cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preferential segregation in Saccharomyces

In tetrad data obtained from the Carbondale yeast stock, instances of greater than 50% recombination occur far more frequently than would be expected by chance. In the main, genes exhibiting this effect are located in the vicinity of the centromeres. Difficulties in assigning linear order also persist throughout the total data for certain gene combinations. The affinity hypothesis suffices to account for these two effects; the former resulting from ‘divergent’ combinations of affinity sites in the zygote, the latter, representing nonlinear quasi-linkages resulting from ‘convergent’ combinations.Chromosome V (ur3-centromere-ch–hi1–is1–an) exhibits quasi-linkage with the gene th and reverse-linkage with the gene cu2, in Family 108. In each case ‘linkage’ is strongest with ch and becomes progressively weaker with the genes hi1, is1 and an, respectively, indicating that the preferentially segregating sites involved lie close to ch. It was impossible to determine whether the two sites were identical, as would be expected on an hypothesis of ‘polar’ rather than ‘mutual’ affinity.Intra-ascal matings within tetrads NPD for cu2–ch, yielded quasi-linkage for these genes in F2, showing that the attraction is retained by the sites being segregated.A second case of reverse linkage for cu1 and ar4 in Family 217, gave a similar effect—i.e. reverse linkage in F1, becoming quasi-linkage in the NPD—intra-ascal F2.An intra-ascal mating between members of the single PD tetrad for cu1 and ar4 in Family 217 indicated that this tetrad did not result from ‘chance’ failure of otherwise active sites to preferentially segregate.
Data-driven design of fuzzy system with relational input partition

An approach to data-driven linguistic modeling is presented. The methodology is based on a fuzzy system with relational input partition that allows for transparent modeling of linear dependencies between the inputs. An identification algorithm for this type of fuzzy system is proposed. It automatically finds the strongest dependencies from numerical data. An application example illustrates the usefulness of the proposed approach.
Optical collisions in an intense laser field

The collisionally broadened optical absorption cross section that is constant at low intensities is predicted to decrease at high intensities. The prediction is based on a nonlinear change of the effective interaction of the atom with the strong incident electromagnetic field and a distortion of the atomic interaction potential by it. An experiment is analyzed here that observes this falloff on the “wing” of the 460.73-nm strontium resonance line, collision broadened by an argon buffer gas. Qualitative agreement is reached between theory and experiment when the degeneracy of the levels is taken into account.
The Robustness and Efficiency of Monetary Policy Rules as Guidelines for Interest Rate Setting by the European Central Bank

Abstract This paper examines the implications of recent research on monetary policy rules for practical monetary policy making, with special emphasis on strategies for setting interest rates by the European Central Bank (ECB). The paper draws on recent research and new simulations of a large open economy model to assess the efficiency of a simple benchmark rule in comparison with other proposed rules. Further, it stresses new results on the robustness of monetary policy rules in which each rule that is optimal or good according to one model or researcher is tested for robustness by other researchers using different models. Because of the large increase in the number of economists focussing on econometric evaluation of monetary policy rules for the interest rate instrument and because of the parallel increase in the variety of models being developed for this purpose, much more evidence is becoming available on the robustness of simple monetary policy rules for the interest rate than ever before.
For the sake of others: reciprocal webs of obligation and the pursuit of transplantation as a caring act.

This article highlights reciprocal webs of care and moral obligations toward kin during transplantation, using an expansive notion of “care” to include both its obvious and more hidden forms. Evidence from 24 months of ethnographic fieldwork among transplant patients, their loved ones, and clinical personnel in the U.S. Midwest suggests that patients are simultaneously caregivers to others and are considered vital members of reciprocal webs of care without whom their kin networks could not effectively operate. Transplantation can become a person's main, perhaps only hope of fulfilling ongoing obligations to others, so pursuing a transplant becomes not a matter of choice, but rather a moral orientation. A potential implication of these findings is that rather quotidian and conventional (even if contested) notions of what kin ought to do and be for each other may be among the underpinnings of high-tech biomedical practices like transplantation.
Adaptive, best-effort delivery of live audio and video across packet-switched networks

We present an overview of a “best-effort” transport protocol that supports conferencing with digital audio and video across interconnected packet switched networks. The protocol delivers the highest quality conference service possible given the current load in the network. Quality is defined in terms of synchronization between audio and video, the number of frames played out of order, and the end-to-end latency in the conference. High quality conferences are realized through four transport and display mechanisms and a real-time implementation of these mechanisms that integrates operating system services (e.g., scheduling and resource allocation, and device management) with network communication services (e.g., transport protocols). In concert these mechanisms dynamically adapt the conference frame rate to the bandwidth available in the network, minimize the latency in the displayed streams while avoiding discontinuities, and provide quasi-reliable delivery of audio frames.
Electron Current From an RF Microdielectric Barrier Discharge

Nonarcing microdielectric barrier discharges (mDBDs) using radio-frequency excitation are attractive in that the arrays of devices can be inexpensively produced to generate surface sources of plasma or radicals. Images of the time evolution of electron extraction from an mDBD sustained in atmospheric-pressure N2 are presented.
Rheological behavior and constitutive equations of heterogeneous titanium-bearing molten slag

Experimental studies on the rheological properties of a CaO–SiO2–Al2O3–MgO–TiO2–(TiC) blast furnace (BF) slag system were conducted using a high-temperature rheometer to reveal the non-Newtonian behavior of heterogeneous titanium-bearing molten slag. By measuring the relationships among the viscosity, the shear stress and the shear rate of molten slags with different TiC contents at different temperatures, the rheological constitutive equations were established along with the rheological parameters; in addition, the non-Newtonian fluid types of the molten slags were determined. The results indicated that, with increasing TiC content, the viscosity of the molten slag tended to increase. If the TiC content was less than 2wt%, the molten slag exhibited the Newtonian fluid behavior when the temperature was higher than the critical viscosity temperature of the molten slag. In contrast, the molten slag exhibited the non-Newtonian pseudoplastic fluid characteristic and the shear thinning behavior when the temperature was less than the critical viscosity temperature. However, if the TiC content exceeded 4wt%, the molten slag produced the yield stress and exhibited the Bingham and plastic pseudoplastic fluid behaviors when the temperature was higher and lower than the critical viscosity temperature, respectively. When the TiC content increased further, the yield stress of the molten slag increased and the shear thinning phenomenon became more obvious.
Risk factors associated with senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type

Significant cognitive impairment affects approximately 15 percent of the U.S. population over age 65. The most prevalent form of irreversible dementia is senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type (SDAT), which accounts for at least 50 percent of nursing home admissions and roughly 10 billion dollars a year in health care costs. In spite of the social, economic, and medical impact of the disease, epidemiological data are scarce concerning risk factors associated with the disease. Until recently, most of the population-based studies of senile dementia in the elderly were carried out in Northern European countries. The methodological problems that arise in performing epidemiologic studies on SDAT may in part explain the lack of sufficient data pertaining to certain risk factors. This paper provides a review of the literature and research on risk factors in dementia in the elderly and discusses directions for future research. The epidemiological issues associated with certain key studies are also discussed. Although the major studies that have attempted to look at risk factors in mental illness in the elderly are beginning to fill in some of the gaps in the understanding of the etiology and epidemiology of the disease, further epidemiologic studies on both institutionalized and community-based elderly populations are needed. These should assess a wide range of possible factors (demographic, psychological, environmental, health practice, and medical) in terms of their association with SDAT. By developing a comprehensive epidemiologic profile of SDAT, possible preventive measures and therapeutic approaches to treating the disease may be identified and hypotheses for future epidemiological and laboratory investigations developed.
Synthesis and Characterization of a Redox-Active Bis(thiophenolato)amide Ligand, [SNS]3–, and the Homoleptic Tungsten Complexes, W[SNS]2 and W[ONO]2

A new tridentate redox-active ligand platform, derived from bis(2-mercapto-p-tolyl)amine, [SNScat]H3, has been prepared in high yields by a four-step procedure starting from commericially available bis(p-tolyl)amine. The redox-active pincer-type ligand has been coordinated to tungsten to afford the six-coordinate, homoleptic complex W[SNS]2. To benchmark the redox behavior of the [SNS] ligand, the analogous tungsten complex of the well-known redox-active bis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenolato)amide ligand, W[ONO]2, also has been prepared. Both complexes show two reversible reductions and two partially reversible oxidations. Structural, spectroscopic, and electrochemical data all indicate that W[ONO]2 is best described as a tungsten(VI) metal center coordinated to two [ONOcat]3– ligands. In contrast, experimental data suggests a higher degree of S→W π donation, giving the W[SNS]2 complex non-innocent electronic character that can be described as a tungsten(IV) metal center coordinated to two [SNSsq]2– ligands.
Adoptive Transfer of Tracer-Alloreactive CD4+ T Cell Receptor Transgenic T Cells Alters the Endogenous Immune Response to an Allograft

T cell receptor transgenic (TCR-Tg) T cells are often used as tracer populations of antigen-specific responses to extrapolate findings to endogenous T cells. The extent to which TCR-Tg T cells behave purely as tracer cells or modify the endogenous immune response is not clear. To test the impact of TCR-Tg T cell transfer on endogenous alloimmunity, recipient mice were seeded with CD4+ or CD8+ TCR-Tg or polyclonal T cells at the time of cardiac allograft transplantation. Only CD4+ TCR-Tg T cells accelerated rejection and, unexpectedly, led to a dose-dependent decrease in both transferred and endogenous T cells infiltrating the graft. In contrast, recipients of CD4+ TCR-Tg T cells exhibited enhanced endogenous donor-specific CD8+ T cell activation in the spleen and accelerated alloantibody production. Introduction of CD4+ TCR-Tg T cells also perturbed the intragraft accumulation of innate cell populations. Transferred CD4+ TCR-Tg T cells alter many aspects of endogenous alloimmunity, suggesting that caution should be used when interpreting experiments using these adoptively transferred cells because the overall nature of allograft rejection may be altered. These results also may have implications for adoptive CD4+ T cell immunotherapy in tumor and infectious clinical settings because cell infusion may have additional effects on natural immune responses.
Prospective Evaluation of the Effect of Thigh Dissection for Removal of Transobturator Mid Urethral Slings on Refractory Thigh Pain

Purpose: Transobturator slings have higher rates of de novo neurologic symptoms than retropubic slings, most commonly related to the thigh. Cases refractory to conservative management may require removal of the thigh portion of the sling. In this series we prospectively examine the effect of thigh dissection with mesh removal on refractory thigh pain.Materials and Methods: All thigh dissections for refractory neurologic symptoms after transobturator sling placement were followed prospectively from October 2012 to October 2015. Patients were assessed preoperatively, with a pain score using a visual analog scale, and postoperatively with a global response assessment.Results: A total of 12 thigh dissections were performed from October 2012 to October 2015 in 8 patients. Mean (±SD) time from original mesh placement to presentation was 2.7 (±1.5) years. Average preoperative pain score was 7.9 (±1.7) out of 10, with pain in the thigh in all patients. Seven cases involved unilateral thigh dissection and 1 had co...
Visual diagnosis: a 10-year-old boy with a persistent rash since birth.

1. Sanjeev Tuli, MD* 2. Sonal Tuli, MD* 1. *Associate Professor, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. A 10-year-old boy presents to the clinic with a lifelong history of a rash involving the face, extremities, trunk, palms, and soles. The patient was born to healthy parents and had an unremarkable prenatal and postnatal history. At 4 hours of age, he developed blotchy red patches on his trunk. The patches waxed and waned until the age of 1 year. At age 1 year, the rash was mostly persistent and consisted of numerous erythematous patches on his trunk and extremities. Subsequently, in addition to the erythematous rash, the patient developed fixed, scaly, brown patches on the trunk and thickening, reddening patches with sharply demarcated borders on the cheeks, extensor surfaces of forearms, and knees. The palms and soles also thickened over the years. Some of the skin lesions would worsen and resolve partially over time. His condition waxed and waned without complete resolution over the years, frequently worsening during hot weather. Further history is remarkable for the following characteristics: Before 8 years of age, he could produce sweat minimally. When cut, he does not bleed or scar easily. He removes his scaly, “dirty-looking” skin from his skin folds by lubrication with ammonium lactate 12% cream …
Management of Spinal Fractures

Vertebral column fractures in the polytraumatized patient represent a heterogeneous group of injuries that vary in both severity and complexity. The timely identification and treatment of patient with these injuries is of the utmost importance as a missed or delayed diagnosis may lead to neurologic deterioration that is often irreversible. The specific set of risks associated with caring for this subset of patients requires collaboration between specialists from multiple disciplines of medicine. As such, all providers treating these severely injured patients should be familiar with key principles used to stabilize, diagnosis, and ultimately treat these injuries.
Shock-wave equation-of-state measurements in fused silica up to 1600 GPa

The properties of silica are important to geophysical and high-pressure equation-of-state research. Its most-prevalent crystalline form, α-quartz, has been extensively studied to TPa pressures. This article presents Hugoniot measurements on amorphous silica, commonly referred to as fused silica, over a range from 200 to 1600 GPa using laser-driven shocks and an α-quartz standard. These results extend the measured Hugoniot of fused silica to higher pressures. In the 200- to 600-GPa range, the data are in very good agreement with those obtained by Qi et al. [Phys. Plasmas 22, 062706 (2015)] using magnetically driven aluminum impactors and aluminum as a standard material. A new shock velocity/particle velocity relation is derived to fit the experimental data.
Retroperitoneal anatomy during excision of pelvic side wall endometriosis

Surgical management of endometriosis has been shown to improve dysmenorrhea at all disease stages and is recommended in severe disease for treatment of infertility. Deeply infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) produces thick inflammatory tissue that precludes visualization of anatomical landmarks and distorts normal anatomy. Excision of DIE poses several technical and surgical challenges that mandate a clear understanding of the anatomy of the pelvic sidewall. This review details relevant surgical anatomy and addresses the principles of safe retroperitoneal entry, ureterolysis and excision of endometriotic lesions. Proper use of these techniques should facilitate safe and successful surgery for management of DIE.
Social Surrogate Use in Those Exposed to Trauma: I Get By with a Little Help from My (Fictional) Friends

Traumatic events bring an increased need for social connection but paradoxically can make relationships more difficult. The current research examines the unique role social surrogates such as favorite TV shows, books, and celebrities may play in fulfilling the social needs of people who have experienced trauma. Across two studies we predicted and found that experiencing traumatic events is associated with higher interest in using social surrogates. Furthermore, individuals who have experienced trauma without developing PTSD are able to effectively use social surrogates to combat social isolation. However, perhaps because PTSD symptoms often are associated with impaired social functioning, those with PTSD actually feel worse after social surrogate use. Implications for trauma, PTSD, social surrogates, and social self research are discussed.
Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia: Analysis of 279 Patients.

Background : Chronic myelomonocytice leukemia is characterized by peripheral blood/bone marrow monocytosis and variable degree of dysplasia. The World Health Organization classification includes it in a myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative disorder category. We have reported earlier on a predictive model (MDAPS) based on hemoglobin, presence of circulating immature cells, absolute lymphocyte count and blast percentage and this has been validated in prospective group (Beran,M. et al. Leuk Lymphoma.2007;48:1150). In recent times hypomethylating agents are reported to have activity in this disease. Five year estimated survival with stem cell transplant is in the 20% range. Patients and Method : We performed an analysis of 279 patients seen at MD Anderson Cancer Center between the years 1999–2007. We also included 26 (9%) patients who underwent SCT in the analysis. Patients were assigned a score according to the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) used for patients with myelodysplastic syndrome. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used for each variable. Log transformations were used for WBC, platelet counts, lactate dehydrogenase levels and absolute monocyte counts. Stepwise model selection was employed to fit a multivariable model. Results : Median age of patients is 68 years (range, 30–89), WBC count 14.5 x10 6 /ml (range, 1.7–99), hemoglobin 10.3 gm/dL (range, 5.9–16.4), platelet count 98 x10 6 /ml, beta 2 micrglobulin 4.1 mg/L (range, 1.2–20), absolute monocyte count 2.9 x10 6 /ml (range, 1–40.2). Median survival is 15.7 months [95% confidence interval (CI); 13.9–18.8]. In univariate analysis patients undergoing stem cell transplantation survived longer than the others (hazards ratio 0.59, 95% CI 0.3–0.9) (Fig.1). Survivals at 2 and 5 years were 40.5% (95% CI, 0.22–0.72) and 24.3 (95% CI, 0.1–0.6) respectively in patients undergoing transplant versus 34.3% (95% CI, 0.27–0.42) and 8.9% (95% CI, 0.05–0.17) for others. Additionally WBC, creatinine, LDH, absolute monocyte count, hemoglobin and platelet count were laboratory parameters significantly associated with survival (Table 1). Splenomegaly, higher IPSS score (1.5 and above) and poor-risk cytogenetics (−5 and or −7, 8 abnormality) predicted for worse survival. Multivariate analysis indicated that lower hemoglobin level and platelet count and higher absolute monocyte count predicted for worse survival. Further analysis including treatment as a variable is in progress. Conclusion: Survival of patients with CMML has not improved despite availability of agents with activity in this disease. SCT may improve outcome but larger number of patients is needed for definitive answer. Table 1. Univariate analysis
3D printed liner for treatment of periprosthetic joint infections

In the United States, long standing deep infections of joint arthroplasty, such as total knee and total hip replacements, are treated with two-stage exchange. This requires the removal of the prior implant, placement of an antibiotic eluting spacer block made of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), followed by re-implantation of a new implant after treatment with intravenous antibiotics for six to eight weeks. Unfortunately, the use of PMMA as a spacer material has limitations in terms of mechanical and drug-eluting properties. PMMA is brittle and elutes most of the antibiotics within the first few days. Furthermore, the polymerization reaction for PMMA is highly exothermic, thereby limiting the use to heat-stable antibiotics. We hypothesize that the use of a 3D printed polymeric liner made of polylactic acid (PLA) would overcome the limitations of PMMA because it is a stronger and a less brittle material than PMMA. Furthermore, the liner can also act as a controlled drug delivery vehicle by using built in reservoirs and a network of micro-channels as well as by incorporating antibiotics directly into the polymer during manufacturing stage. Finally, the liner can be 3D printed according to the anatomy of the patient and thereby has the potential to transform the manner in which periprosthetic joint infections are currently treated.
23.3 A 4.8Gb/s/pin 2Gb LPDDR4 SDRAM with sub-100µA self-refresh current for IoT applications

The internet of things (IoT) requires that more data are collected and processed by devices with faster response, but lower power consumption. In order to achieve these unprecedented requirements, a high-speed DRAM with low-power dissipation at standby and during low-frequency operation in a small footprint is necessary. In addition, a higher degree of reliability is expected for some applications: such as transportation and healthcare. One promising solution, on-chip error correction coding (ECC), has gained traction among memory companies [1] and is now required by the LPDDR4 standard for the first time [2]. In this paper, a 2Gb LPDDR4 that dissipates 75% less refresh current than a conventional LPDDR4 is presented. The proposed LPDDR4 exploits ECC to reduce refresh current, periodically activated voltage regulators to reduce standby power, and dual CA buffers to save the buffer current during low frequency operation. In addition, circuit designs for cell screen of DRAM with on-chip ECC, and for high-speed wafer test for known good die (KGD) - essential for small form factor devices using system-in-package (SiP) - are presented.
Africa-India Connections in Historical Perspectives: The Evolving Role of Higher Education in the Contemporary South-South Cooperation and Development Agenda

It is a well-established historical fact that Africa and India have cultivated continuous connections for thousands of years. Exchanges of commodities produced on each side of the Indian Ocean in specific political, administrative, and geographic spaces have constituted the guiding thread of these relations. In the modern and contemporary periods, these relations have been shaped through European colonial establishments and their legacies in both sides. Past policies of forced migration and resettlement for economic exploitation of the British colonies in Africa, especially East and Southern Africa, became determinants of the Africa-India relations. The anti-colonial and decolonization struggles in Asia in general and specifically in India and Africa throughout the 20th century created opportunities for a new Africa-India cooperation. In these new relations, formal education, especially higher education, have been playing a prominent role. The thrust of this paper is to analyze the important role of higher education in a South-South cooperation framework between India and Africa as a continent or individual countries. The fluctuating or declining patterns of the number of African students pursuing their education in India in the past decade or so are analyzed.
Anomaly detection in transportation networks using machine learning techniques

We develop a method to detect atypical traffic jams in the City of Boston. Our motivation is to detect these traffic jams which are often caused by some event (e.g., accident, lane closure, etc.) and enable the City to intervene before congestion spreads and adjacent roads are negatively affected. Using a traffic jam dataset provided by the City of Boston, we present a novel detection system for anomalous jam identification. We demonstrate its effectiveness by using it to identify traffic jams that cannot be explained by typical traffic patterns.
Three-dimensional printing CT-derived objects with controllable radiopacity.

PURPOSE The goal of this work was to develop phantoms for the optimization of pre-operative computed tomography (CT) scans of the prostate artery, which are used for embolization planning. METHODS Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) pellets were doped with barium sulfate and extruded into filaments suitable for 3D printing on a fused deposition modeling (FDM) printer. Cylinder phantoms were created to evaluate radiopacity as a function of doping percentage. Small-diameter tree phantoms were created to assess their composition and dimensional accuracy. A half-pelvis phantom was created using clinical CT images, to assess the printer's control over cortical bone thickness and cancellous bone attenuation. CT-derived prostate artery phantoms were created to simulate complex, contrast-filled arteries. RESULTS A linear relationship (R = 0.998) was observed between barium sulfate added (0%-10% by weight), and radiopacity (-31 to 1454 Hounsfield Units [HU]). Micro-CT scans showed even distribution of the particles, with air pockets comprising 0.36% by volume. The small vessels were found to be oversized by a consistent amount of 0.08 mm. Micro-CT scans revealed that the phantoms' interiors were completely filled in. The maximum HU values of cortical bone in the phantom were lower than that of the filament, a result of CT image reconstruction. Creation of cancellous bone regions with lower HU values, using the printer's infill parameter, was successful. Direct volume renderings of the pelvis and prostate artery were similar to the clinical CT, with the exception that the surfaces of the phantom objects were not as smooth. CONCLUSIONS It is possible to reliably create FDM 3D printer filaments with predictable radiopacity in a wide range of attenuation values, which can be used to print dimensionally accurate radiopaque objects derived from CT data. Phantoms of this type can be quickly and inexpensively developed to assess and optimize CT protocols for specific clinical applications.
Tumors of the Central Nervous System: Anatomy and Interventional Considerations

Abstract Considered one of the deadliest forms of cancer, central nervous system (CNS) tumors are a diverse set of pathologic entities that manifest in different forms and regions of the brain and spinal cord. This chapter will (1) introduce the reader to the gross anatomy of the CNS and its spatial relationships; (2) examine CNS tumors in regards to their origins, classifications, and locations within the CNS; (3) describe current and alternative therapeutic methods that are commonly used or have been tested; and (4) briefly discuss the role of nanoparticles and their applications with regard to CNS tumors. By the end of this chapter, the reader will have gained a better understanding of the behavior of CNS tumors vis a vis their anatomical location in the CNS.
Genetic algorithm enhanced by machine learning in dynamic aperture optimization

With the aid of machine learning techniques, the genetic algorithm has been enhanced and applied to the multi-objective optimization problem presented by the dynamic aperture of the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) Storage Ring. During the evolution processes employed by the genetic algorithm, the population is classified into different clusters in the search space. The clusters with top average fitness are given ``elite'' status. Intervention on the population is implemented by repopulating some potentially competitive candidates based on the experience learned from the accumulated data. These candidates replace randomly selected candidates among the original data pool. The average fitness of the population is therefore improved while diversity is not lost. Maintaining diversity ensures that the optimization is global rather than local. The quality of the population increases and produces more competitive descendants accelerating the evolution process significantly. When identifying the distribution of optimal candidates, they appear to be located in isolated islands within the search space. Some of these optimal candidates have been experimentally confirmed at the NSLS-II storage ring. The machine learning techniques that exploit the genetic algorithm can also be used in other population-based optimization problems such as particle swarm algorithm.
Four papers on agricultural finance and adoption of biotechnology

65 Introduction 65 Literature Review 67 Part 1. False Labeling 77 Part 2. Effects of Uncertainty 109 Conclusions 125 References 127 Appendix A 131 Appendix B 133 CHAPTER 6. GENERAL SUMMARY 135
MDCT Screening for Lung Cancer: Current Controversies

10.1 Lung Cancer: The Opportunity for Screening 145 10.2 Prevention of Lung Cancer 145 10.3 Criticisms of Lung Cancer Screening 146 10.4 MDCT and Lung Cancer Screening 147 10.5 Low-Dose CT Screening Program 147 10.6 CT Scanning Parameters 147 10.7 MDCT Imaging Findings 148 10.8 Interpretation of Screening CT 150 10.9 Algorithms for Follow-up 151 10.10 Patient Expectations 151 10.11 Current Status 151 10.12 Current Controversies 152 10.13 Conclusion 153 References 153
Techniques for Microsurgical Fertilization

During the past two years, pregnancies have been reported following the use of two microsurgical fertilization techniques: Partial Zona Dissection (PZD) and Subzonal Insertion (SI or MIST for microinsemination sperm transfer) (Cohen et al, 1988; Ng et al, 1988). To date, 25 pregnancies have been established with 12 healthy babies born from the application of PZD in 7 clinics worldwide. The pregnancy and birth rates from SI are not definite, although at least four pregnancies and one birth have been reported (Ng et al, 1990; Fishel et al, 1990).
Logic and Rhetoric in Legal Argumentation: Some Medieval Perspectives

While the formal treatment of arguments in the late medieval modi arguendi owes much to dialectic, this does not remove the substance and function of the argumentative modes discussed from the realm of rhetoric. These works, designed to teach law students skills in legal argumentation, remain importantly focused on persuasive features of argumentation which have traditionally been strongly associated with a rhetorical approach, particularly in efforts to differentiate from it dialectic as a more strictly scientific and logical form of reasoning. This also sheds some light on the relative roles logic and rhetoric play in the legal discourse of our own time. In their approach to persuasive legal discourse, the modi arguendi stand between the argumentative rhetorics of Antiquity and the rhetoricized dialectics of the Renaissance, and by linking the minute technicalities of professionalized law with broad general considerations of justice, utility, nature, and emotion, they mediate between the modem trend towards atomized field-specific rhetorics and the classical idea of a unified civic rhetoric.
Role for animal research in the investigation of human mental retardation

Animal models of the cognitive deficiency states of mental retardation per se are underutilized. A general learning impairment model and a reasoning/insight model, both in rats, were reviewed for parallels to theories of human cognitive deficiency. Predictions were made for the relevance to human mental retardation. Although the parallel development of human mental deficiency research and animal cognition research has precluded substantial benefits at this time, a wider reading of the animal literature by human mental retardation researchers would benefit both animal cognition research and human mental retardation research.
Phthalocyanines as a π–π Adsorption Strategy to Immobilize Catalyst on Carbon for Electrochemical Synthesis

In most electrochemical syntheses, reactions are happening at or near the electrode surface. For catalyzed reactions, ideally, the electrode surface would solely contain the catalyst, which then simplifies purification and lowers the amount of catalyst needed. Here, a new strategy involving phthalocyanines (Pc) to immobilize catalysts onto carbon electrode surfaces is presented. The large π structure of the Pc enables adsorption to the sp2-structure of graphitic carbon. TEMPO-modified Pc were chosen as a proof of concept to test the new immobilization strategy. It was found that the TEMPO-Pc derivatives functioned similarly or better than the widely used pyrene adsorption method. Interestingly, the new TEMPO-Pc catalyst appears to facilitate a cascade reaction involving both the anode and the cathode. The first step is the generation of an aryl aldehyde (anode) followed by the reduction of the aryl aldehyde in a pinacol-type coupling reaction at the cathode. The last step is the oxidation of a hydrobenzoin to create benzil. This work demonstrates the unique ability of electrochemistry and bifunctional catalysts to enable multistep chemical transformations, performing both reductive and oxidative transformations in one pot.
Robotic ventral hernia repair in octogenarians: perioperative and long-term outcomes

Very few studies have documented perioperative outcomes of ventral hernia repair in octogenarians. The aim of this study is to report the perioperative and the long-term outcomes of robotic ventral hernia repair (RVHR) in aged 80–89 years patients. From a prospectively maintained database, aged 80–89 years patients who underwent robotic procedures between 2013 and 2018 were analyzed retrospectively including perioperative outcomes and long-term follow-up. Complications were assessed with validated grading systems and index. 21 octogenarians with average age 83.48 were included. Intraperitoneal onlay mesh repair, transabdominal preperitoneal repair, retromuscular repair with or without transversus abdominis release technique were performed without conversion. The average operating time was 150 min. The mean hospital length of stay of all cohorts was 1.24 day. There was a strong correlation between operating time and hospital length of stay. The median follow-up was 23.5 months. According to Clavien–Dindo classification, grade-I and grade-II complications were observed in 23.8% and 28.6% patients, respectively; major complications (grade-III and IV) were not observed. The maximum Comprehensive Complication Index® score was 29.6. None of the patients experienced hernia recurrence or chronic pain. To our best knowledge this study is the first to present perioperative as well as long-term outcomes of octogenarian patients who underwent RVHR. The results indicate the safety and efficacy of RVHR in octogenarians.
Zeros of approximations to the zeta function

Let N be real, N≧5, write s = σ+it, and put $$U_N (s) = \sum\limits_{n \leqq N} {n^{ - s} .}$$
Disorders of glycoprotein degradation: sialidosis, fucosidosis, α-mannosidosis, β-mannosidosis, and aspartylglycosaminuria

This chapter focuses on lysosomal diseases caused by mutations in genes coding for certain lysosomal hydrolase enzymes, in particular, sialidosis, fucosidosis, α-mannosidosis, β-mannosidosis, and aspartylglycosaminuria. The chapter discusses glycoproteins, their structure and degradation, and the diseases resulting from mutations affecting their degradative enzymes. The various lysosomal hydrolases involved are discussed, in particular sialidase, fucosidase, α-mannosidase, β-mannosidosis, and aspartylglucosaminidase. The clinical phenotypes resulting from damage to these enzymes are discussed in some detail along with diagnostic tests required, and the nature and structure of the stored substrates. The rapidly increasing number of mutations is discussed, along with their worldwide distribution. For example, over 250 mutations of α-mannosidase have been reported. Therapy of these disorders is challenging but there have been some successes, and these are discussed. The chapter has been updated and new references added. Thirteen of the 55 references are new, four of them from 2013 and 2014. The work will be useful for a wide variety of readers, including clinicians, biochemists, molecular geneticists and epidemiologists.
Using correspondence analysis to evaluate consumer terminology and understand the effects of smoking method and type of wood on the sensory perception of smoked meat

It has been established that consumers are capable of hedonic judgments, but their role beyond hedonics continues to be debated. Many novel methodologies, such as sorting, word association, napping, flash profiling, and so forth, have been extensively developed and used in the past few decades to describe, differentiate, and classify products while gathering consumer terminology, using untrained or semi‐trained assessors to meet cost and time commitments. This study was designed to provide another way to document consumer perceptions using their own terminology and explore analysis options by assessing “open‐ended” responses. A total of 149 consumers from the Kansas City area evaluated smoked pork prepared using electric and offset smokers and four wood types (apple, oak, hickory, and mesquite). The prompted terms provided information about the attributes that drive consumers' likes and dislikes using their own language. Correspondence analysis was used to obtain a plot of the samples based on consumers' descriptions. Open‐ended questions highlighted textural attributes as a chief modality, driving consumers' “tasty” perception, backed by 9‐point liking data. Offset smoked pork was liked more by consumers than pork smoked using an electric smoker. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Findings from this study contribute to methodology understanding, applicability, and further developments when collecting consumer terminology to assess sensory differentiation among products. The use of open‐ended questions as a stand‐alone method for terminology generation has been highlighted in this experiment. Additionally, consumer terminology was generated to uncover the key attributes of a product. In this case, we used the famous Kansas City‐style barbeque as an example that could help pit masters, food developers, chefs, and others working in the hospitality/culinary or restaurant industry perfect their classic recipes using consumer friendly terms.
The development of the United States and Canada: Waferboard, oriented strand board, and medium density fiberboard The year 1984

A dramatic change is taking palce in the United States and Canadian structural panel and medium density fiberboard field. Changes in raw material supply, the increased shipping costs that have come about over the past 10 years, and technological improvements now favor the production of waterboard and oriented strand board, over that of softwood plywood. Medium density fiberboard probably will slowly supplant the conventional shavings-type particleboard as the supply of shavings dwindles. Most of the composition board products are moving as well into newer product lines such as siding and concrete form. This is in direct competition with plywood, hardboard, and other previously used materials. Research is also preparing the way for the possible production of lumber or lumber-type composition board products.
Contingency Model Predictive Control for Linear Time-Varying Systems.

We present Contingency Model Predictive Control (CMPC), a motion planning and control framework that optimizes performance objectives while simultaneously maintaining a contingency plan -- an alternate trajectory that avoids a potential hazard. By preserving the existence of a feasible avoidance trajectory, CMPC anticipates emergency and keeps the controlled system in a safe state that is selectively robust to the identified hazard. We accomplish this by adding an additional prediction horizon in parallel to the typical Model Predictive Control (MPC) horizon. This extra horizon is constrained to guarantee safety from the contingent threat and is coupled to the nominal horizon at its first command. Thus, the two horizons negotiate to compute commands that are both optimized for performance and robust to the contingent event. This article presents a linear formulation for CMPC, illustrates its key features on a toy problem, and then demonstrates its efficacy experimentally on a full-size automated road vehicle that encounters a realistic pop-out obstacle. Contingency MPC approaches potential emergencies with safe, intuitive, and interpretable behavior that balances conservatism with incentive for high performance operation.
Externalities in a second-best environment

This chapter presents a discussion on the externalities in a second-best environment. In a second-best environment, even the simplest externalities may require highly complex forms of government intervention. The chapter illustrates this fact with an example of providing a Samuelsonian nonexclusive consumption good in a many-person economy made second-best because the government does not have the ability to tax and transfer lump-sum to achieve the first-best interpersonal equity conditions. A natural way to pose a second-best problem is to let the government freely choose the quantity of the nonexclusive good but constrain it to finance the good with distorting unit commodity taxes. This implicitly precludes lump-sum redistributions to satisfy the first-best interpersonal equity conditions by equalizing marginal social utilities of income. The chapter presents models that illustrates that the combination of voluntary bargaining, individual rationality, and private information is unlikely to produce pareto-efficient outcomes for bargained solutions to market failures.
Role, Structure, and Function of Multidrug Efflux Pumps in Gram-Negative Bacteria

Genomes of gram-negative bacteria usually contain multiple copies of genes belonging to each of the families of multidrug transporters, such as SMR (small multidrug resistance), MFS (major facilitator superfamily), MATE (multidrug and toxic compound extrusion), and RND (resistance nodulation division). Due to the predominant role RND pumps play in the resistance (both intrinsic and acquired) to commonly used antibiotics, this chapter discusses the pumps of this type in detail; however, the discussion is limited to E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as representative organisms. For soil and water dwellers, it is difficult to pinpoint the “natural” substrate for their main efflux pumps. However, gram-negative bacteria have always faced toxic chemicals in the environment, and outer membrane (OM) cannot completely shut out lipophilic compounds, which can diffuse, albeit slowly, across the asymmetric bilayer of OM. Living in a natural habitat surrounded by high concentrations of bile salts and other antimicrobial inhibitors such as fatty acids, E. coli cells are armed with the OM as well as a wide range of efflux pumps. In E. coli, acrR, which is divergently transcribed from the acrAB genes, encodes a repressor. Perhaps because the inactivation of AcrR results in a too high level of production of AcrAB, it seems to serve only a subsidiary role in the regulation of AcrAB expression.
White bias in 3-7 year-old children across cultures

In three studies we report data confirming and extending the finding of a tendency toward a White preference bias by young children of various ethnic backgrounds. European American preschoolers who identify with a White doll also prefer it to a Black doll. In contrast, same age African American children who identify with a Black doll do not show a significant preference for it over a White doll. These results are comparable in African American children attending either a racially mixed (heterogeneous), or an Afro-centric, all African American (homogenous) preschool. These results show the persistence of an observation that contributed to school de-segregation in the United States. Results also reveal a lack of congruence between skin color identity and preference is not limited to African Americans. There is a comparable, if not stronger White preference bias in five to seven-year-old Polynesian and Melanesian children tested in their native island nations. Using a modified procedure controlling for binary forced choice biases, we confirm these findings with second generation American children of Indian descent showing clear signs of a White (lighter skin preference) bias. These results are consistent with the idea that during the preschool years children are sensitive and attracted to signs of higher social status that, for historical reasons and across cultures, tends to be associated with lighter skin color.
Anomalous seismic structure beneath the Klyuchevskoy Group, Kamchatka

[1] The Klyuchevskoy Group is among the most active volcanic features on Earth, yet its position within the Kamchatka subduction zone is hard to explain with a simple tectonic mechanism. The geochemistry of Klyuchevskoy Group lavas is typical for volcanic products resulting from flux melting in the mantle wedge, yet the depth to the subducting Pacific plate beneath it is much larger than the average depth of volatile release in subduction zones. We present new seismological constraints on the upper mantle structure beneath the Klyuchevskoy Group and identify a planar dipping seismic feature in the mantle wedge which is ∼100 km deep and appears to be sharply bounded. We hypothesize that this upper mantle structure may be the true source of melts erupting at the Klyuchevskoy Group, and that the presence of this feature may explain both the extraordinary productivity of the Klyuchevskoy Group and its unusual location.