cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Incidence of Multifocal Renal Cell Carcinoma in Patients Who are Candidates for Partial Nephrectomy

AbstractPurpose: A prospective study was performed to determine the incidence of multifocal renal cell carcinoma in patients who are candidates for partial nephrectomy.Materials and Methods: Preoperative imaging studies and surgical specimens in 44 patients suitable for partial nephrectomy but undergoing radical nephrectomy were prospectively reviewed.Results: Of 44 renal cell cancers 11 (25 percent) demonstrated pathological multifocality, while 10 of 11 multifocal tumors (91 percent) occurred in the face of a primary tumor 5 cm. or smaller. Tumor multifocality was independent of the size of the primary renal tumor but occurred with a slightly higher frequency in tumors of stage T3A or greater even if the primary tumor was small.Conclusions: Partial nephrectomy in patients with unilateral renal cancer should be approached with caution and should not be performed simply because it is technically feasible.
The Acid-sensitive, Anesthetic-activated Potassium Leak Channel, KCNK3, Is Regulated by 14-3-3β-dependent, Protein Kinase C (PKC)-mediated Endocytic Trafficking

The acid-sensitive neuronal potassium leak channel, KCNK3, is vital for setting the resting membrane potential and is the primary target for volatile anesthetics. Recent reports demonstrate that KCNK3 activity is down-regulated by PKC; however, the mechanisms responsible for PKC-induced KCNK3 down-regulation are undefined. Here, we report that endocytic trafficking dynamically regulates KCNK3 activity. Phorbol esters and Group I metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) activation acutely decreased both native and recombinant KCNK3 currents with concomitant KCNK3 surface losses in cerebellar granule neurons and cell lines. PKC-mediated KCNK3 internalization required the presence of both 14-3-3β and a novel potassium channel endocytic motif, because depleting either 14-3-3β protein levels or ablating the endocytic motif completely abrogated PKC-regulated KCNK3 trafficking. These results demonstrate that neuronal potassium leak channels are not static membrane residents but are subject to 14-3-3β-dependent regulated trafficking, providing a straightforward mechanism to modulate neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity by Group I mGluRs.
Benzodiazepines for prolonged seizures

Convulsive status epilepticus is a common emergency condition in paediatric practice. Classically, it is defined as continuous or recurrent seizure activity lasting for longer than 30 min in which the patient does not regain baseline mental status.1 Commonly, intervention is recommended after only 5 min of seizure activity2 as neuronal damage may begin to occur after this period, and the longer a seizure continues, the less likely it is to stop spontaneously.3 It seems likely, however, that mortality and morbidity after prolonged seizures should often be dependent upon underlying aetiology rather than duration of seizure activity.4 Repetitive serial seizures (ie, seizure clusters with return to baseline between events, but occurring frequently enough to be highly disruptive) and non-convulsive status epilepticus are also relatively common in children with epilepsy and are associated with significant morbidity.5 Diazepam, lorazepam and midazolam, the drugs most widely used to stop prolonged seizures, are members of the benzodiazepine family, a class of psychoactive drugs with varying hypnotic, sedative, anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, muscle relaxant and amnesic properties.6 Differences in their affinity for receptor subtypes account for different pharmacological effects, in combination with widely varying pharmacokinetic profiles. These pharmacokinetic differences often impose specific routes of administration and specific formulations for individual members of the benzodiazepine family. The aim of this review is to detail their clinical pharmacology as it relates to their use in the management of prolonged seizures in children. Benzodiazepines produce their range of effects by modulation of the γ-aminobutyric acid receptor subtype A (GABAA). The GABAA receptor comprises five subunits; each receptor is assembled from a combination of polypeptides, most commonly two αs, two βs and one γ, although several other subunits exist (eg, δ, e, π, θ and ρ).7 The combination of different subunits governs the …
Kx-trees: An unsupervised learning method for use in developmental agents

Acquiring concepts from experience is a key aspect of development and one that is commonly neglected in learning agents. In this work, concept acquisition is formulated as an unsupervised learning problem and is addressed with a novel algorithm: kx-trees. kx-trees differ from prior approaches to unsupervised learning in that they require very little information; four user selected parameters determine all aspects of kx-trees' performance. Notably, and in contrast with most other unsupervised learning approaches, they do not require that the input state space be well-scaled. kx-trees' operation is described in detail and illustrated with two simulations. The second simulation shows some similarities between kx-trees and feature construction in the human visual processing system.
Coactivation of Pre- and Postsynaptic Signaling Mechanisms Determines Cell-Specific Spike-Timing-Dependent Plasticity

Synapses may undergo long-term increases or decreases in synaptic strength dependent on critical differences in the timing between pre-and postsynaptic activity. Such spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) follows rules that govern how patterns of neural activity induce changes in synaptic strength. Synaptic plasticity in the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) follows Hebbian and anti-Hebbian patterns in a cell-specific manner. Here we show that these opposing responses to synaptic activity result from differential expression of two signaling pathways. Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) signaling underlies Hebbian postsynaptic LTP in principal cells. By contrast, in interneurons, a temporally precise anti-Hebbian synaptic spike-timing rule results from the combined effects of postsynaptic CaMKII-dependent LTP and endocannabinoid-dependent presynaptic LTD. Cell specificity in the circuit arises from selective targeting of presynaptic CB1 receptors in different axonal terminals. Hence, pre- and postsynaptic sites of expression determine both the sign and timing requirements of long-term plasticity in interneurons.
A data-driven fault tolerant model predictive control with fault identification

Most of the existing active control methodologies need a post-fault/failure model of the faulty process for online retuning the controller parameters, or reconfiguration. However, post-fault model identification process takes the precious post-fault time which delays the recovery procedure. A new data-driven fault tolerant model predictive control (MPC) is developed which does not need the post-fault model. In fact, the model identification and control (re)calculation are combined together and are performed simultaneously to efficiently use the critical post-fault/failure time. The proposed fault tolerant architecture is capable of the online fault identification and adapting effectively to the post-fault/failure model. Several simulations of hover control of an unmanned quad-rotor helicopter are performed to illustrate the usefulness of the proposed approach.
ATP binding to Rho transcription termination factor. Mutant F355W ATP-induced fluorescence quenching reveals dynamic ATP binding.

Abstract Rho transcription termination factor mutant, F355W, showed tryptophan fluorescence intensity approximately twice that of wild-type Rho at equivalent protein concentrations and underwent a decrease in relative fluorescence intensity at 350 nm when 100 μm ATP was added in the presence or absence of RNA. Titration of this fluorescence quenching with varying concentrations of ATP (0–600 μm), where Rho is shown to exist as a hexamer (400 nm Rho), revealed tight and loose ATP-binding sites. Bicyclomycin, a specific inhibitor of Rho, increased the tight ATP binding and was used to calibrate ATP-induced fluorescence quenching by using [γ-32P]ATP filter binding. For the Rho mutant F355W, three tight (K d 1 = 3 ± 0.3 μm) and three loose (K d 2 = 58 ± 3 μm) ATP-binding sites per hexamer were seen on Scatchard analysis in the absence of bicyclomycin and poly(C). In the presence of bicyclomycin, the K d 1 changed from 3.0 to 1.4 μm, but K d 2underwent a lesser change. The non-hydrolyzable ATP analogue, γ-S-ATP, gave a similar profile with three tight (K d 1 = 0.2 μm) and three loose (K d 2 = 70 μm) ATP-binding sites per hexamer. Adding poly(C) to F355W did not alter the K d 1 orK d 2 for ATP or for γ-S-ATP. ADP-induced quenching produced 5.5 loose (K d = 92 μm) binding sites in the absence of poly(C), and the binding became weaker (K d = 175 μm) in the presence of poly(C). The data suggest that in the presence of ADP Rho has six equivalent nucleotide-binding sites. When ATP was added these sites converted to three tight and three loose binding loci. We propose an alternating ATP site mechanism where ATP binding creates heterogeneity in the ATP binding in adjacent subunits, and we suggest that ATP binding to a neighboring loose site stimulates hydrolysis at a neighboring tight binding site such that all six subunits can be potential “active” sites for ATP hydrolysis. The dynamic nature of the ATP binding to Rho is discussed in the terms of the mechanism of RNA tracking driven by ATP hydrolysis.
Large-scale analysis of expression signatures reveals hidden links among diverse cellular processes

Cells must respond to various perturbations using their limited available gene repertoires. In order to study how cells coordinate various responses, we conducted a comprehensive comparison of 1,186 gene expression signatures (gene lists) associated with various genetic and chemical perturbations. We identified 7,419 statistically significant overlaps between various published gene lists. Most (80%) of the overlaps can be represented by a highly connected network, a "molecular signature map," that highlights the correlation of various expression signatures. By dissecting this network, we identified sub-networks that define clusters of gene sets related to common biological processes (cell cycle, immune response, etc). Examination of these sub-networks has confirmed relationships among various pathways and also generated new hypotheses. For example, our result suggests that glutamine deficiency might suppress cellular growth by inhibiting the MYC pathway. Interestingly, we also observed 1,369 significant overlaps between a set of genes upregulated by factor X and a set of genes downregulated by factor Y, suggesting a repressive interaction between X and Y factors. Our results suggest that molecular-level responses to diverse chemical and genetic perturbations are heavily interconnected in a modular fashion. Also, shared molecular pathways can be identified by comparing newly defined gene expression signatures with databases of previously published gene expression signatures.
Ion permeation and block of M-type and delayed rectifier potassium channels. Whole-cell recordings from bullfrog sympathetic neurons.

Ion permeation and conduction were studied using whole-cell recordings of the M-current (I(M)) and delayed rectifier (IDR), two K+ currents that differ greatly in kinetics and modulation. Currents were recorded from isolated bullfrog sympathetic neurons with 88 mM [K+]i and various external cations. Selectivity for extracellular monovalent cations was assessed from permeability ratios calculated from reversal potentials and from chord conductances for inward current. PRb/PK was near 1.0 for both channels, and GRb/GK was 0.87 +/- 0.01 for IDR but only 0.35 +/- 0.01 for I(M) (15 mM [Rb+]o or [K+]o). The permeability sequences were generally similar for I(M) and IDR: K+ approximately Rb+ > NH4+ > Cs+, with no measurable permeability to Li+ or CH3NH3+. However, Na+ carried detectable inward current for IDR but not I(M). Nao+ also blocked inward K+ current for IDR (but not IM), at an apparent electrical distance (delta) approximately 0.4, with extrapolated dissociation constant (KD) approximately 1 M at 0 mV. Much of the instantaneous rectification of IDR in physiologic ionic conditions resulted from block by Nao+. Extracellular Cs+ carried detectable inward current for both channel types, and blocked I(M) with higher affinity (KD = 97 mM at 0 mV for I(M), KD) approximately 0.2 M at 0 mV for IDR), with delta approximately 0.9 for both. IDR showed several characteristics reflecting a multi-ion pore, including a small anomalous mole fraction effect for PRb/PK, concentration-dependent GRb/GK, and concentration- dependent apparent KD's and delta's for block by Nao+ and Cso+. I(M) showed no clear evidence of multi-ion pore behavior. For I(M), a two- barrier one-site model could describe permeation of K+ and Rb+ and block by Cso+, whereas for IDR even a three-barrier, two-site model was not fully adequate.
Crizotinib: an anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitor

Crizotinib is an oral small-molecule inhibitor of ALK and c-Met tyrosine kinases that is being developed by Pfizer. ALK mutations or gene rearrangements result in growth factor-independent ALK activation. Most of the available clinical data with crizotinib are in patients with tumors that have an activated ALK, and the drug has shown very promising clinical benefit in these patients. ALK gene rearrangement occurs in approximately 3-5% of non-small-cell lung cancer patients, most of whom are never- or light smokers and have adenocarcinoma histology. In these patients, crizotinib at a dose of 250 mg twice daily demonstrated a response rate of 56% and a disease control rate of 87% in previously treated patients. The drug is generally well tolerated, with the most common adverse events being nausea, vomiting and some minor visual disturbances that are fleeting. Grade 3/4 elevations in hepatic transaminases occurred in 6% of the patients, which in most patients resolved with dose reduction. Ongoing studies will define the true utility of this drug in ALK-rearranged non-small-cell lung cancer patients and in patients with other tumors that also have ALK activation. Preliminary data suggest that the drug may also be active in tumors with an activated c-Met pathway.
Hydrogen bonding of 7,8-dihydro-8-oxodeoxyguanosine with a charged residue in the little finger domain determines miscoding events in Sulfolobus solfataricus DNA polymerase Dpo4.

Abstract Sulfolobus solfataricus P2 DNA polymerase IV (Dpo4) has been shown to catalyze bypass of 7,8-dihydro-8-oxodeoxyguanosine (8-oxoG) in a highly efficient and relatively accurate manner. Crystal structures have revealed a potential role for Arg332 in stabilizing the anti conformation of the 8-oxoG template base by means of a hydrogen bond or ion-dipole pair, which results in an increased enzymatic efficiency for dCTP insertion and makes formation of a Hoogsteen pair between 8-oxoG and dATP less favorable. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to replace Arg332 with Ala, Glu, Leu, or His in order to probe the importance of Arg332 in accurate and efficient bypass of 8-oxoG. The double mutant Ala331Ala332 was also prepared to address the contribution of Arg331. Transientstate kinetic results suggest that Glu332 retains fidelity against bypass of 8-oxoG that is similar to wild type Dpo4, a result that was confirmed by tandem mass spectrometric analysis of full-length extension products. A crystal structure of the Dpo4 Glu332 mutant and 8-oxoG:C pair revealed water-mediated hydrogen bonds between Glu332 and the O-8 atom of 8-oxoG. The space normally occupied by Arg332 side chain is empty in the crystal structures of the Ala332 mutant. Two other crystal structures show that a Hoogsteen base pair is formed between 8-oxoG and A in the active site of both Glu332 and Ala332 mutants. These results support the view that a bond between Arg332 and 8-oxoG plays a role in determining the fidelity and efficiency of Dpo4-catalyzed bypass of the lesion.
Functional Voice Testing Detects Early Changes in Vocal Pitch in Women During Testosterone Administration

Objective: To determine dose-dependent effects of T administration on voice changes in women with low T levels. Methods: Seventy-one women who have undergone a hysterectomy with or without oophorectomy with total T < 31 ng/dL and/or free T < 3.5 pg/mL received a standardized transdermal estradiol regimen during the 12-week run-in period and were then randomized to receive weekly im injections of placebo or 3, 6.25, 12.5, or 25 mg T enanthate for 24 weeks. Total and free T levels were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and equilibrium dialysis, respectively. Voice handicap was measured by self-report using a validated voice handicap index questionnaire at baseline and 24 weeks after intervention. Functional voice testing was performed using the Kay Elemetrics-Computer Speech Lab to determine voice frequency, volume, and harmonics. Results: Forty-six women with evaluable voice data at baseline and after intervention were included in the analysis. The five groups were similar at basel...
The Paradigm compiler for distributed-memory multicomputers

To harness the computational power of massively parallel distributed-memory multicomputers, users must write efficient software. This process is laborious because of the absence of global address space. The programmer must manually distribute computations and data across processors and explicitly manage communication. The Paradigm (PARAllelizing compiler for DIstributed-memory, General-purpose Multicomputers) project at the University of Illinois addresses this problem by developing automatic methods for the efficient parallelization of sequential programs. A unified approach efficiently supports regular and irregular computations using data and functional parallelism. >
Uncertainties in mass absorption coefficients in fundamental parameter X‐ray fluorescence analysis

Various compilations of mass absorption coefficients are currently used in fundamental parameter computer programs for correction of inter-element effects in quantitative x-ray fluorescence analysis. Statistically significant differences in results of analysis were observed for certain sample types when three commonly used compilations were compared, especially when only pure element standards were used for calibration. When type standards combined with a second degree polynomial fit to the standards are used for calibration. When type standards combined with a second degree polynomial fit to the standards are used for calibration, differences between compilations become negligible as determined from the analysis results.
Writing Against Racism: Telling White Lies and Reclaiming Culture

This article seeks to define a working methodology for qualitative research on racism and with racist participants. Specifically, the article proposes a principled research relationship built on collective, cultural relationships and accountability, and based on an incorporation of feminist practices and critical race theory conceptual frameworks. This argument suggests that to engage research for radical societal transformation, qualitative scholars must be able to move beyond the dominant frame of the individual participant and adopt the systemic and institutional analyses promoted by critical race theory. This article examines the ways in which the researcher can both honor research participants and analyze their narratives for an understanding of systemic racial oppression.
Building a Network Administrative Organization’s Social Base Lessons From the National Quality Forum

Networks are an increasingly common aspect of administrative life. One organization in health care, the National Quality Forum (NQF), is attempting to address issues of health care quality in a new way by bringing together organizations from the public and private sectors to discuss and debate measures of quality and, ultimately, to effect change. Little, however, is known about a network leader’s tasks during the creation of an organization like the NQF. The purpose of this article is to discuss and elaborate on one critical task, building a social base, that the NQF’s president and CEO engaged in during the NQF’s formative stages.
Changes in equine endometrial retinol-binding protein RNA during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy and with exogenous steroids

A cDNA library was constructed from poly(A) RNA obtained from Day 14 nonbred equine endometrium. A cDNA probe for porcine retinol-binding protein (RBP) was used to screen the library, and a complete cDNA sequence (1133 bp, excluding the poly(A) tail) was obtained. Endometrial biopsies were obtained from cycling, nonbred mares at Days 0, 1, 4, 8, 10, 11, 13, and 15 and from pregnant mares at Days 11, 13, 15, and 17 after ovulation (n = 2 mares each day). Endometrial biopsies were also taken from 18 noncycling anestrous mares after the following treatments: C (vehicle control for I day, n = 3), E (estradiol-17 valerate, 5 mg/day for 6 days, n = 3), P (progesterone, 250 mg/day for 6 days, n = 4), ESP (E for 6 days followed by P for 6 days, n = 4), and ELP (E for 6 days followed by P for 12 days, n = 4). Northern blot analyses were performed on total RNA (30 jlg) using cDNA probes to equine (e) RBP and human glyceraldehyde-3 phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PDH). The RBP RNA levels (normalized to G3PDH) from nonbred mares were low during early diestrus and increased after Day 10, and RBP RNA levels from pregnant mares were similar to those of nonbred mares for corresponding days. E tended to decrease endometrial RBP RNA; and P, ESP, and ELP increased it compared to C. There were no significant differences among P, ESP, and ELP RBP RNA levels. These results demonstrate that equine endometrial RBP RNA increases from early to late diestrus, that levels are similar between nonbred and pregnant mares, and that levels are under steroid regulation.
Jaks, STATs, Cytokines, and Sepsis.

Sepsis remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the intensive care unit (68), affecting more than 500,000 patients per year in the United States (39). The incidence is increasing despite the major advances in the development of antimicrobial agents and other supportive treatments (56). Septic patients often succumb to a systemic inflammatory response, of which multiple organ failure is a main complication. There is no definitive treatment for multiple organ failure other than supportive treatment, such as assisted ventilation or renal dialysis. Research efforts now heavily focus on the mechanisms of multiple organ failure, with the hope that treatment options can be identified through a better understanding of these mechanisms. One current theory implicates an inappropriate cytokine response as the main protagonist in the development of multiple organ failure following an inflammatory stimulus (35, 48). Cytokines are low-molecular-weight polypeptides or glycoproteins that regulate numerous cellular functions and allow both autocrine and paracrine signaling. Cytokines regulate many of the pathways involved in the host inflammatory response to sepsis. They influence cell differentiation, proliferation, and activation and modulate proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses to allow the host to react appropriately to pathogens. The binding of a cytokine to a corresponding receptor initiates intracellular signal cascades, ultimately leading to changes in gene expression. These signals must rapidly transduce an extracellular signal to the nucleus. The Janus-kinase/ signal transducers and activators of transcription (Jak/STAT) pathway is employed in the signaling of many cytokines. Cytokine receptors do not, in general, have intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity and therefore require association with receptor-associated kinases in order to propagate a phosphorylation cascade. Jaks fulfill this function by their ability to associate with many of the cytokine receptors that are involved in regulatory pathways during a sepsis response. Cytokines bind to their receptors and cause receptor dimerization. This enables Jaks to phosphorylate each other as well as the cytokine receptors. Cytokine receptor phosphorylation allows binding of STATs via a specific binding domain. Once bound to the receptor, STATs are also phosphorylated by Jaks. STATs then dissociate from the receptors and dimerize. Dimerization enables translocation of STAT into the nucleus and binding to DNA in order to alter transcription (Fig. 1). Four Jaks and seven STATs have been identified to date in mammalian cells. Multiple Jaks and STATs, as well as the ability of STATs to homoor hetero-dimerize, allow for cytokine-specific cellular responses (47). This minireview describes a number of important cytokines involved in regulating the inflammatory response to sepsis, the importance of the Jak/STAT pathways, and how these pathways are regulated.
Contrastive Hebbian learning and the traveling salesman problem

It is shown that a neural net can learn a complex optimization problem such as the traveling salesman problem (TSP) by using contrastive Hebbian learning. Contrastive Hebbian learning is applied to an interactive network to teach the network to solve the TSP from examples. With the use of 'hidden' units, problems of increasing complexity can be learned by a net by increasing the number of hidden units present. The advantages of learning are obvious: one can have the computer design the network, and, once trained, the net will run in constant time. Very successful results were shown for a network trained on several sample problem sets for a four-city TSP. >
A low-complexity dynamic element matching DAC for direct digital synthesis

This paper presents and analyzes a new dynamic element matching technique for low-harmonic distortion digital-to-analog conversion. The benefit of this technique over the prior art is a significantly reduced hardware complexity with no reduction in performance. It is particularly appropriate for applications such as direct digital synthesis (DDS) in wireless communications systems, where low hardware complexity and low harmonic distortion are essential.
Pulmonary infections mimicking cancer: A retrospective, three-year review

Pulmonary infections can mimic or occasionally co-exist with pulmonary neoplasms. In order to determine the frequency and nature of these infections, we conducted a retrospective analysis, covering a 3-year period, of patients who were referred to our center with presumed lung cancer but turned out to have pulmonary infection instead. The overwhelming majority of patients (93.3%) referred to “rule out” lung cancer were documented as having a neoplastic process, and only 1.3% had an infection. Fungal infections (histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, coccidiomycosis) accounted for 46%, mycobacteria for 27%, bacteria for 22%, and parasitic lesions (dirofilariasis) for 5% of these infections. The most common clinical manifestations were cough and chest pain, and the most common radiographic finding was a solitary pulmonary nodule. There were no specific clinical or radiographic features predictive of either infection or neoplastic disease. All patients responded to specific anti-infectioe therapy with or without surgical excision. Our data indicate that pulmonary infections mimic neoplasms very infrequently. However, establishing a specific diagnosis is critical, since the management and outcome of these two processes are entirely different.
The Stream of Consciousness: XV. James in Recent Context (1981–1986)

Addressing work on consciousness published in this Journal allows me to bring relevant present-day material to bear on my ongoing exploration of James's stream. Instead of, as before, making use of an author's findings or ideas to improve our understanding of James's stream, I inquire into what each author has explicitly drawn from James's work in his or her article. I consider all fifteen published volumes of Imagination, Cognition and Personality in successive units of five, beginning with the first five years in this article. Of special interest are the specific ways present-day psychologists, who are strong on objective method, demonstrate or acknowledge the relevance to their work of the introspectively grounded propositions of their great predecessor. Discussed in the present article are theses belonging to five large topics: 1) the perception of reality, 2) conceiving of consciousness, 3) the emotions, 4) altered states of consciousness, and 5) discriminating imaginal from perceptual awareness.
Optimum polarization for foliage camouflaged target discrimination using a genetic algorithm

The coherent scattering model can be ran for many realizations of foliage around a hard target to obtain the statistical variations of foliage and target response in a Monte Carlo simulation. Foliage camouflaged target detection at low microwave frequencies is investigated, using a powerful foliage and hard target simulation tool which accounts for near-field interactions between the hard target and foliage. Based on fully polarimetric simulation results of a foliage camouflaged metallic target a polarization synthesis optimization method for improving signal to clutter is examined. A genetic algorithm is implemented for finding an optimal set of radar transmit and receive polarizations that maximizes target backscatter to clutter ratio
Contracts, Hold-Up, and Exports: Textiles and Opium in Colonial India

Trade and export, it is argued, spur economic growth. This paper studies the microeco- nomics of exporting. We build a heuristic model of transactions between exporters and producers and relate it to East India Company operations in colonial Bengal. Our model and the historical record stress two difficulties: the exporter and its agents might not uphold payment agreements, and producers might not honor sales contracts. The model shows when procurement succeeds or fails, highlighting the tension between these two hold-up problems. We analyze several cases including the East India Company's cotton textile venture, the famous Opium Monopoly, and present-day contract farming.
Optimizing the design of piezoelectric polymer ultrasound transducers

The active area of a piezoelectric polymer resonator is an important criterion for transducer operating frequency, bandwidth and insertion loss. Much work has been carried out in selecting the resonator thickness, area, backing and matching layers for optimizing transducer efficiency and bandwidth using piezo-ceramic materials. For these materials, efficiency and bandwidth can be greatly enhanced by electrically tuning the piezo-ceramic element to a pulser-receiver and acoustically matching the element to its front and rear acoustic loads. The piezoelectric polymers, with weak piezoelectric properties, high internal losses, low mechanical quality factor and very low acoustic impedance, yield maximum bandwidth when left untuned. In this work, theoretical derivations are reported for optimizing the active area of the untuned piezoelectric polymer element for maximum power transfer at resonance.
Special Report: Suicidal Ideation Among American Surgeons

Background Suicide is a disproportionate cause of death for US physicians. The prevalence of suicidal ideation (SI) among surgeons and their use of mental health resources are unknown. Study Design Members of the American College of Surgeons were sent an anonymous cross-sectional survey in June 2008. The survey included questions regarding SI and use of mental health resources, a validated depression screening tool, and standardized assessments of burnout and quality of life. Results Of 7905 participating surgeons (response rate, 31.7%), 501 (6.3%) reported SI during the previous 12 months. Among individuals 45 years and older, SI was 1.5 to 3.0 times more common among surgeons than the general population ( P P P Conclusions Although 1 of 16 surgeons reported SI in the previous year, few sought psychiatric or psychologic help. Recent SI among surgeons was strongly related to symptoms of depression and a surgeon's degree of burnout. Studies are needed to determine how to reduce SI among surgeons and how to eliminate barriers to their use of mental health resources.
Effect of preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction on endothelial progenitor cells in human umbilical cord blood

Objectives: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) might play important roles in vascular homeostasis. This study evaluated the influence of prematurity, preeclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) on the EPC population in human umbilical cord blood (CB). Methods: CB was obtained from 19 preterm and 27 term deliveries. Mononuclear cells were isolated by gradient centrifugation and subjected to flow cytometry to obtain percentages of CD45(d) CD34+, CD45(d) CD133+, CD 45(d) CD34+ CD133+, and CD45(d) CD34+ CD133+ VEGFR-2+ cells. Clinical data were obtained using chart review. Results: Percentages of EPCs were comparable between preterm and term cord blood. CD45(d) CD34+ CD133+ cells were significantly decreased in CB samples obtained from women with PE (n = 14) [0.01, (0.00–2.6), [median, (range)], as compared to those without PE (n = 32) [1.74 (0.00–3.1)] (p = 0.005). CD45(d) CD133+ CD34− cells were significantly increased in presence of PE [0.43, (0.06–1.38)], (p = 0.002). CD45(d) CD34+ CD133...
Belowground herbivory in red pine stands initiates a cascade that increases abundance of Lyme disease vectors

There is increasing recognition that infectious disease patterns are often driven by complex underlying ecological processes. In red pine plantations in the Great Lakes region of North America, feeding by rhizophagous insects triggers a cascade that ultimately results in higher densities of blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis, which are the primary vector of the Lyme disease pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi. We sampled 31 plantations in Wisconsin, USA, that were diseased or asymptomatic for a previously described tree mortality syndrome that originates with root infestation. Understory vegetation was greater in diseased stands, as were the proportion of samples containing ticks and the number of ticks per sample. Infection rates with B. burgdorferi were consistent. Tick densities were identical between declining and healthy portions of symptomatic stands, suggesting stand-level factors are responsible, consistent with mammal movement. These results suggest that forest management practices that affect the dynamics of belowground food webs may have implications for human health.
Rapid separation and purification of uranium and plutonium from dilute-matrix samples

This work describes a streamlined approach to the separation and purification of trace uranium and plutonium in environmental swipe samples that contain a small amount of collected bulk material. We describe key modifications to conventional techniques that result in a relatively rapid, safe, cost-effective, and efficient U and Pu separation process. Simulated samples were produced by loading appropriate 235U, 238U, and 240Pu onto high purity cotton swipes. Uranium concentration and isotopic composition were measured by multi-collector inductively coupled mass spectrometry. Corresponding plutonium measurements were conducted with a three stage thermal ionization mass spectrometer. Quantitative U and Pu recoveries were observed with this method.
Heaviside revisited: Distortionless signal transmission through lossy media with application to precision clock synchronization

Abstract A recently discovered non-sinusoidal, non-periodic electrical signal in the form of an exponentially rising pulse achieves distortionless propagation at constant velocity through lossy, passive transmission media. This unique property is derived theoretically in the framework of the telegrapher's equation analyzed by Heaviside and confirmed experimentally in propagation of such a pulse along serially connected sections of telephone cable. The utility of the distortion-free pulse within the field of time-domain reflectometry is demonstrated in precise time-of-flight measurement of the reflected signal, with the prospect of enhancing the accuracy of protocols for synchronization of spatially separated clocks.
A context-intensive approach to imputation of missing values in data sets from networks of environmental monitors.

ABSTRACTAlthough networks of environmental monitors are constantly improving through advances in technology and management, instances of missing data still occur. Many methods of imputing values for missing data are available, but they are often difficult to use or produce unsatisfactory results. I-Bot (short for “Imputation Robot”) is a context-intensive approach to the imputation of missing data in data sets from networks of environmental monitors. I-Bot is easy to use and routinely produces imputed values that are highly reliable. I-Bot is described and demonstrated using more than 10 years of California data for daily maximum 8-hr ozone, 24-hr PM2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm), mid-day average surface temperature, and mid-day average wind speed. I-Bot performance is evaluated by imputing values for observed data as if they were missing, and then comparing the imputed values with the observed values. In many cases, I-Bot is able to impute values for long periods with missi...
Low Voltage Point Projection Microscopy and Time of Flight Stm - Two New Microscopies

The design of a low voltage point-projection field-emission transmission electron microscope is described and images showing 0.7nm resolution at 100 volts are given. A scheme for low voltage reflection electron holography from bulk samples in UHV is outlined. A new STM is described which allows atomic clusters to be transferred onto the tip, then introduced into a time-of-flight analyser for species identification.
Use of Crowdsourcing to Assess the Ecological Validity of Perceptual-Training Paradigms in Dysarthria

Purpose It has been documented in laboratory settings that familiarizing listeners with dysarthric speech improves intelligibility of that speech. If these findings can be replicated in real-world ...
Epidemiological Analysis of Mumps in Binchuan County from 2005 to 2012

Objective:To analyze the incidence reports of epidemic parotitis(abbreviated name mumps) in Binchuan County from 2005 to 2012, and provide scientific basis for prevention and control work. Methods:Descriptive epidemiological method and statistical analysis were applied on mumps cases investigation in Binchuan County from 2005 to 2012. Results:There were 670 cases in Binchuan reported with mumps from 2005 to 2012, no death case. The average annual incidence rate was 15.98 per 100 thousand,the onset seasons were mainly concentrated in November and December, and the patients were mainly children aged from 3 to 15,occupational distribution was mainly on students and children in the kindergarten. Conclusion:There were perennial incidence of mumps in Binchuan, which happen mostly in November and December, the incidence of crowd of mumps were teenagers who are less than fifteen years old. It suggests that the prevention and control places of mumps are mainly in schools and nurseries.
The Merchant, the Clothier and the Market around mid-Century

In the summer of 1750, Samuel Lister, a merchant of Halifax, Yorkshire, wrote and received a series of letters regarding his nephew, William Fawcett. The young man, it seems, was inclining towards a future in trade and had written to Lister suggesting that he move out of London and set up as a merchant in West Yorkshire. Lister replied ‘that it would not be convenient, and that there were many better opportunities in London than anything here [P]erhaps the best scheme of all would be to set up a wholesale warehouse of our country goods in London’.1 The scheme that Samuel Lister proposed to his nephew never did get off the ground. Subsequent letters in the series reveal Lister’s increasing reluctance to enter into business with Fawcett given the latter’s modest capital and complete lack of experience in commerce (let alone the woollen trade). These concerns became increasingly apparent once Lister realized that he (and his brother Japhet) would have to be active partners in the warehouse instead of merely ‘friends’ in West Yorkshire on whom Fawcett could rely ‘to serve him faithfully and well with the best of goods and pennyworths’.2 For his part, Fawcett, perhaps realizing how much work was entailed in running a mercantile concern, quickly dropped the scheme and turned his attention to securing himself a commission in the army.3
How Close Are We to Understanding What (if Anything) γ Oscillations Do in Cortical Circuits

γ oscillations, which can be identified by rhythmic electrical signals ∼30-100 Hz, consist of interactions between excitatory and inhibitory neurons that result in rhythmic inhibition capable of entraining firing within local cortical circuits. Many possible mechanisms have been described through which γ oscillations could act on cortical circuits to modulate their responses to input, alter their patterns of activity, and/or enhance the efficacy of their outputs onto downstream targets. Recently, several studies have observed changes in behavior after optogenetically manipulating neocortical γ oscillations. Now, future studies should determine whether these manipulations elicit physiological correlates associated with specific mechanisms through which γ oscillations are hypothesized to modulate cortical circuit function. There are numerous such mechanisms, so identifying which ones are actually engaged by optogenetic manipulations known to affect behavior would help flesh out exactly how γ oscillations contribute to cortical circuit function under normal and/or pathological conditions.
Exploring the association between diabetes and breast cancer outcomes among Latinas.

221Background: In cancer patients, diabetes increases the risk for poor overall health and cancer-specific outcomes even death. Moreover, both breast cancer (BC) and diabetes are amongst the most common illnesses in Latinas, who have documented poorer outcomes for both diseases. This study examined the impact of co-occurring diabetes on patient outcomes in a sample of Latina breast cancer survivors (BCS). Methods: 137 Latina BCS were recruited from the California Cancer Registry, hospital cancer registries, and community agencies. BCS completed a self-report questionnaire consisting of items related to demographic and medical characteristics, including diagnoses of cancer and diabetes, and physical and functional outcomes. Results: Thirty nine (28%) BCS reported a co-occurring diagnosis of diabetes; this is over twice the rate in the general population. Diabetes was most prevalent among BCS 65 years and older with 43% reporting co-occuring diabetes. BCS with diabetes, controlling for age, were more likely...
Discovery of intrinsic ferromagnetism in two-dimensional van der Waals crystals

We report the experimental discovery of intrinsic ferromagnetism in Cr 2 Ge 2 Te 6 atomic layers by scanning magneto-optic Kerr microscopy. In this 2D van der Waals ferromagnet, unprecedented control of transition temperature is realized via small magnetic fields.
Diseases of connexins expressed in myelinating glia

Connexins are a family of integral membrane proteins most of which form gap junctions and many of which form hemichannels as well. Mutations in at least 9 of the 21 genes encoding human connexin proteins cause human diseases. Mutations in GJB1 (Cx32), expressed in both Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes, cause both a form of inherited peripheral neuropathy and a variety of CNS symptoms. Mutations in GJC2 (Cx47), expressed in oligodendrocytes cause three disorders: a severe early onset dysmyelinating disorder, Pelizaeus-Merzbacher-Like disease (PMLD1 or HLD2); hereditary spastic paraplegia (SPG44), which has a milder phenotype and later onset; and a subclinical leukodystrophy. The clinical phenotypes and genetics associated with each disorder will be reviewed, focusing on features which may provide clues to pathogenesis. In vitro and animal model data which may shed light on these phenotypes will then be discussed along with recent work which may impact on therapeutic approaches for these disorders.
Large‐scale fluid‐deposited mineralization in Margaritifer Terra, Mars

Mineral deposits precipitated from subsurface-sourced fluids are a key astrobiological detection target on Mars, due to the long-term viability of the subsurface as a habitat for life and the ability of precipitated minerals to preserve biosignatures. We report morphological and stratigraphic evidence for ridges along fractures in impact crater floors in Margaritifer Terra. Parallels with terrestrial analog environments and the regional context indicate that two observed ridge types are best explained by groundwater-emplaced cementation in the shallow subsurface and higher-temperature hydrothermal deposition at the surface, respectively. Both mechanisms have considerable astrobiological significance. Finally, we propose that morphologically similar ridges previously documented at the Mars 2020 landing site in NE Syrtis Major may have formed by similar mechanisms.
Self-Seeded Mid-Infrared Generation in Periodically-Poled Lithium Niobate Waveguides

We demonstrate a mid-infrared source, tunable from 4–5 μm, via cascaded-χ(2) supercontinuum generation and subsequent difference frequency generation (DFG) within a single lithium niobate waveguide.
Universal Prekindergarten, Fertility, and Maternal Health: A Difference-in-Regression-Discontinuities Design with Extrapolations

Prior research suggests that high quality prekindergarten (pre-K) programs can promote school readiness and generate lifetime benefits for children. However, very little is known about how pre-K programs affect other family members. In this study, I examine the effects of the New York City pre-K program on the health of low-income mothers, their healthcare utilization, fertility, and well-being, by linking Medicaid data to 2014 program participants, the year the universal pre-K program was launched in NYC. I use a difference-in-regression-discontinuities design that exploits both the introduction of universal pre-K and the birthdate cutoff for enrollment, in order to address potential bias from the steep development trajectory found in even small age ranges in early childhood, as well as potential preexisting confounding policies that use the same age cutoff to determine eligibility. I find no significant effects from having a child who was born just inside the eligibility cutoff, versus a child who was born just outside the eligibility cutoff, except a small negative effect on the likelihood of prescriptions for those without younger children. In addition, I extend the regression discontinuity design extrapolation methods, based on local derivatives and matching on observables, to the difference-in-regression-discontinuities framework, in order to estimate the average effects on the entire pre-K and non-pre-K population, a year on either side of the cutoff date. The extrapolation results differ little from those at the cutoff. Additional extrapolations done in small age ranges indicate that the effects of universal pre-K on mothers are heterogeneous by children’s date of birth.
Motivating Racial Diversity Efforts Through Executive Compensation

For decades, organizational scholars have been documenting the presence of racial discrimination in employment selection processes. This discrimination has persisted over time, creating a need for the research to move beyond simply validating evidence of discrimination and for researchers to start identifying potential solutions. In this study, we look beyond the diversity of the workforce and towards factors that influence this diversity. Building upon the business case for diversity, we use agency theory to hypothesize relationships between executive compensation structure and the racial diversity of firms’ workforces. These relationships are tested using compensation and workforce data for a sample of Fortune 500 firms. Contrary to our expectations, we found evidence of a negative relationship between firm equity compensation and diversity in the workforce, suggesting that ownership interests do not motivate CEOs to implement strategies for increasing racial diversity in the workforce. These effects we...