cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Management of Subdural Hematohygromas in Abusive Head Trauma.

Background The optimal management of nonacute subdural fluid collections in infantile abusive head trauma (AHT) remains controversial. Objective To review the outcomes and costs of the various treatments for symptomatic subdural fluid collections in children with AHT at a single center. Methods Our AHT database was queried to identify children requiring any intervention for hematohygromas. Demographic, hospital course, radiologic, cost, readmission, and follow-up information were collected. Results From January 2009 to March 2018, the authors identified 318 children with AHT, of whom 210 (66%) had a subdural collection of any type (blood or cerebrospinal fluid). A total of 50 required some form of intervention specifically for chronic hematohygromas. The initial management consisted of transfontanelle percutaneous aspiration (n = 31), burr holes with (n = 12) or without (n = 3) external subdural drainage, and mini-craniotomy (n = 4). Of those who were initially managed with 1 or more needle aspiration, 23 (74%) required further intervention-12 subduroperitoneal shunts and 11 nonshunt procedures. No patient who underwent burr holes/external drainage required further intervention (n = 16). Overall, the average number of interventions needed in these 50 children for definitive treatment was 1.8 (range, 1-4). A total of 15 children ultimately required a subduroperitoneal shunt. Complications (infectious, hemorrhagic, and thrombotic) were significant and occurred in all treatment groups except burr holes without drainage (n = 3). The average hospital charge for the entire cohort was $166 300.25 (range, $19 126-$739 248). Conclusion Based on our experience to date, burr hole with controlled external subdural drainage is an effective and preferred treatment for traumatic hematohygromas; complications and need for additional intervention is low.
Reflections for Unionization in a Globalized World: Evidences of a Converging Divergence

Based on the evolutionary biology perspective, it is posited that trade unions too have evolved with respect to their forms and functions which has been inquired into in this chapter. Three specific organizing campaigns are presented, namely Hawker Sangram Committee (HSC), Civil Initiatives for Development (CIVIDEP) and Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat (KKPKP), as alternate forms of workers’ collectives in India. The convergence observed is that the primary objective of each of the organizations is to safeguard the interests of its constituent members, the divergence observed are in terms of the form (HSC and KKPKP are trade unions, while CIVIDEP is not a registered trade union) and the strategies adopted to achieve their objectives which have been elaborated. It is also to be noted that all the three organizations are symbolic of the relevance of the workers' collective for the informal sector as well as the varied forms it is taking.
Optimizing x-ray optics for modulating x-ray beams with MEMS devices

We have used microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) to dynamically modulate synchrotron x-ray beams. By oscillating a small silicon crystal at 10s to 100s of kHz, we have demonstrated that the “time window” in which the Bragg condition is satisfied, and thus the time in which an x-ray pulse can be deflected by diffraction, can be significantly less than 1 ns. Here we discuss the optimization of x-ray optics to further improve device performance. We show that the time window can be reduced by matching the dispersion of a monochromator crystal to that of the MEMS crystal. We consider the case of an ideally perfect crystal and also treat the effects of strain and curvature, either of which broadens the crystal rocking curve and thus degrades the time window. A careful understanding of the effects of dispersion and x-ray wavelength produces time windows approaching the typical synchrotron pulse duration.
Probing changes in secondary electron yield from copper electrodes due to surface defects and changes in crystal orientation

There is considerable interest in mitigating secondary electron emission (SEE) from surfaces and electrodes produced by incident electrons, due to the deleterious effects of SEE in vacuum electron devices, accelerators, and other technologies. Since surface conditions are known to affect SEE, here the role played by crystal orientation and a vacancy (which is a simple example of a surface defect) is probed through Monte Carlo simulations. The effect of the lattice imperfection on the frequency-dependent permittivity, which then influences inelastic energy losses, mean free paths, and secondary generation profiles, is obtained on the basis of density-functional theory. The Monte Carlo simulations are in good agreement with previous experimental reports. The results indicate that the secondary electron yield for pure copper is the highest for the 110 orientation and the lowest for the 111 case, with a relatively higher differential predicted between a single vacancy and ideal copper for the 111 orientation. The results underscore the benefit of annealing or reducing inhomogeneities through laser or charged particle beam surface treatments.
Domain-based local pair natural orbital methods within the correlation consistent composite approach.

Ab initio composite approaches have been utilized to model and predict main group thermochemistry within 1 kcal mol-1 , on average, from well-established reliable experiments, primarily for molecules with less than 30 atoms. For molecules of increasing size and complexity, such as biomolecular complexes, composite methodologies have been limited in their application. Therefore, the domain-based local pair natural orbital (DLPNO) methods have been implemented within the correlation consistent composite approach (ccCA) framework, namely DLPNO-ccCA, to reduce the computational cost (disk space, CPU (central processing unit) time, memory) and predict energetic properties such as enthalpies of formation, noncovalent interactions, and conformation energies for organic biomolecular complexes including one of the largest molecules examined via composite strategies, within 1 kcal mol-1 , after calibration with 119 molecules and a set of linear alkanes. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nonadherence to Standard of Care for Locally Advanced Colon Cancer as a Contributory Factor for High Mortality Rates in Kentucky.

Background Kentucky has one of the highest mortality rates for colon cancer, despite dramatic improvements in screening. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines recommend operation and adjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced (stage IIb/c and stage III) colon cancer (LACC). The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of nonadherence with current standard of care (SOC) and associated factors as possible contributors to mortality. Methods The Kentucky Cancer Registry database linked with administrative health claims was queried for individuals (20 years and older) diagnosed with LACC from 2007 to 2012. Bivariate and logistic regression of nonadherence was performed. Survival analysis was performed with Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier plots. Results A total of 1,404 patients with LACC were included. Approximately 42% of patients with LACC were noted to be nonadherent to SOC, with nearly all (95.7%) failing to receive adjuvant chemotherapy. After adjusting for all significant factors, we found the factors associated with nonadherence included the following: age older than 75 years, stage III colon cancer, high Charlson Comorbidity Index (3+), low poverty level, Medicaid coverage, and disability. Adherence to SOC is associated with a significant improvement in the 5-year survival rate compared with nonadherence (63.0% and 27.4%, respectively; p Conclusions Our study identified multiple factors associated with the failure of patients with LACC to receive SOC, particularly adjuvant chemotherapy, suggesting the need to focus on improving adjuvant chemotherapy compliance in specific populations. Nonadherence to LACC SOC is likely a major contributor to the persistently high mortality rates in Kentucky.
Hybrid energy integrating and photon counting micro-CT

The maturation of photon-counting detector (PCD) technology promises to enhance routine CT applications with high-fidelity spectral information, transforming X-ray CT into a functional and molecular imaging modality, while maintaining the high spatial resolution, fast scanning times, and relatively low cost. We present our novel dual source pre-clinical micro-CT prototype system that combines a photon counting detector (PCD) and an energy integrating detector (EID) in a single system. We compare performance for PCD-only with combined hybrid (i.e. PCD and EID) CT imaging with equal dose. All CT data sets (EID-only, PCD-only, and hybrid) were reconstructed using our iterative, multi-channel algorithm based on the split Bregman method and regularization with rank-sparse kernel regression. We used a post-reconstruction decomposition method with iodine (I), gold (Au), gadolinium (Gd), and calcium (Ca) basis functions. Performance was assessed using micro-CT phantoms. Our results show the spatial resolution of the PCD-only and the hybrid reconstructions were similar and slightly better than for EID-only reconstruction with ~3.5 lp/mm (10% MTF). The NPS of the hybrid reconstruction was similar to PCD-only reconstruction. By co-reconstructing EID and PCD data, we achieved better image quality in the material decomposition but marginal differences in terms of concentration accuracy. Hybrid spectral micro- CT can benefit both nanotechnology and cancer research by providing imaging that can help test and optimize various NPs for theranostics.
Saline-indirect antiglobulin test.

CONCLUSIONS A saline-indirect antiglobulin test (IAT) is performed without addition of enhancement media to increase the binding of antibody to the red blood cell antigen during the 37°C incubation. Although infrequently used as a primary means for antibody detection or identification, this test is useful because of the variety of possible applications in antibody identification studies. It is critical to the test sensitivity to allow enough incubation time (30-60 minutes) for maximum antibody binding to occur. The saline test can also be subject to a direct agglutination reading after immediate spin, room temperature, or incubation at 37°C before conversion to the IAT. This step allows further flexibility in assessing the reactivity of directly agglutinating allo- or autoantibodies in tests performed at 37°C or lower temperatures.
XPO5 promotes primary miRNA processing independently of RanGTP.

XPO5 mediates nuclear export of miRNA precursors in a RanGTP-dependent manner. However, XPO5-associated RNA species have not been determined globally and it is unclear whether XPO5 has any additional functions other than nuclear export. Here we show XPO5 pervasively binds to double-stranded RNA regions found in some clustered primary miRNA precursors and many cellular RNAs. Surprisingly, the binding of XPO5 to pri-miRNAs such as mir-17~92 and mir-15b~16-2 and highly structured RNAs such as vault RNAs is RanGTP-independent. Importantly, XPO5 enhances the processing efficiency of pri-mir-19a and mir-15b~16-2 by the DROSHA/DGCR8 microprocessor. Genetic deletion of XPO5 compromises the biogenesis of most miRNAs and leads to severe defects during mouse embryonic development and skin morphogenesis. This study reveals an unexpected function of XPO5 for recognizing and facilitating the nuclear cleavage of clustered pri-miRNAs, identifies numerous cellular RNAs bound by XPO5, and demonstrates physiological functions of XPO5 in mouse development. XPO5 mediates nuclear export of miRNA hairpin precursors (pre-miRNAs) through a RanGTP-dependent binding. Here the authors employ HITS-CLIP and biochemical analysis and show that XPO5 binds and promotes nuclear processing of clustered pri-miRNAs, with extensive double-stranded regions, independently of RanGTP.
Fat metabolism in higher plants. XVIII. Propionate metabolism by plant tissues.

Abstract The metabolism of propionate by various higher plant tissues was examined. When propionate, labeled specifically in either the 1, 2, or 3 carbon, was supplied to plant tissues it was rapidly converted to CO 2 , β-hydroxypropionate, malate, citrate, aspartate, and glutamate. Evidence indicated that propionate was converted to β-hydroxypropionate which was then further oxidized so that the carboxyl carbon of propionate appeared as CO 2 and carbons 2 and 3 as the methyl and carboxyl carbons of acetate, respectively. In addition to these intermediates and products of propionate oxidation, labeled β-alanine, methyl malonate, and malonate were formed in most tissues. Under the experimental conditions used, lipids were not labeled to a significant extent.
Sodium Induced Regulation of Angiotensin Receptor 1A And 1B in Rat Kidney

Two AT1 receptor subtypes, AT1A and AT1B, have been cloned and sequenced in the rat.15 Although AT1A and AT1B share a high degree (96%) of amino acid homology,3, 5 they may be functionally different. In studies of AT1A and AT1B receptors transfected into COS-7 cells,4 Sanderberg et al have shown that there are dose-related differences during angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced Ca2+ signalling and differences in binding affinity for Ang II agonists and antagonists between AT1A and AT1B. Although it has been noted that AT1 receptor subtypes in the rat brain can be differentially regulated by hormones or changes in dietary sodium,5, 6 gene regulation of the AT1 receptor subtypes in the kidney has not been fully investigated. Considering the key role of the kidney in the control of fluid homeostasis and blood pressure, it is important to understand the regulation of these two distinct receptor genes in the kidney. Such studies could lead to further insights into the relevance of these receptor genes in hypertensive disease states and possibly could lead to the development of new and more specific therapies. In this study, we used Northern blot and in situ hybridization analysis to test the hypothesis that dietary sodium intake differentially regulates gene expression of the AT1A and AT1B receptor subtypes in the kidney.
The Effects of Acute Intracranial Pressure Changes on the Episcleral Venous Pressure, Retinal Vein Diameter and Intraocular Pressure in a Pig Model

Orbital veins such as the retinal veins and episcleral veins drain into the cavernous sinus, an intracranial venous structure. We studied the effects of acute intracranial pressure (ICP) elevation ...
Are we clearing the way to future understanding through monitoring

Good morning. I was surprised, delighted, and honored when 2005 Western Section President-Elect, Kevin Hunting, invited me to talk at this plenary session. This is very much a homecoming for me because I spent 22 years of my career here in California, much of that time measuring or monitoring some aspect of wildlife and its habitat (Howell et al. 1983; Howell and Shor 1985; J.A. Howell. 1986. Feral Pig Management Plan, National Park Service, San Francisco, California, USA; Howell and Pollak 1992; Howell and Bioret 1995; Howell 1997; Howell and Barrett 1998; Howell et al. 2002; Shideler et al. 2002; Semenoff-Irving and Howell 2005). The past 4 years as director of the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center have given me time to reflect on the subject at hand— monitoring—and a different point of view. One of my greatest honors at Patuxent has been to work with Chandler Robbins, the lead editor of the Birds of North America (Robbins et al. 1983), which some of you may have used in your first ornithology class, whether you were giving it or taking it. He began his federal career in 1945 as an ornithologist and worked as a leader in the field for 60 years, until he retired in December 2005. He worked his entire career at Patuxent. Chan is a true field hand, spending untold hours surveying the eastern hardwood forests and riparian corridors for birds. From his experiences between the 1940s and early 1960s, he developed a monitoring protocol for birds. After several years of testing, Chan unveiled the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) in 1966; this year is the 40 anniversary of the BBS. The BBS protocol is fairly simple. Expert volunteer birders drive to a preselected route, stop at 50 points along that route, listen and __________
A Distinct Three-Factor Structure of Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors in an Epidemiologically Sound Sample of Preschool-Age Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Prior studies investigating restricted and repetitive behavior (RRB) subtypes within autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have found varied factor structures for symptom groupings, in part, due to variation in symptom measurement and broad sample age ranges. This study examined RRBs among 827 preschool-age children, ages 35 to 71 months, through an exploratory factor analysis of RRB items from the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) collected through the Study to Explore Early Development. The factor structures of RRBs among children with confirmed ASD versus those with non-autism developmental concerns were qualitatively compared. Correlations between RRB factors and participant characteristics were examined in the ASD group. Three conceptually well-defined factors characterized as repetitive sensorimotor behaviors (RSMB), insistence on sameness (IS), and a novel stereotyped speech (SPEECH) factor emerged for the ASD group only. Distinct factors were supported by different clinical correlates. Findings have implications for improving differential diagnosis and understanding of ASD symptomatology in this age range.
Induced pluripotent stem-cell derived brain-like endothelial cells to study host–pathogen interactions with the bacterial pathogens Streptococcus agalactiae and Neisseria meningitidis

Abstract Bacterial meningitis is a devastating central nervous system (CNS) infection that occurs when certain bacteria are able to interact with and penetrate highly specialized CNS barriers and gain access to the brain. The blood–brain barrier (BBB) and meningeal blood–cerebrospinal fluid barrier (mBCSFB) are primarily comprised of brain endothelial cells (BECs) that possess properties that contribute to their barrier specialized barrier function. Recently, stem-cell-derived BEC-like cells have enabled researchers to investigate BECs in vitro that better mimic in vivo BECs than previous models. This chapter will explore the utilization of iPSC-BEC-like cells to study the host–pathogen interaction between BECs and two clinically relevant meningeal bacterial pathogens: Streptococcus agalactiae and Neisseria meningitidis.
Friendship in the Juvenile Correctional Institution

This chapter examines friendships between incarcerated young men. It is based on a three-year longitudinal study conducted with forty young men who were admitted for the first time to the Ohio juvenile correctional system. The initial interviews revealed that when youth arrive at the facility, most believe that they will not make friends. This is because they view the other young men as bad people and because friends are seen as a potentially dangerous distraction from the goal of getting released. Over time, however, loneliness encourages most young men to cultivate a limited number of friendships. Factors including race, gang affiliation, prior connections, and area codes strongly determine which youth are perceived to be appropriate friends. Friendships are more likely to take place in safe and semi-private spaces like Bible study groups and cells. Young men also choose to befriend prior acquaintances because it reduces the risk that they are presenting a false front. The chapter concludes with policy recommendations suggesting the importance of friendship among incarcerated youth.
Virtual Summer Undergraduate Mentorship Program for Students Underrepresented in Medicine Yields Significant Increases in Self-Efficacy Measurements During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Evaluation

Purpose: The barriers that Black and Hispanic/Latinx students underrepresented in medicine (URiM) face while seeking biomedical careers have been identified, including lack of career preparation an...
Bug-bitten leaves from the early Miocene of Ethiopia elucidate the impacts of plant nutrient concentrations and climate on insect herbivore communities

Abstract High-resolution paleoecological studies elucidate the effects of biotic and abiotic factors on the diversity and distribution of insect herbivory in deep time. Previous analyses of fossil leaf assemblages from intervals of significant environmental change have shown that insect damage frequency and diversity are strongly influenced by temperature and carbon dioxide levels. Similar studies that span intervals of environmental quiescence are a necessary complement and can help disentangle the relative influences of biological versus abiotic factors. The 21.73 ± 0.03 million year old (early Miocene) Mush Valley lagerstatten, Ethiopia, provides one such example. Insect damage censuses were conducted at six stratigraphic levels that span ~50,000 years and whose plant ecology has been studied in detail. A total of 2200 leaves (47 morphotypes) were examined and 35 damage types (DTs) observed. We documented variations in insect damage frequency, diversity, and composition among plant host taxa and across stratigraphic levels and tested for correlations with abiotic and biotic factors. Interspecific variations in damage frequency and diversity among host plants at Mush with >20 leaves in the damage census could not be explained solely by leaf mass per area, presence/absence of trichomes, symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, or host plant abundance. The strongest predictor of insect herbivore damage on the bulk floras (all leaves) was the prevalence of legumes, whose symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria likely made them more nutrient-rich. This pattern was also observed across the climatically-variable Paleocene-Eocene boundary in the Bighorn Basin, USA, suggesting that the soil microbiome, plant nutrient composition, and climate work synergistically in regulating insect herbivore distribution, population sizes, and feeding.
The Response of Naive Channel Catfish to Chemical Cues Associated with Predation

THE RESPONSE OF NAIVE CHANNEL CATFISH TO CHEMICAL CUES ASSOCIATED WITH PREDATION By Marinda Coulter, B.S. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Biology at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2013 Major Advisor: Michael Fine Associate Professor, Department of Biology
Fault-tolerance inclusion in neural networks by a concurrent training algorithm

A learning algorithm, referred to as concurrent training, based on genetic algorithms for a neural network with connected modules is described. The algorithm does not require the knowledge of training sets for each module so that all modules can be trained concurrently. For an N module system, N separate pools of chromosomes are maintained and updated. The concurrent training algorithm is applied to train multilayered feedforward networks by considering each layer of connections to be a 1-layer network module. The algorithm is tested using the 4-bit parity problem and a linearly nonseparable classification problem. Experiment results are presented and the learning behavior and performance is analyzed. >
Studies of methylmalonyl-coenzyme A carbonylmutase activity in methylmalonic acidemia. II. In vitro binding kinetics with adenosylcobalamin.

Abstract Vitamin B 12 coenzyme binding to its apoenzyme in four control and four responsive methylmalonic acidemia (MM-emia) patients is described. Control and patient lines had similar K m values of 4.1 to 4.8 × 10 −8 m . These data confirm other studies that the responsive MM-emia patients described to date lack normal AdoCbl synthesis and that they exhibit normal apoenzyme binding to AdoCbl. Fibroblast mutase appears to bind its coenzyme tightly and has a K m range similar to measured values in purified enzyme.
FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS AND TREATMENT OF DIURNAL BRUXISM

An analogue functional analysis identified attention as a function for a 5-year-old boy's bruxism (teeth grinding). Functional communication training resulted in a reduction of bruxism and an increase in alternative mands for attention. Results were maintained 3 weeks following the intervention.
PHYSICAL SURFACE FEATURES AND CHEMICAL DENSITY OF DRY BACTERIAL SPORES.

Berlin, E. (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.), H. R. Curran, and M. J. Pallansch. Physical surface features and chemical density of dry bacterial spores. J. Bacteriol. 86:1030-1036. 1963.-Gas-displacement and gas-adsorption techniques were used to determine the chemical density and physical surface properties of the spores of Bacillus subtilis 15U, B. cereus 720, and B. stearothermophilus 1518 held in the dry state. Neither the observed densities nor the specific surface areas measured could be correlated with the heat resistance of the spores studied. Analysis of data obtained from a study of the adsorption of nitrogen by spores held at -195 C led to the postulate that the surface of the dry spore is relatively smooth and impervious, and is characterized by the presence of a few pores having radii of approximately 300 A. The presence of such orifices could account for the permeability of the spore form reported by other workers.
The Church of the Creator Part I: Ben Klassen and the Critique of Christianity

This essay examines the origins of the Church of the Creator. Founded by Ben Klassen in 1973, the racist cult aspired to unite the white race into a global community with a shared religion called ‘Creativity.’ To that end, the organization sought to proselytize elements of the extreme right to its ideology, which included a strident critique of Christianity. Although this approach alienated many rightists who were Christians, it appealed to those who became increasingly apprehensive to Christianity, such as the followers of neo-paganism which has found a following in the racialist movement. Moreover, the nihilistic tone of Creativity resonated with the more radical elements of the extreme right, most notably the fledging genre of ‘white power’ music.
Bridged-T voltage control of a high bandwidth SiC inverter for various output waveforms with/without DC Offset at wide range of frequencies

This paper provides a bridged-T voltage control scheme for a H bridge SiC inverter switching at 150 kHz for generating various waveforms at wide range of frequencies (60 Hz to 10 kHz) which is developed as a core loss test unit. Bridged-T controller attains the advantages of both the open and closed loop controllers. It has the fast dynamic response feature of the open-loop controller and zero steady state error feature of the closed loop controller. The controller has been designed to generate sine, triangle and square waveforms with and without DC offset. The system has been simulated and experimentally implemented in real time using digital signal processor. Simulation and experimental results are in close agreement.
Disproportionality in Special Education: Effects of Individual and School Variables on Disability Risk

We examined the risk of disability identification associated with individual and school variables. The sample included 18,000 students in 39 schools of an urban K-12 school system. Descriptive analysis showed racial minority risk varied across 7 disability categories, with males and students from low-income backgrounds at highest risk in most disability categories. Multilevel analyses showed that school variables were not generally significant predictors of student risk for identification. The most consistent predictors of identification across the categories were students' gender, race, socioeconomic status, and number of suspensions. We provide implications for future studies of disparities in special education, as well as practice related to identification and systemic monitoring.
The BRCA1 suppressor hypothesis: An explanation for the tissue-specific tumor development in BRCA1 patients

If this suppressor hypothesis is correct, identifying the genetic and environmental factors that enhance survival of cells homozygous for BRCA1 mutations will be a key aspect of the successful prevention and treatment of this cancer. For example, if estrogen is causing the supportive environment that allows BRCA1 mutations to survive in the breast and ovary, then antiestrogen therapies should decrease the incidence of breast and ovarian cancers in patients carrying BRCA1 mutations. This protective effect would be highest before a tumor has occurred. Estrogen has been shown to induce expression of other survival factors such as Igf1 and Wnt (Rutanen, 1998xInsulin-like growth factors in endometrial function. Rutanen, E.M. Gynecol. Endocrinol. 1998; 12: 399–406Crossref | PubMedSee all References, Sassoon, 1999xWnt genes and endocrine disruption of the female reproductive tract: a genetic approach. Sassoon, D. Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 1999; 158: 1–5Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (36)See all References). It is possible that interfering with these proteins may provide a means of prevention that has fewer deleterious side effects than antiestrogen therapies. It should be noted that, although most BRCA1−/− tumors lack ER, the fact that estrogen can signal through these paracrine mechanisms would still allow estrogen to affect cells lacking the ER. A critical point with respect to possible therapies is that we hypothesize that the loss of the second BRCA1 allele should be an early event in the initiation of breast cancer, well before the earliest onset of cancer in these patients. Therefore, any preventative therapies aimed at preventing the survival of BRCA1−/− cells would have to begin relatively early in life after the proposed protective environment in the breast is established.If cell models can be identified that allow BRCA1 null cells to survive by the same mechanism as they do in the breast, these lines can be used to search for drugs that specifically inhibit their survival but do not affect BRCA1+/+ cells. These drugs could open new avenues for preventative therapies and may also have palliative effects on early tumors in situ which may still benefit from the putative protective environment of the breast and ovaries.The authors would like to note that the ideas put forth in this essay are purely speculative and are made for the sole purpose of spurring on research into this important area of biology. This essay was not meant to be a comprehensive review of the literature concerning BRCA1, and we apologize to our colleagues whose work we were not able to cover due to space constraints.
Create through me, oh god this hurts: Creative writing, spirituality, and insanity

The purpose of this article is to present a spiritual perspective of creative writing, discuss the impact of emotional trauma and psychotropic medication on creativity, and explore the dilemmas posed by pharmacological disconnection from the Spiritual Divine.
Quantifying variance due to temporal and spatial difference between ship and satellite winds

[1] Ocean vector winds measured by SeaWinds can be validated with comparison in situ data that are within a certain time and space range to the satellite overpass. The total amount of random observational error is composed of two primary components, which are quantified in this study: the uncertainty associated with the data sets and the uncertainty associated with the temporal and/or spatial difference between two observations. The variance associated with a temporal difference, which can be translated into a spatial difference using Taylor's hypothesis, between two observations is initially examined in an idealized case that includes only Shipboard Automated Meteorological and Oceanographic System (SAMOS) 1 min data. The results show that the amount of variance in wind speed and direction increases as the time difference increases, while the amount of variance in wind speed increases and direction decreases with larger wind speeds. Collocated SeaWinds and SAMOS observations are used to determine the total amount of variance associated with a temporal (equivalent) difference from 0 to 60 min. For combined differences less than 25 min (equivalent) and the selected wind speed bins, the variance associated with the temporal and spatial difference is dominated by small changes in the wind speed distribution, and the sum of the observational errors is approximately 1.0 m2 s−2 (12 deg2) and 1.5 m2 s−2 (10 deg2) for wind speeds between 4 and 7 m s−1 and 7–12 m s−1. For larger combined differences, the observational error variance is no longer the dominant term; therefore, the total variance is seen to gradually increase with increasing time differences.
Effect of upwelling on phytoplankton productivity of the outer southeastern United States continental shelf

Abstract Gulf Stream frontal disturbances cause nutrient-rich waters to frequently upwell and intrude onto the southeastern United States continental shelf between Cape Canaveral, Florida and Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Phytoplankton response in upwelled waters was determined with three interdisciplinary studies conducted during April 1979 and 1980, and in summer 1978. The results show that when shelf waters are not stratified, upwelling causes productive phytoplankton (diatom) blooms on the outer shelf. Phytoplankton production averages about 2 g C m −2 d −1 during upwelling events, and ‘new’ production is 50% or more of the total. When shelf waters are stratified, upwelled waters penetrate well onto the shelf as a subsurface intrusion in which phytoplankton production averages about fives times higher than the nutrient-depleted overlying mixed layer. Phytoplankton within the intrusion deplete upwelled NO 3 in about 7 to 10 days, at which point no further net increase in phytoplankton biomass occurs. Current meter records show that upwelling occurs roughly 50% of the time on the outer shelf during November to April (shelf not stratified), and we estimate that seasonal primary production in upwelled waters is 175 g C m −2 6 months −1 of which at least 50% is ‘new’ production. More than 90% of outer shelf primary and ‘new’ production occurs during upwelling and thus upwelling is the dominant process affecting primary productivity of the outer shelf. Our seasonal estimates of outer shelf primary and ‘new’ production are, respectively, three and ten times higher than previous estimates that did not account for upwelling.
Analyzing Subvisible Particles in Protein Drug Products: a Comparison of Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Resonant Mass Measurement (RMM)

Aggregation is common in protein drug manufacture, and while the effects of protein particulates are under investigation, many techniques applicable for their characterization have been recently developed. Among the methods available to characterize and quantify protein aggregates, none is applicable over the full size range and different methods often give conflicting results. The studies presented here compare two such methods: dynamic light scattering (DLS) and resonant mass measurement (RMM). The performance of each method was first characterized using polystyrene particle size standards (20, 60, 100, 200, 400, and 1,000 nm) over a range of concentrations. Standard particles were measured both singly and in binary mixtures containing 20 nm particles at a fixed concentration (10(14) particles/mL) and various concentrations of one of the other particle sizes (i.e., 60, 100, 200, 400, or 1,000 nm). DLS and RMM were then used to detect unknown aggregate content in stressed samples of IgG. Both instruments were shown to have a working range that depends on particle size and concentration. In binary mixtures and polydisperse solutions, DLS was able to resolve two species in a manner dependent on both concentration and particle size. RMM was able to resolve particles above 200 nm (150 nm for protein) at concentrations below 10(9) particles/mL. In addition, dilution was evaluated as a technique to confirm and quantify the number of particles in solution.
Cascaded speech style sheets

Abstract Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) enable WWW designers to separate layout from content on a WWW site and help the site designer customize the look and feel of a site without having to edit all the pages making up the site. Stylesheets are often thought of as a means to specify the visual appearance of a WWW page. This paper takes a more general view; CSS style sheets can in fact be used equally well to control the appearance of a WWW site when presented in non-traditional modalities such as speech. This paper outlines the reasoning behind the design of the speech style sheet specification and describes a working implementation that produces high-quality audio formatted spoken renderings of well-authored WWW content. The paper reinforces the need to keep WWW site design independent of specific browser implementations of today by demonstrating the ability to specify aural renderings that can in principle be completely separate from the visual appearance of a WWW page given a well-structured collection of HTML documents.
Protein-Engineered Biomaterials to Generate Human Skeletal Muscle Mimics

Skeletal muscle function, which is essential in the human body, can be lost due to injury, trauma, or diseases such as muscular dystrophy, prompting the need for in vitro models of human skeletal muscle tissue. In vitro tissue models are indispensable in performing quantitative studies of injury and disease progression as well as in providing sources of tissue for potential regenerative medicine therapies. An ideal bioengineered model of skeletal muscle should promote myoblast (muscle cell precursor) alignment as well as subsequent myoblast fusion into mature, multinucleated muscle cells known as myotubes. Accordingly, we report the development of an engineered protein biomaterial that promotes the alignment and fusion of primary human myoblasts into organized and differentiated myotubes. Furthermore, these aligned human myotubes exhibit markers of functional maturation including organization of sarcomeres (the force-generating apparatus within muscle) and induced contractility upon electrical stimulation.
The Question of the Function of the Right Ventricular Myocardium: An Experimental Study

A laboratory study designed to investigate the independent pump-like function of the right ventricle of the dog heart is presented. Systolic and diastolic pulmonary arterial pressure fluctuations were used as the definitive criterion for pumping efficiency. Control pressure levels are compared with those recorded after complete damage, by electrosurgical coagulation, of the free right ventricular myocardium. The degree of damage so produced was ascertained from an analysis of electrocardiographic, physiologic and histologic observations. The results are discussed and explained in terms of a postulated mechanism based upon the architecture of the individual ventricular muscle bands.
Microprocessor-based weight shift monitors for paraplegic patients

Abstract The prevention of pressure sores for patients with spinal cord injuries includes pressure relief through the patient shifting position and, thus, weight. We have designed a microprocessor-based device to mount on the seat of a conventional wheelchair. This device has applications in hospital rehabilitation programs for improving patient care and in research to study the cause and prevention of pressure sores. It can use audible alarms, which can be disarmed, to train patients to regularly shift weight. The device stores in its memory data on the interval between and the duration of weight shifts. The contents of this memory can be transmitted to a laboratory microcomputer system and displayed in tabular, graphical, or histogram formats. This device is more versatile than previous timer-based systems, not only because its timer and alarm parameters easily can be reprogrammed, but especially because it can store and play back detailed data on the patient's performance. The device is powered by rechargeable NiCad batteries, which can last several days without recharging.
Some Stochastic Models in Immunology

Conditional probability arguments and the theory of continuous-time Markov chains are used to develop models for the kinetics of a cell-mediated cytotoxic reaction. While the models are conceptually simple, when fitted to data, they lead to surprising insights into the mechanisms of the immune response. Based on examples and discussion, we demonstrate the potential for creative and relevant application of mathematics within the rapidly developing field of immunology.
Approximate decoupling of the equations of motion of damped linear systems

Abstract One common procedure in solving a normalized damped linear system with non-zero off-diagonal damping elements is to replace the normalized damping matrix by a selected diagonal matrix. The extent of approximation introduced by this method of decoupling the system is evaluated, and tight upper bounds on the norm of errors are derived. Moreover, when the normalized damping matrix is diagonally dominant, it is shown that decoupling the system by neglecting the off-diagonal elements indeed minimizes the error upper bound. The results expounded in this paper are applicable to any damped linear dynamical system the coefficient matrices of which are symmetric and positive definite.
31P NMR spectroscopy of Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Leishmania major. Evidence for high levels of condensed inorganic phosphates

High resolution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectra at 303.6 MHz (corresponding to a1H resonance frequency of 750 MHz) have been obtained of perchloric acid extracts of Trypanosoma brucei,Trypanosoma cruzi, and Leishmania major, the causative agents of African sleeping sickness, Chagas' disease, and leishmaniasis. Essentially complete assignments have been made based on chemical shifts and by direct addition of authentic reference compounds. The results indicate the presence of high levels of short chain condensed polyphosphates: di-, tri-, tetra-, and pentapolyphosphate. 31P NMR spectra of purified T. brucei, T. cruzi, and L. majoracidocalcisomes, calcium and phosphorus storage organelles, indicate that polyphosphates are abundant in these organelles and have an average chain length of 3.11–3.39 phosphates. In the context of the recent discovery of several pyrophosphate-utilizing enzymes in trypanosomatids, the presence of these inorganic polyphosphates implies a critical role for these molecules in these parasites and a potential new route to chemotherapy.
Biased expression of JH-proximal VH genes occurs in the newly generated repertoire of neonatal and adult mice

We have previously demonstrated a dramatic preference for utilization of the most JH-proximal VH gene segments in the newborn liver versus adult spleen. We now examine in detail the relative expression of different VH gene families throughout ontogeny and in immunodeficient mice to gain insight into factors that cause the shift in VH usage. We find that the relative expression of VH gene families remains constant and biased throughout fetal and neonatal liver development. In addition, the primary VH repertoire expressed in neonatal spleen displays a similarly biased, position-dependent VH repertoire. The pattern of VH gene expression begins to change at 5-7 d postnatally and reaches the adult randomized pattern at approximately 2 wk of age. We also find biased expression of JH-proximal VH gene families in adult bone marrow and in spleens of adult leaky scid mice, suggesting that the spontaneously generated repertoire of adult mice is similar to that observed in neonates. Together, these data suggest that a position-dependent repertoire is generated in differentiating pre-B cells at all stages of ontogeny, at least in part, as a result of preferential rearrangement of proximal VH gene segments. Therefore, mechanisms subsequent to V gene rearrangement, such as regulatory interactions and antigen selection, must play a major role in normalizing the repertoire.
Asymptotic equivalence of the linear Navier-Stokes and heat equations in one dimension

Q = (& is a symmetric negative semidefinite N x N matrix which has a $-dimensional nullspace X( 1 4 d < N) and Q%~ f 0; er = diag(v,), where the numbers (vJ are real and distinct; f is an N-tupIe of nice functions of x. The Navier-Stokes equations are the second in a hierarchy of approximate equations (the first being Euler) for the hydrodynamical moments of solutions of Eq. (1.1) with E = 1. For the special orthonormal basis (e&‘); 1 < k < dl of Jy” introduced in [Z], it was shown that the Navier-Stokes equations for the moments n&, x) = (p, et’) f C p(t, x, q) et’(q) l<j<N
Herding behavior in Chinese stock markets: An examination of A and B shares

Abstract This study examines herding behavior in dual-listed Chinese A-share and B-share stocks. We find evidence of herding within both the Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share markets that are dominated by domestic individual investors, and also within both B-share markets, in which foreign institutional investors are the main participants. Herding occurs in both rising and falling market conditions. Herding behavior by A-share investors in the Shanghai market is more pronounced under conditions of rising markets, high trading volume, and high volatility, while no asymmetry is apparent in the B-share market.
Metal complexes involved in solvent extraction and their role in the synergistic effect

Abstract Solid ternary complexes of the type M(TTA)2·TOPO (M = Zn2+ and Cu2+, TTA = thenoyltrifluoroacetone anion and TOPO = tri-n-octyl phosphine oxide) have been prepared and investigated. The phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance method has been used to determine the equilibrium constant of the reaction Zn(TTA)2 (org.) + TOPO (org.) = Zn(TTA)2·TOPO(org.). This was found to be approximately 10 1/mole in anhydrous carbon tetrachloride medium. It was also shown that in the same medium, the less basic TBEP (tri-n-butoxyethyl phosphate) did not coordinate with Zn(TTA)2 to any measurable extent. In fact, the corresponding ternary complexes M(TTA)2·TBEP could not be isolated. Proton magnetic resonance studies also afford evidence for the reaction: Zn(TTA)2·2H2O + TOPO = Zn(TTA)2·TOPO + 2H2O in carbon tetrachloride medium. It is suggested that the phenomenon of synergism may be due to the enhanced solubility (in the organic phase) of neutral metal chelates caused by adduct formation with ligands such as TOPO.
Anisotropy of Hc2 in Rb0.2WO3

Abstract The Tc and Hc2 of hexagonal single crystals Rb0.2WO3 were measured. Upper critical field rotation data in the plane perpendicular to the c-axis showed a large anisotropy with a 60° periodicity. Rotation in a plane containing the c-axis showed an even larger anisotropy having 180° symmetry.
The Verdict on Freud

During the past 25 years, a momentous change has been overtaking the study of Sigmund Freud and his elaborate, engrossing, but ever more controversial creation, psychoanalysis Formerly, authors who deemed Freud worth discussing at book length tended to be either Freudian loyalists or partisans of some variant doctrine that shared at least a few of Freud's depth-psychological premises Their critiques were often selectively astute but rarely rigorous or thoroughgoing No doubt the same can still be said of most new books in the field, produced as they are by practicing analysts on the one hand and, on the other, by academic humanists who have raised their sights above narrowly “positivistic” (alias empirical) concerns Increasingly, however, Freud's oeuvre has been receiving sustained attention from scholars who hold no personal stake in the fortunes of psychoanalysis As recent works by Scharnberg (1993), Esterson (1993), Wilcocks (1994), Dawes (1994), Webster (1995), and Erwin (1996) attest, independent stud...
The Potential for Diagnostic Analysis within Curriculum-Based Measurement:

Curriculum-based measurement (CBM) can enhance teacher planning by signaling teachers when a student's rate of improvement is inadequate and, therefore, revisions to the instructional program are n...
Intentional Programming in Wilderness Education Revisiting its Roots

(2003). Intentional Programming in Wilderness Education Revisiting its Roots. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance: Vol. 74, No. 8, pp. 21-24.