion System Is Required for Multicellular Behavior

ABSTRACT Enterobacterial animal pathogens exhibit aggregative multicellular behavior, which is manifested as pellicles on the culture surface and biofilms at the surface-liquid-air interface. Pellicle formation behavior requires production of extracellular polysaccharide, cellulose, and protein filaments, known as curli. Protein filaments analogous to curli are formed by many protein secretion systems, including the type III secretion system (TTSS). Here, we demonstrate that Erwinia chrysanthemi, which does not carry curli genes, requires the TTSS for pellicle formation. These data support a model where cellulose and generic protein filaments, which consist of either curli or TTSS-secreted proteins, are required for enterobacterial aggregative multicellular behavior. Using this assay, we found that hrpY, which encodes a two-component system response regulator homolog, is required for activity of hrpS, which encodes a σ54-dependent enhancer-binding protein homolog. In turn, hrpS is required for activity of the sigma factor homolog hrpL, which activates genes encoding TTSS structural and secreted proteins. Pellicle formation was temperature dependent and pellicles did not form at 36°C, even though TTSS genes were expressed at this temperature. We found that cellulose is a component of the E. chrysanthemi pellicle but that pellicle formation still occurs in a strain with an insertion in a cellulose synthase subunit homolog. Since the TTSS, but not the cellulose synthase subunit, is required for E. chrysanthemi pellicle formation, this inexpensive assay can be used as a high throughput screen for TTSS mutants or inhibitors.
Hall mobility of holes in α-sulfur

The Hall mobility of holes in orthorhombic sulfur has been measured by a modified Red-field technique over the range 230 to 330 K. The average room temperature value of the three samples measured was 6.6 cm2/Vs, which is quite similar to previously reported values of the room temperature drift mobility. As has been reported in the case of the drift mobility, the temperature dependence of μH appears to be steeper than the normal T−3/2 power law expected for single phonon acoustic scattering. The significance of these results is discussed with regard to band-like transport of holes in α-sulfur.
Thermal and spectroscopic characterization of quantum dot-enhanced solar cells

Three characterization methods are discussed for InAs/GaAs quantum dot (QD)-enhanced GaAs solar cells. Photoreflectance (PR) and electroluminescence (EL) measurements yield seven QD-related transitions between 1.1 and 1.4 eV. The PR feature attributed to bulk GaAs at 1.42 eV is analyzed to extract an electric field strength in the solar cell depletion region of 43 ± 1 kV/cm2. Temperature coefficients are measured for open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current under AM1.5D illumination from devices with zero, five, and 20 layers of QDs, and improved temperature stability is observed in the QD-enhanced devices. Lastly, the saturation current activation energy for two samples is extracted, and the results are presented as evidence of bandgap tuning.
Competitive and Considerate Congestion Control for Bulk Data Transfers

We propose a novel transport control protocol, Competitive and Considerate Congestion Control (4CP). This yields a fixed per-flow bandwidth to other connections (e.g. TCP) if the network can support this and uses the residual bandwidth for 4CP. The main contribution is a novel window based congestion controller that combines congestion phase detection and congestion window control to achieve the stated bandwidth sharing objective. 4CP may be viewed as a non strict low priority emulator. Consequently, 4CP does not suffer from bandwidth starvation when competing with a single TCP connection. Furthermore, when congestion is low, 4CP can utilise residual bandwidth. When congestion is high, 4CP will back-off. The properties of 4CP described above, suggest its applicability for bulk data transfer applications that must be considerate of competing traffic whilst still making transfer progress themselves. We present analytical results, simulation findings and Internet experiments that demonstrate validity of 4CP in addition to guidance on parameter setting.
Political parties and rallies in Latin America

This article provides a novel answer to explain the persistence of party rallies in the mass and social media era. I argue that rallies contribute to the organizational structure of clientelistic parties by providing information to different members within and outside the machine. Rallies provide party leaders with information that enables them to monitor brokers’ capacity to mobilize voters, party brokers with an opportunity to display their ability to turn out voters while monitoring voters’ responses, and voters with an opportunity to display their gratitude or fear towards brokers. In addition, rallies provide the opposition with an opportunity to gather information about the electoral strength or weakness of the clientelistic party. Drawing on participant observations, over a 100 interviews, archival research in Argentina and Peru, and secondary literature for the cases of Mexico and Brazil, I explain why political parties conduct rallies and why rallies will continue in the future.
An Experimental Study of the Strength and Fatigue of Glass at Very Low Temperatures

The low temperature strength of glass, defined in terms of the stress required to cause fracture, has been discussed by Onnes and Braak, Smekal, and Vonnegut and Glathart. At room temperature and below, the strength of glass, for a given load duration, increases with decrease in temperature. The fatigue of glass, defined as the decrease in breaking stress with increased duration of load, decreases with decreasing temperature but still exists at liquid nitrogen temperature.
Social Patterns in Pre‐Classic Mesoamerica

Social Patterns in Pre-Classic Mesoamerica. David C. Grove and Rosemary A. Joyce. eds. Washington, DC: Dumbarton Oaks, 1999. 336 pp.
Advances in generative structuralism: Structured agency and multilevel dynamics

We set out an approach to theorizing termed generative structuralism. In two stages, respectively, we address two problems in social theory ‐ agency‐structure and micro‐macro linkage ‐ in relation to a central problem in the discipline, namely, the sense of its fragmentation. The first theoretical problem is: How can we create generative models and methods that are responsive to the interpenetration of agency and structure in social practices? We show how Bourdieu's concept of habitus and Giddens's concept of structure can be articulated to generative model‐building ideas and methods. The second theoretical problem is: To what extent can we create generative multilevel models of large‐scale social system dynamics? We address this problem through a strategy illustrated by a model of emergent cultural stratification, including a study of its properties through simulation analysis. In undertaking these tasks, we both describe and illustrate the general character of generative structuralism. In doing so, we c...
Algorithms for the Frame of a Finitely Generated Unbounded Polyhedron

Consider two finite sets Ascript and Vscript of points in m-dimensional space. The convex hull of Ascript and the conical hull of Vscript can be combined to create a finitely generated unbounded polyhedron. We explore the geometry of these polyhedral sets to design, implement, test, and compare two different algorithms for finding the frame, a minimal-cardinality subset of Ascript and Vscript , that generates the same polyhedron. One algorithm is a naive approach based on the direct application of the definition of these sets. The second algorithm is based on different principles erecting the frame geometrically one element at a time. Testing indicates that the second algorithm is faster with the difference becoming increasingly dramatic as the cardinality of the sets Ascript and Vscript increases and frame density decreases.
Diagnostic dilemmas in gynecologic and obstetric pathology.

Abstract Four difficult differential diagnoses in gynecologic and obstetric pathology are reviewed. These include (1) sarcoma-like mural nodule in ovarian tumors versus ovarian sarcomas, (2) early blastocyst versus choriocarcinoma, (3) hydropic abortus versus partial hydatidiform mole, and (4) regressing Implantation site versus placental site trophoblastic tumor. The author's own interpretation and recommendations are presented. ( Seminars In Diagnostic Pathology 7:146–155, 1990.)
Asymmetric nonlinear coupling and its applications to logic functions

The phenomena of asymmetric nonlinear coupling are studied. The study is aimed at the application of nonlinear coupling to all-optical logic functions. Asymmetric nonlinear coupling signifies the nonlinear coupling between two single-mode waveguides of different nonlinearities. The simulation results of NOT, AND, OR, and XOR logic functions are presented. Also, the sensitivities of the results to the variations of various signal and coupler parameters are discussed. The simulation results included three types of input signals: CW waves, picosecond solitons, and femtosecond solitons. Because of the effect of group-velocity dispersion, the results of CW and pulsed signals are quite different. Because of the effects of shock effect and Raman response, the results of femtosecond soliton signals differ from those of picosecond soliton signals. When picosecond solitons are used as input signals, the outputs are still solitons. >
A multivariate population density model of the dLGN/PGN relay.

Using a population density approach we study the dynamics of two interacting collections of integrate-and-fire-or-burst (IFB) neurons representing thalamocortical (TC) cells from the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) and thalamic reticular (RE) cells from the perigeniculate nucleus (PGN). Each population of neurons is described by a multivariate probability density function that satisfies a conservation equation with appropriately defined probability fluxes and boundary conditions. The state variables of each neuron are the membrane potential and the inactivation gating variable of the low-threshold Ca2+ current IT. The synaptic coupling of the populations and external excitatory drive are modeled by instantaneous jumps in the membrane potential of postsynaptic neurons. The population density model is validated by comparing its response to time-varying retinal input to Monte Carlo simulations of the corresponding IFB network composed of 100 to 1000 cells per population. In the absence of retinal input, the population density model exhibits rhythmic bursting similar to the 7 to 14 Hz oscillations associated with slow wave sleep that require feedback inhibition from RE to TC cells. When the TC and RE cell potassium leakage conductances are adjusted to represent cholingergic neuromodulation and arousal of the network, rhythmic bursting of the probability density model may either persists or be eliminated depending on the number of excitatory (TC to RE) or inhibitory (RE to TC) connections made by each presynaptic cell. When the probability density model is stimulated with constant retinal input (10–100 spikes/sec), a wide range of responses are observed depending on cellular parameters and network connectivity. These include asynchronous burst and tonic spikes, sleep spindle-like rhythmic bursting, and oscillations in population firing rate that are distinguishable from sleep spindles due to their amplitude, frequency, or the presence of tonic spikes. In this context of dLGN/PGN network modeling, we find the population density approach using 2,500 mesh points and resolving membrane voltage to 0.7 mV is over 30 times more efficient than 1000-cell Monte Carlo simulations.
Characteristics of men with alcoholic hallucinosis

The goal of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of primary alcoholics with alcoholic hallucinosis. Six hundred and forty-three primary alcoholic men were recruited from a 28-day Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program at the San Diego VA Medical Center. Subjects only experiencing perceptual abnormalities during alcohol withdrawal, drug-related hallucinosis, as well as those having abnormal sensations that did not meet criteria for hallucinations were excluded from the present study. The remaining 532 subjects were divided into Group 1 (n = 48), which consisted of subjects with a DSM-IIIR and ICD-10 diagnosis of alcoholic hallucinosis, and Group 2 (n = 484) which consisted of those without any history of hallucinations. A comparison of the two groups revealed that Group 1 men were younger at the onset of alcohol problems, consumed more alcohol per occasion, developed more alcohol-related life problems, and had higher rates of drug experimentation as well as more different types of drugs used. This study suggests that primary alcoholics who consume more drugs and/or alcohol might be at an increased risk for developing alcoholic hallucinosis.
SPECIES INTRODUCTION AND REPLACEMENT AMONG MOSQUITOES: INTERSPECIFIC RESOURCE COMPETITION OR APPARENT COMPETITION?

Mechanisms by which an introduced container-dwelling mosquito, Aedes albopictus, may cause declines in a resident container-dwelling mosquito, Aedes aegypti, in South Florida were tested using a combination of field experiments and field observations. Field experiment 1 tested which species has a competitive advantage as larvae developing in water-filled tires. Densities and availability of resources (leaf litter, which is a substrate for microorganisms fed upon by larvae) were manipulated in a factorial design. Contrary to previous laboratory experiments, A. albopictus was clearly the superior competitor in this tire environment, maintaining positive population growth at higher combined density and lower per capita resource availability than did A. aegypti. The primary determinant of success in this experiment was survivorship to adulthood, and A. aegypti only survived well in this environment when raised alone at low density, with high resource availability. Field experiment 2 tested whether this advantage for A. albopictus resulted from apparent competition mediated by shared protozoan parasites in the genus Ascogregarina. In field experiment 2, A. albopictus larvae had moderate to high levels of parasitism, but A. aegypti larvae were virtually free from Ascogregarina in all experimental tires, implying that Ascogregarina played little or no role in producing the advantage for A. albopictus in field experiment 1. Thus, apparent competition does not appear to be necessary to account for the replacement of A. aegypti by A. albopictus. As a first step toward understanding variation in the outcome of this invasion, numbers of Aedes immatures and masses of adults from field collected pupae (indicators of the intensity of competition) were compared for three sites with known histories of invasion by A. albopictus and decline of A. aegypti. Differences among sites in both number of Aedes per container and masses of adults of both species were consistent with the hypothesis that intensity of competition varies among sites, and suggest that A. aegypti persists only at sites where interspecific competition is less intense. Resource competition among larvae appears to be sufficient to account for replacement of A. aegypti by A. albopictus in suburban and rural areas of South Florida, which may have been marginal habitats for A. aegypti.
Performance of Magnet Leads for RHIC

Three different conventional gas cooled power leads have been developed at Brookhaven National Laboratory for use in the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The RHIC cryogenic system will contain over 500 leads, which will be responsible for as much as 24% of the total 4.5 K refrigerator heat load. Leads optimized for 6300 A and for 1600 A are constructed with variable heat transfer segments and conductor cross sections so as to operate frost free over a wide range of currents without compromising safety or efficiency. A second type, which consists of a 12 lead bundle each carrying 150 A, is an improvement of an existing design, where parallel conductors are pressed into the perimeter of a plastic core. Each type of lead was optimized for minimum refrigeration load while maintaining a margin of safety in the event of coolant flow loss. The 6300 A and 1600 A leads will operate at 0.06 g/s-kA up to and including their design currents, and the 12x150 Amp lead bundle was stable at 0.09 g/s-kA. A mathematical model of each type of lead, which includes warm end components connecting it to the power supply and cold end superconductor, has been developed. The design and test result for each type of lead is presented here, and comparisons are made to their theoretically predicted performance.
Probabilistic associative memories

Recurrent multilayer network structures and Hebbian learning are two of the research results on the brain that are widely accepted by neuroscientists. The former led to multilayer perceptrons (MLPs) and recurrent MLPs, and the latter to associative memories. This paper presents recurrent and/or multilayer networks of novel associative memories, each being a new functional model of the neuron with its dendritic weights. The recurrent and/or multilayer networks are called probabilistic associative memory (PAMs) and the functional model of the neuron is called processing element. Each processing element with its weights learns by the Hebbian rule and computes a subjective conditional probability as well as a point estimate of the class label of the cause(s) within its receptive field. Detected and recognized causes are integrated by the processing elements, aided by feedbacks, from layer to layer and from time to time into a spatial and/or temporal hierarchy of causes to facilitate under standing of the pattern or sequence of patterns presented to the PAM. Mainly due to multilayer and recurrent structures and Hebbian learning, PAMs have many such desirable properties of a pattern recognizer or learning machine as (1) fast learning and responding to large temporal and spatial patterns; (2) detecting and recognizing multiple causes associatively and hierarchically; (3) having good generalization capabilities; (4) representing and resolving ambiguity and uncertainty with conditional probabilities.
Failure of Cefepime Therapy in Treatment of Klebsiella pneumoniae Bacteremia

A case of failure of cefepime treatment of a bloodstream infection with AmpC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae is reported. The failure was attributed to extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) acquisition by the isolate, possibly during therapy. Problems encountered with ESBL detection in AmpC-producing isolates are discussed.
Immigrants as Victims of Crime

Wherever immigrants go they are perceived to be potential criminals. Rarely noticed is the extent to which they are the victims of crime, Hans von Hentig (1948) noticed, however, not only because he was a pioneer victimologist but also because he was an immigrant, himself, an experience he described as quite painful. Since his time, victimology has developed into a full-blown specialty and migration at the global level has burgeoned to unprecedented levels. We are living in the “age of migration”. International migration today is part of a transnational revolution that is reshaping the globe and creating ample opportunities to criminally victimize immigrants. Immigrants are the victims of all kinds of crime—from serious violence (murder, rape, robbery) to property crime (larceny) to fraud (numerous kinds, many designed specifically to fleece immigrants) and even to minor offenses such as violations by landlords of city ordinances regarding the conditions of rental properties.
A Prediction Model for Chronic Kidney Disease Includes Periodontal Disease

Background: An estimated 75% of the seven million Americans with moderate-to-severe chronic kidney disease are undiagnosed. Improved prediction models to identify high-risk subgroups for chronic kidney disease enhance the ability of health care providers to prevent or delay serious sequelae, including kidney failure, cardiovascular disease, and premature death.Methods: We identified 11,955 adults ≥18 years of age in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Chronic kidney disease was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate of 15 to 59 ml/minute/1.73 m2. High-risk subgroups for chronic kidney disease were identified by estimating the individual probability using β coefficients from the model of traditional and non-traditional risk factors. To evaluate this model, we performed standard diagnostic analyses of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value using 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% probability cutoff points.Results: The estimated probability o...
Height and clonality traits determine plant community responses to fertilization

Fertilization via agricultural inputs and nutrient deposition is one of the major threats to global terrestrial plant richness, yet we still do not fully understand the mechanisms by which fertilization decreases plant richness. Tall clonal species have recently been proposed to cause declines in plant species richness by increasing in abundance in response to fertilization and competing strongly with other species. We tested this hypothesis in a fertilization experiment in a low productivity grassland by using a novel experimental manipulation of the presence vs. absence of clonal species and by examining the role of height within these treatments. We found that fertilization decreased species richness more in the presence than absence of clonal species. We also found that only tall species increased in biomass in response to fertilization. In the absence of clonal species, fertilization increased biomass of tall nonclonal species. However, in the presence of clonal species, fertilization decreased tall nonclonal biomass and only tall clonal biomass increased. Fertilization caused almost all short species to be lost in the presence, but not the absence, of clonal species and caused greater declines in the mean and variance of light levels in the presence of clonal species. These results show that the traits of species in a community can determine the magnitude of species loss due to fertilization. The strongly negative effect of tall clonals on species richness in fertilized plots is likely a result of their capacity to decrease light levels to a greater extent and more uniformly than nonclonal species, and thereby drive the exclusion of short species. These results help clarify the mechanisms whereby fertilization decreases grassland plant species richness and suggest that efforts to prevent the loss of species under fertilized conditions may be most effective when they focus on controlling the biomass of tall clonal species.
Myocarditis Associated with Reovirus in Turkey Poults

Myocarditis associated with reovirus was diagnosed in 17-day-old, male turkey poults, based on virus isolation, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), demonstration of reovirus antigen in the cytoplasm of mononuclear inflammatory cells and myocytes in the heart by immunohistochemistry (IHC), and reovirus particles in the endoplasmic reticulum of myocytes by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Clinical signs in the poults included anorexia, growth depression, and increased mortality. Gross lesions in the six poults examined were increased pericardial fluid, mild-to-moderate dilation of right ventricles, pale-yellow myocardium, and ascites. Other lesions in a few birds included mild pulmonary edema, congestion, and pale serosa of the small intestine that had watery contents in their lumens. Microscopically, in the heart, there was mild-to-severe necrosis of myocytes and infiltration of primarily lymphocytes mixed with a few heterophils, macrophages, and occasionally, plasma cells and multinucleated giant cells. There was mild-to-moderate lymphoid depletion in the bursa of Fabricius. Reovirus was isolated from the heart of the turkey poults in chicken-embryo liver cells and was confirmed by RT-PCR, IHC, and TEM. A retrospective search of the laboratory database for cases of myocarditis associated with reovirus in turkeys revealed that this condition has occurred sporadically in California turkey flocks since 1991. This is the first documentation of myocarditis in turkey poults associated with reovirus.
Factors Associated with Local Recurrence as a First Site of Failure Following the Conservative Treatment of Early Breast Cancer

Conservative surgery and radiation therapy (CS + RT) has been shown to be an effective method of local treatment of early breast cancer, with survival rates equivalent to those following mastectomy. In view of this, more attention is now being focused on risk factors of local recurrence following CS + RT in an attempt to refine selection criteria and treatment techniques.
Streetcar projects as spatial planning: A shift in transport planning in the United States

Abstract Currently dozens of U.S. cities are in the midst of planning and building modern streetcar systems. Though seemingly mobility investments, the intended impacts of these streetcar projects reach beyond transportation and represent a strong turn toward strategic spatial planning through transportation infrastructure. Proponents of modern streetcars argue that they are tools of placemaking as much as if not more than improvements for transit services. Unlike transit investments of a century ago, when privately operated streetcars were a decentralizing force that helped disperse overcrowded central city cores and open new land for real estate development, current streetcar projects in the United States are expected to concentrate activity and economic development in select corridors. The majority of these new systems rely on transit technologies that are significantly improved over the carriages of old, with modern features, smooth rides and quiet operations. Yet for all the improvements to the vehicles and services, new streetcar investments no longer primarily improve transit accessibility. Rather, modern streetcars are part of strategic amenity packages cities use to achieve real estate and economic development goals. This use of transportation infrastructure as an amenity for a particular location is a shift away from traditional transportation planning processes, and the expected benefits, in particular, stand apart as being deliberately spatial. We use planning documents and data from ballot box initiatives to evaluate expected transportation benefits relative to indirect benefits through economic development. We find that approximately three-quarters of all expected benefits from streetcar projects accrue to property development with the remaining expected benefits assigned to transportation. However, we do not find sufficient empirical evidence in the literature to support such certain claims of positive effects on property values and the built environment. We argue that the increasing tendency of cities to leverage streetcar projects for non-transportation purposes represents a turn to the use of infrastructure as a tool of spatial planning.
Comparison of two Medication Therapy Management Practice Models on Return on Investment

Objective:To compare the return on investment (ROI) of an integrated practice model versus a “hub and spoke” practice model of pharmacist provided medication therapy management (MTM).Methods:A cohort retrospective analysis of MTM claims billed in 76 pharmacies in North Carolina in the 2010 hub and spoke practice model and the 2012 “integrated” practice model were analyzed to calculate the ROI.Results:In 2010, 4089 patients received an MTM resulting in 8757 claims in the hub and spoke model. In 2012, 4896 patients received an MTM resulting in 13 730 claims in the integrated model. In 2010, US$165 897.26 was invested in pharmacist salary and $173 498.00 was received in reimbursement, resulting in an ROI of +US$7600.74 (+4.6%). In 2012, US$280 890.09 was invested in pharmacist salary and US$302 963 was received in reimbursement, resulting in an ROI of +US$22 072.91 or (+7.9%).Conclusion:The integrated model of MTM showed an increase in number of claims submitted and in number of patients receiving MTM servic...
Efficacy and Biomarker Study of Bevacizumab for Hearing Loss Resulting From Neurofibromatosis Type 2–Associated Vestibular Schwannomas

PurposeNeurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is a tumor predisposition syndrome characterized by bilateral vestibular schwannomas (VSs) resulting in deafness and brainstem compression. This study evaluated efficacy and biomarkers of bevacizumab activity for NF2-associated progressive and symptomatic VSs.Patients and MethodsBevacizumab 7.5 mg/kg was administered every 3 weeks for 46 weeks, followed by 24 weeks of surveillance after treatment with the drug. The primary end point was hearing response defined by word recognition score (WRS). Secondary end points included toxicity, tolerability, imaging response using volumetric magnetic resonance imaging analysis, durability of response, and imaging and blood biomarkers.ResultsFourteen patients (estimated to yield > 90% power to detect an alternative response rate of 50% at alpha level of 0.05) with NF2, with a median age of 30 years (range, 14 to 79 years) and progressive hearing loss in the target ear (median baseline WRS, 60%; range 13% to 82%), were enrolled. Th...
Worker Honey Bee Response to Infection with Nosema apis: Influence of Diet

In 2 experiments, adult workers of Apis mellifera L. were individually fed either spores of Nosema apis Zander or a sucrose solution and then transferred on the basis of common treatment to cages. The 2 treatment groups were each subdivided into 2 further groups. One was fed only syrup and the other was fed syrup and proteinaceous food. In one experiment, the proteinaceous food was mixed-floral-source pollen; in the other experiment, food was a pollen substitute. Protein food increased both the longevity of bees, whether or not they received spores, and also increased Nosema spore development. While spore feeding generally reduced longevities in both experiments, the numerical difference between longevities of spore-fed-bees and bees not fed spores was greater when the bees were feci protein. Thus, protein food increased the usefulness of mortality as a measure of worker bee response to Nosema infection.
Determination of Nipagin easters in soy sauce by HPLC

An HPLC method to detect the amount of Nipagin easters in soy sauce was established. The mobile phase was methanol-0.02 mol/L CH3COONH4(70:30)with a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The column temperature was 30℃, and the detection wave was UV 254 nm. The results showed that this method was repeatable and fast, with a very wide linear range. Three soy sauces were proved to be qualified at Nipagin easter contents by this method. The HPLC method could be used for accurate analysis of Nipagin easters in soy sauce.
Beyond Science: Deliberation and Analysis in Public Decision Making

I agree very much with most of Carolyn Raffensperger’s argument. Understanding Riskdoes stand out for its willingness to admit that we need to rethink our assumptions about the privileged role that scientists and “experts” play in public decision making on topics of risk and environment. Involving publics in meaningful ways with scientists can make better science, but only if the scientists allow this to happen. I agree with Carolyn when she writes that this might require scientists engaging in inductive reasoning — something many of them have been trained not to do! Surely the scientific method is powerful. Deductive reasoning is powerful. We do not need to abandon it in order to recognize that building a definition of the problem “from the ground up” might be a competent and politically expedient way to proceed. Still, I disagree that this is the main message to take from the report. The debate about why to involve lay people in public decision making may have matured, in a sense, via the status a National Research Council committee has, but Understanding Risk does not provide anything new to that debate. What is noteworthy about the report is that it offers us an opportunity to replace the traditional facts/values dichotomy with a conceptual framework that is more closely related to what people actually do in decision making. At the heart of this are the twin ideas of analysis and deliberation. Two entrenched beliefs seems to prevent readers from gleaning this important message from the book. The first miscomprehension is that people tend to readily believe that analysis = science and deliberation = participation. The second miscomprehension is that people tend to assume that we analyze only facts but deliberate only about values. We must set aside our tendencies to see science as a dispassionate activity in which scientists analyze facts; politics as an overly passionate activity in which lay people deliberate about values; and science and politics locked in an eternal conflict. Then we will find something truly valuable in this report. Getting beyond “facts vs. values” and “scientists vs. lay people” is essential if we are to move our collective understanding of participatory decision making forward (and thereby, its realization as well). Both analysis and deliberation refer to ways of knowing the world — rationales, if you like.
Who views online extremism? Individual attributes leading to exposure

Who is likely to view materials online maligning groups based on race, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, political views, immigration status, or religion? We use an online survey (Nź=ź1034) of youth and young adults recruited from a demographically balanced sample of Americans to address this question. By studying demographic characteristics and online habits of individuals who are exposed to online extremist groups and their messaging, this study serves as a precursor to a larger research endeavor examining the online contexts of extremism.Descriptive results indicate that a sizable majority of respondents were exposed to negative materials online. The materials were most commonly used to stereotype groups. Nearly half of negative material centered on race or ethnicity, and respondents were likely to encounter such material on social media sites. Regression results demonstrate African-Americans and foreign-born respondents were significantly less likely to be exposed to negative material online, as are younger respondents. Additionally, individuals expressing greater levels of trust in the federal government report significantly less exposure to such materials. Higher levels of education result in increased exposure to negative materials, as does a proclivity towards risk-taking. Demographics and Internet habits affect exposure to hate material online.Distrust in the government is associated with exposure to hate material online.People who have been targets of hate are more likely to be exposed to online hate.Hours per day spent online affects the likelihood of being exposed to online hate.
Complications of the Perionychium

The anatomy and physiology of the perionychium are reviewed and complications secondary to trauma, to miscellaneous problems (such as neuroma, infections, and cysts), and to tumors are discussed.
Technology and vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA)—lessons learned from the first bilateral pediatric hand transplant

The reconstructive principle of replacing “like with like” is best met with vascularized composite allotransplantation in which the components of an existing defect are “matched” to the greatest extent possible in a single stage restoration. Hand transplantation is a labor-intensive and time-intensive process and can be conceptualized into distinct phases that include (1) patient selection and preoperative preparation, (2) technical execution of the procedure, and (3) postoperative rehabilitation and follow-up. The advent of technological innovations, such as 3D printing technology, novel implant technology, as well as innovative imaging technology, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging have the potential of favorably affecting all phases of this process, thus contributing to improved outcomes. The use of these technologies in the world’s first case of bilateral hand transplantation in a pediatric patient is discussed.
Patient knowledge regarding radiation exposure from spinal imaging.

Abstract Background Context Spine surgeons employ a high volume of imaging in the diagnosis and evaluation of spinal pathology. However, little is known regarding patients' knowledge of the radiation exposure associated with these imaging techniques. Purpose To characterize spine patients' knowledge regarding radiation exposure from various imaging modalities. Study Design/Setting A cross-sectional survey study. Patient Sample One hundred patients at their first clinic visit with a single spine surgeon at an urban institution. Outcome Measures The primary outcome was patient estimate of radiation dose for various common spinal imaging modalities as compared with true dose. Methods An electronic survey was administered to all new patients before their first appointment with a single spinal surgeon. The survey asked patients to estimate how many chest x-rays (CXRs) worth of radiation were equivalent to various common spinal imaging modalities. Patient estimates were compared to true effective radiation doses determined from the literature. The survey also asked patients whether they would consider avoiding types of imaging modalities out of concern for excessive radiation exposure. Results Patients accurately approximated the radiation associated with two views of the cervical spine, with a median estimate of 3.5 CXRs, compared with an actual value of 4.7 CXRs. However, patients underestimated the dose for computed tomography (CT) scans of the cervical spine (2.0 CXRs vs. 145.3 CXRs), two views of the lumbar spine (3.0 CXRs vs. 123.3 CXRs), and CT scans of the lumbar spine (2.0 CXRs vs. 638.3 CXRs). The majority of patients believed that there is at least some radiation exposure associated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The percent of patients who would consider forgoing imaging recommend by their surgeon out of concern for radiation exposure was 14% for x-rays, 13% for CT scans, and 9% for MRI. Conclusion These results demonstrate a lack of patient understanding regarding radiation exposure associated with common spinal imaging techniques. These data suggest that patients might benefit from increased counseling and/or educational materials regarding radiation exposure before undergoing diagnostic imaging of the cervical or lumbar spine.
Fast Preparation of Critical Ground States Using Superluminal Fronts

We propose a spatiotemporal quench protocol that allows for the fast preparation of ground states of gapless models with Lorentz invariance. Assuming the system initially resides in the ground state of a corresponding massive model, we show that a superluminally moving "front" that locally quenches the mass, leaves behind it (in space) a state arbitrarily close to the ground state of the gapless model. Importantly, our protocol takes time O(L) to produce the ground state of a system of size ∼L^{d} (d spatial dimensions), while a fully adiabatic protocol requires time ∼O(L^{2}) to produce a state with exponential accuracy in L. The physics of the dynamical problem can be understood in terms of relativistic rarefaction of excitations generated by the mass front. We provide proof of concept by solving the proposed quench exactly for a system of free bosons in arbitrary dimensions, and for free fermions in d=1. We discuss the role of interactions and UV effects on the free-theory idealization, before numerically illustrating the usefulness of the approach via simulations on the quantum Heisenberg spin chain.
Rheumatologic immune-related adverse events (irAE) in patients (pts) with genitourinary (GU) malignancies treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPI).

652Background: Rheumatologic irAEs in pts treated with CPIs present a clinical challenge. We describe the clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of rheumatologic irAEs in CPI-treated GU malignancy pts. Methods: Pts with GU malignancies who were treated with CPIs and developed grade ≥ 2 (per CTCAEv4) rheumatologic irAEs (i.e., arthralgias and myalgias) were retrospectively reviewed. Patient-, disease-, and rheumatologic-related data were collected and analyzed. Results: Twenty-three pts were identified; 19 (83%) had renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and 4 (17%) had urothelial carcinoma (UC). The majority (70%) were male; median age at diagnosis was 56 (range, 36-78). All RCC pts had clear cell histology and all had prior nephrectomy; 1 UC pt had prior cystectomy. Most RCC pts (58%) received antiangiogenic therapy prior to CPI treatment and 50% of UC pts received prior chemotherapy. CPI therapy included anti-PD-L1 (30%), anti-PD-1 (43%), and combined PD-1 / CTLA-4 antibodies (26%). Median time from CPI ...
Modelo de gestión de riesgo; su influencia con la gestión de calidad en el sector plástico en la ciudad de Bogotá

This paper shows a step of a risk management model under the NTC ISO 31000: 2009, which is deployed as a management tool that facilitates decision-making that may be affected by uncertainty and to protect the value in all activities that affect the organization. A pilot was applying the concepts and theories needed to develop and the process of risk management which identifies, evaluates and analyzes the risks identified, and their respective treatment is performed to reduce the impact of risk.
Technology, Leadership, and Governance

Equipped with the behavioural framework developed in Chapter 5 and the specific propositions derived in Chapter 6 (see Tables 6.3 and 6.5), it is now time to explore the complex interlinkages between collaboration technologies, leadership and governance. To understand and interpret these interlinkages it helps to take a step back and recapitulate on this study’s partnership definition, empirical focus and definition of success.
Gustatory control of ingestion

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews neurophysiological support for three postulates: (1) the basic function of the gustatory code is to differentiate toxins from nutrients, (2) the interaction between taste and ingestion in the rat is largely organized at the hindbrain level, and (3) taste input is modifiable, able to shift from a pattern that elicits ingestive reflexes to one that evokes rejection, or vice versa, according to past experience or physiological need. The conundrum of body wisdom may then be focused on the specific issue of how gustatory afferent signals are modified, a process about which little is known. The taste system lies at the interface between discrimination and digestion. It combines the qualities of rapid stimulus identification and spatiotemporal coding associated with the exteroceptive senses with subsequent processes of recognition in the still-mysterious codes of the visceral senses. Its basic organization—inherited from ancestors who valued the taste of nutrients over those of toxins—arrays the chemical world along a dimension of physiological welfare. The afferent signals from nutrients drive feeding reflexes and 114 neurophysiology of ingestion activity in forebrain areas that mediate reward, while those of toxins activate withdrawal reflexes and forebrain neurons associated with aversion.
Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Salvage Prostatectomy

Radiation therapy (RT) is an accepted treatment for the management of localized prostate cancer [1], and it is estimated that up to one-third of the prostate cancer patients undergo radiotherapy treatment including external radiotherapy, brachytherapy, or a combination of the two [2]. However, following RT, up to 50 % of patients develop biochemical recurrence (BCR) [3], and RT fails in 20–50 % of men [4] with persistent neoplastic cells found in postirradiation prostate biopsies. Based on these outcomes, approximately 30,000 men will experience recurrent disease following RT each year in the United States [5]. Treatment options for these patients include watchful waiting, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), or additional local salvage therapy such as radical prostatectomy (RP), radical cystoprostatectomy (CP), cryotherapy, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), and brachytherapy. Of these options, salvage RP has consistently demonstrated a benefit for long-term disease-free survival [5–9] and is currently the only treatment approach with curative potential for these patients [10]. Salvage RP has historically been performed as an open technique. Here, we review salvage RP for recurrent prostate cancer and compare the open RP approach to minimally invasive robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP), describing the technique, patient morbidity, and oncologic outcomes.
Concentrations of Toxic Air Pollutants in the U.S. Simulated by an Air Quality Model

• Can an Eulerian grid model be used to calculate HAPsconcentrations?Describe the formulation of a model with air toxicsShow results of simulationsAnalyze and interpret the results• How do we know that the predictions are realistic?Compare results with measurements• What pieces are we missing?Future work and needs
Methane flux from Missippi River deltaic plain wetlands

Methane emissions from three wetland habitats in the MississippiRiver deltaic plain were measured over a three year period. Fluxdata collected indicate that each habitat was a net source of methane to the atmosphere throughout the year. Average emissionfrom a Taxodium distichum / Nyssa aquatica (bald cypress / watertupelo) swamp forest was 146 ± 199 mgCH4 m-2d-1 whileemissions from a Sagittaria lancifolia (bulltongue) freshwatermarsh averaged 251 ± 188 mg CH4m-2d-1. Methane flux from a Spartina patens / Sagittaria lancifolia intermediate marsh was significantlyhigher, 912 ± 923 mg CH4m-2d-1. Seasonal variation wassignificant with emissions being higher in the late summer andearly fall. Significant diurnal emissions were observed fromthe Sagittaria lancifolia marsh site. Soil temperature (5 and 10 cm depths) was found to be significantly correlated with methaneemission from the three sites.