cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analytical Solutions of TCE Transport with Convergent Reactions

In this paper, we present analytical solutions for reactive transport with convergent reactions using the singular value decomposition approach. We consider a reaction network in which a compound reacts to form multiple daughter products, which further react to a single granddaughter. This reaction scheme is illustrated by the dechlorination of trichloroethylene (TCE), which reacts to form three daughter products, cis-dichloroethylene (cis-DCE), trans-dichloroethylene (trans-DCE), and 1,1-dichloroethylene (1,1-DCE). All three of these daughter products will further react to produce the same granddaughter, vinyl chloride (VC). In achieving the analytical solution, all reactions are assumed to be first-order. Because the partial differential equation describing the final product (granddaughter) concentration, is coupled by the three daughter concentrations, previously published methods for decoupling partial differential equations are not applicable. Instead, we conduct the singular value decomposition process analytically and transform the system of transport equations with convergent reactions into orthogonal (independent) equations, for which analytical solutions are available. The solutions derived in this manuscript are then compared with numerical solutions and the performance of the reactive transport system is analyzed.
Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda L.)

Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) is the leading commercial timber species in the southern United States. Carolus Linnaeus gave loblolly pine its scientific name, Pinus taeda, over 225 years ago. Taeda is the ancient name for resinous pines. It comes from the Latin, meaning torch. In Roman times, taeda was applied to several of the hard, pitchy pines (Wahlenberg 1960).
Approximate One-Sided Tolerance Limits for the Difference or Sum of Two Independent Normal Variates

(This paper was presented at the Journal of Quality Technology Session of the 27th Annual Fall Technical Conference of the Chemical and Process Industries Division of the American Society for Quality Control and the Section on Physical and Engineering S..
An Opportunity Structure for Terrorism: Moderate Leadership Departures in Nationalist Movements

Why does terrorist violence escalate from some ethnic groups but not others? According to theoretical insights, many groups endure conditions that should spur on terrorist campaigns, but in reality...
Wetting metamorphosis of hydrophobic fluoropolymer coatings submerged in water and ultrasonically vibrated

Many important processes—from the manufacturing of integrated circuit boards to an insect’s ability to walk on water—depend on the wetting of liquids on surfaces. Wetting is commonly controlled through material selection, coatings, and/or surface texture. However, wetting is sensitive to environmental conditions. In particular, some hydrophobic fluoropolymer coatings are sensitive to extended water exposure as evidenced by a declining contact angle and increasing contact angle hysteresis. Understanding “degradation” of these coatings is critical to applications that deploy them. The durability of a series of fluoropolymer coatings was tested by measuring the water contact angle before, during, and after extended submersion of coated glass slides in a deionized water bath. Vibration was introduced as a potential method for expediting the effects of long-term water exposure, so similar measurements were taken before, during, and after the same coatings were subject to ultrasonic vibration while covered in deionized water. Both methods caused changes in advancing and receding contact angles, but degradation rates of vibrated coatings were significantly increased. Prolonged soaking caused significant decreases in the contact angle of most of the samples, though most experienced significant recovery of hydrophobicity when heat-treated at 160°C after submersion. Some coatings appeared noticeably more resistant to degradation by one or both methods. FluoroSyl showed no clear change under submersion, while other coatings experienced significant contact angle change. Degradation of vibrated coatings was also inconsistent among coatings and was not simply an acceleration of the degradation resulting from submerging coatings in water. This was apparent as some coatings were affected by one method but not the other. Atomic force microscopy was utilized to characterize the surface roughness of the coatings and revealed differing surface effects for different coatings after submersion and heat treatment. However, the magnitude of this roughness change was insufficient to fully explain the wetting changes. The rate of contact angle degradation was not altered significantly for coatings that were vibrated with acceleration magnitudes between 700 and 7000 g.
Political conservatism and the exploitation of nonhuman animals: An application of system justification theory:

Many people in Western societies tolerate the mistreatment of nonhuman animals, despite obvious ethical concerns about the injustice of animal suffering and exploitation. In three studies, we appli...
Trends in cancer mortality among people with vs without diabetes in the USA, 1988-2015.

Cancer-related death is higher among people with vs without diabetes. However, it is not known if this excess risk has changed over time or what types of cancer may be driving these changes. To estimate rates of site-specific cancer mortality in adults with vs without self-reported diagnosed diabetes, we used data from adults aged ≥18 years at the time of the interview who participated in the 1985—2012 National Health Interview Survey. Participants’ data were linked to the National Death Index by the National Center for Health Statistics to determine vital status and cause of death through to the end of 2015. Cancer deaths were classified according to underlying cause of death. Death rates for five time periods (1988–1994, 1995–1999, 2000–2004, 2005–2009, 2010–2015) were estimated using discrete Poisson regression models adjusted for age, sex and race/ethnicity with p for linear trend reported (ptrend). Site-specific cancer mortality rates were stratified by diabetes status and period, and total cancer mortality rates were additionally stratified by sex, race/ethnicity, education and BMI status. Among adults with diabetes, age-adjusted cancer mortality rates (per 10,000 person-years) declined 25.5% from 39.1 (95% CI 30.1, 50.8) in 1988–1994 to 29.7 (26.6, 33.1) in 2010–2015, ptrend < 0.001. Among adults without diabetes, rates declined 25.2% from 30.9 (28.6, 33.4) in 1988–1994 to 23.2 (22.1, 24.2) in 2010–2015, ptrend < 0.01. Adults with diabetes remained approximately 30% more likely to die from cancer than people without diabetes, and this excess risk did not improve over time. In adults with diabetes, cancer mortality rates did not decline in some population subgroups (including black people, people with lower levels of education and obese people), and the excess risk increased for obese adults with vs without diabetes. Declines in total cancer mortality rates in adults with diabetes appear to be driven by large relative declines in cancers of the pancreas (55%) and breast (65%), while for lung cancer, declines are modest (7%). Declines in cancer mortality rates were observed in adults with and without diabetes. However, adults with diabetes continue to be more likely to die from cancer than people without diabetes. This study highlights the continued need for greater cancer risk-factor mitigation, especially in adults with diabetes.
Synthesis and future directions

Abstract We began this project with the idea that this book would serve not only as a roadmap for where research on postpartum mood and anxiety disorders has been but also as a guide for where research in this critical area needs to go. After reading and editing all the chapters in this volume, we realized that a number of themes have emerged. This chapter summarizes these themes and discusses future directions of research.
Maternal cardiovascular complications at the time of delivery and subsequent re-hospitalization in the USA, 2010-16.

AIMS Cardiovascular (CV) complications are the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. The objective was to estimate trends in the incidence of peripartum CV complications in the USA between 2010 and 2016. METHODS AND RESULTS This was a retrospective analyses using data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. We included women with delivery codes consistent with delivery, weighted to a national estimate. The primary outcome was the age-adjusted incidence of CV complications among all deliveries, including complications that occurred during re-hospitalizations. Complications were identified using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. Joinpoint regression was used to evaluate time trends and complications were stratified by type. The secondary outcome was in-hospital maternal death among women with a CV complication. We identified a weighted estimate of 27 408 652 women hospitalized for delivery from 2010 to 2016. Including all years, the complication incidence was 7.36/1000 births [95% confidence interval (CI) 7.18-7.54], with an estimated annual percentage change of 5.8% (95% CI 3.7-7.8%). Cardiac dysrhythmia was the most common complication [3.98/1000 births (95% CI 3.88-4.08)] and acute myocardial infarction was the least common complication [0.11/1000 births (95% CI 0.10-0.11)]. The incidence of hypertension, acute myocardial infarction, and cardiac arrest increased over time, the incidence of congestive heart failure and acute cerebrovascular disease remained stable, the incidence of pulmonary heart disease increased from 2015 onward, and the incidence of cardiac dysrhythmia decreased in 2016. Complications during re-hospitalization accounted for 13.6% (95% CI 13.2-14.1%) of all complications and was highest for acute myocardial infarction [28.1% (95% CI 23.2-33.1)]. Among women with any complication, the mortality rate was 1.20 (95% CI 1.11-1.29) per 100 complications. CONCLUSION Our analyses suggest the rate of peripartum CV complications are increasing in the USA, which highlights the need for active efforts in research and prevention.
A simulation-based selection process for trying to identify medical students who will become outstanding general surgery residents.

Abstract Background Selecting the right applicants for general surgery training is critical and difficult. We refined our selection process by using a pre-interview preparation package and simulation-based assessments. Methods Sixty applicants invited for categorical general-surgery residency interview were mailed an educational package which included a link to instructional videos, surgical instruments and low-cost models for suturing, open knot tying, and adrenal anatomy knowledge. During the interview day, applicants participated in a 48-min simulation-based assessment consisting of same tasks included in the package. Performance scores were used to assist in ranking applicants. The matched 2018class was compared to our previous intern classes on several objective assessments (Surgical-Olympics and ABSITE score). Results Students scored >50tile moved high in our final rank-list. The 2018 class scored significantly higher in 10 of 15 Surgical-Olympic stations compared to our 2015-17class with no significant difference on ABSITE score. Conclusions By mailing out a pre-interview welcome package and adding a simulation based assessment to our General Surgery categorical interview process, we believe early objective data suggests we positively influenced our 2018 NRMP match.
Radon and its products radiation-induced non-cancerous effect

The association between exposed to radon and cardiovascular mortality as well as radon therapy for the treatment of rheumatic diseases have become an increasing concern. Here, by analysis uranium miners'cohort epidemiological investigation, show the possibility between the cumulative exposure to radon and death from coronary heart disease. Besides, the existing randomized controlled trials suggest a positive effect of radon therapy on pain in rheumatic diseases. Key words: Radon; Radon daughters; Radiation effect; Coronary disease; Rheumatic diseases
"Weight of evidence" as a tool for evaluating disease in wildlife: An example assessing parasitic infection in Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus).

Abstract The potential of parasites to affect host abundance has been a topic of heated contention within the scientific community for some time, with many maintaining that issues such as habitat loss are more important in regulating wildlife populations than diseases. This is in part due to the difficulty in detecting and quantifying the consequences of disease, such as parasitic infection, within wild systems. An example of this is found in the Northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginanus), an iconic game bird that is one of the most extensively studied vertebrates on the planet. Yet, despite countless volumes dedicated to the study and management of this bird, bobwhite continue to disappear from fields, forest margins, and grasslands across the United States in what some have referred to as “our greatest wildlife tragedy”. Here, we will discuss the history of disease and wildlife conservation, some of the challenges wildlife disease studies face in the ever-changing world, and how a “weight of evidence” approach has been invaluable to evaluating the impact of parasites on bobwhite in the Rolling Plains of Texas. Through this, we highlight the potential of using “weight of the evidence” to better understand the complex effects of diseases on wildlife and urge a greater consideration of the importance of disease in wildlife conservation.
Small molecules targeting the NEDD8·NAE protein-protein interaction.

Ubiquitination is a major controller of protein homeostasis in cells. Some ubiquitination pathways are modulated by a NEDDylation cascade, that also features E1 – 3 enzymes. The E1 enzyme in the NEDDylation cascade involves a protein–protein interaction (PPI) between NEDD8 (similar to ubiquitin) and NAE (NEDD8 Activating Enzyme). A small molecule inhibitor of the ATP binding site in NAE is in clinical trials. We hypothesized a similar effect could be induced by disrupting the NEDD8·NAE PPI, though, to the best of our knowledge, no small molecules have been reported to disrupt this to date. In the research described here, Exploring Key Orientations (EKO) was used to evaluate several chemotype designs for their potential to disrupt NEDD8·NAE; specifically, for their biases towards orientation of side-chains in similar ways to protein segments at the interface. One chemotype design was selected, and a targeted library of 24 compounds was made around this theme via solid phase synthesis. An entry level hit for disrupting NEDD8·NAE was identified from this library on the basis of its ability to bind NAE (Ki of 6.4 ± 0.3 μM from fluorescence polarization), inhibit NEDDylation, suppress formation of the corresponding E1 – 3 complexes as monitored by cell-based immunoblotting, and cytotoxicity to K562 leukemia cells via early stage apoptosis. The cell-based immunoblot assay also showed the compound caused NEDD8 to accumulate in cells, presumably due to inhibition of the downstream pathways involving the E1 enzyme. The affinity and cellular activities of the hit compound are modest, but is interesting as first in class for this mode of inhibition of NEDDylation, and as another illustration of the way EKO can be used to evaluate user-defined chemotypes as potential inhibitors of PPIs.
Pluralism that is Not an Ideology: The Phenomenology of Collectivistic Catholicisms in a Small Nation1:

This article addresses the relationship between culturally embedded religious traditions, nationalism, and pluralism by looking at the phenomenology of collectivistic Catholicisms in post-communist...
Opioid poisoning cases aged 50+ in the 2015–2020 National Poisoning Data System: suspected suicides versus unintentional poisoning and other intentional misuse/abuse

High rates of opioid overdose and suicide among the 50+ age group call for an examination of suicidal intent in overdose incidents. Using 2015–2020 National Poison Data System opioid poisoning case...
Clinical Outcome among Nasopharyngeal Cancer Patients in a Multi-Ethnic Society in Singapore.

Background Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is endemic among Chinese populations in Southeast Asia. However, the outcomes of non-Chinese NPC patients in Singapore are not well reported. Aim To determine if non-Chinese NPC patients have a different prognosis and examine the clinical outcomes of NPC patients in a multi-ethnic society. Methods Retrospective chart review of 558 NPC patients treated at a single academic tertiary hospital from 2002 to 2012. Survival and recurrence rates were analysed and predictive factors identified using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression model. Results Our cohort comprised 409 males (73.3%) and 149 females (26.7%) with a median age of 52 years. There were 476 Chinese (85.3%), 57 Malays (10.2%), and 25 of other ethnic groups (4.5%). Non-Chinese patients were more likely to be associated with advanced nodal disease at initial presentation (p = 0.049), compared with the Chinese. However, there were no statistical differences in their overall survival (OS) or disease specific survival (DSS) (p = 0.934 and p = 0.857 respectively). The 3-year and 5-year cohort OS and DSS rates were 79.3%, 70.7%, and 83.2%, 77.4% respectively. Advanced age (p<0.001), N2 disease (p = 0.036), N3 disease (p<0.001), and metastatic disease (p<0.001) at presentation were independently associated with poor overall survival. N2 disease (p = 0.032), N3 disease (p<0.001) and metastatic disease (p<0.001) were also independently associated with poor DSS. No predictive factors were associated with loco-regional recurrence after definitive treatment. Advanced age (p = 0.044), N2 disease (p = 0.033) and N3 disease (p<0.001) were independently associated with distant relapse. Conclusion In a multi-ethnic society in Singapore, non-Chinese are more likely to present with advanced nodal disease. This however did not translate into poorer survival outcomes. Older patients with N2 or N3 disease are associated with a higher risk of distant relapse and poor overall survival.
Unsupervised learning of multi-hypothesized pick-and-place task templates via crowdsourcing

In order for robots to be useful in real world learning scenarios, non-expert human teachers must be able to interact with and teach robots in an intuitive manner. One essential robot capability is wide-area (mobile or nonstationary) pick-and-place tasks. Even in its simplest form, pick-and-place is a hard problem due to uncertainty arising from noisy input demonstrations and non-deterministic real world environments. This work introduces a novel method for goal-based learning from demonstration where we learn over a large corpus of human demonstrated ground truths of placement locations in an unsupervised manner via Gaussian Mixture Models. The goal is to provide a multi-hypothesis solution for a given task description which can later be utilized in the execution of the task itself. In addition to learning the actual arrangements of the items in question, we also autonomously extract which frames of reference are important in each demonstration. We further verify these findings in a subsequent evaluation and execution via a mobile manipulator.
Computing the Kernel of a Point Set in a Polygon (Extended Abstract)

ElGindy posed the following problem: given a simple polygon P of n vertices and a set S of k points inside P, find the collection of points of P that can see all points of S. This collection of points is called the kernel of S in P. In this paper, we study this problem and show that the kernel of S can be computed in O(n log log n+k log n+k log k) time and O(n+k) space. We also present an O(n log n+k log k) time and O(n+k) space algorithm to determine if there exists a line segment in P that can see all points of S, and if so, to find the shortest one. Several other related problems are also addressed.
The GnRH neuron: molecular aspects of migration, gene expression and regulation

Publisher Summary The lack of migration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons into the forebrain results in reproductive dysfunction. The forms of idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism not associated with Kallmann's syndrome are described in humans, but the mechanisms of disregulation of the GnRH neurons remain unknown. A lack of developmental progression of GnRH neurons due to the absence of proteins important for migration results in some of the cases of idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. A mouse model exists for a non-Kallmann's-like associated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. It is unclear whether GnRH neurons are merely passively responding to signals in their immediate milieu or whether local signals trigger changes in gene expression in GnRH neurons that are ultimately responsible for migration and for changes in cellular morphology or GnRH gene expression. There is evidence for the latter model in another neuronal system: the developmental organization of the cerebellum. As a means of developing an in vitro model for the study of GnRH neuronal cell activity, immortalized GnRH-expressing neuronal cell lines are created by targeted tumorigenesis. The chapter also explains cell-specific expression of the GnRH gene.
The genetics of hemoglobin A2 regulation in sickle cell anemia.

Hemoglobin A2, a tetramer of α- and δ-globin chains, comprises less than 3% of total hemoglobin in normal adults. In northern Europeans, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the HBS1L-MYB locus on chromosome 6q and the HBB cluster on chromosome 11p were associated with HbA2 levels. We examined the genetic basis of HbA2 variability in sickle cell anemia using genome-wide association studies. HbA2 levels were associated with SNPs in the HBS1L-MYB interval and SNPs in BCL11A. These effects are mediated by the association of these loci with γ-globin gene expression and fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels. The association of polymorphisms downstream of the β-globin gene (HBB) cluster on chromosome 11 with HbA2 was not mediated by HbF. In sickle cell anemia, levels of HbA2 appear to be modulated by trans-acting genes that affect HBG expression and perhaps also elements within the β-globin gene cluster. HbA2 is expressed pancellularly and can inhibit HbS polymerization. It remains to be seen if genetic regulators of HbA2 can be exploited for therapeutic purposes. Am. J. Hematol. 89:1019–1023, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Los Alamos free-electron laser experiment: current status

The Los Alamos free-electron laser (FEL) is a mid-IR oscillator driven by an L-band rf linear accelerator with short (1-m) permanent-magnet wigglers. With a uniform-period wiggler, the FEL has previously demonstrated burst-mode operation with high-power diffraction-limited output and wide tunability.1
Persistent Horizontal Rolls in the Urban Mixed Layer as Revealed by Dual-Doppler Radar

Abstract The Wave Propagation Laboratory (WPL) dual-Doppler radar system has been used in METROMEX to study the effect of a large urban area (St. Louis) on air motions within the planetary mixing layer during clear conditions. It was demonstrated that aircraft-dispensed chaff could be used to trace the air motion over a several hundred square kilometer area and through the entire depth of the developed mixing layer. Data from two days having similar temperature and wind profiles have been selected for discussion. Both data sets suggest the presence of horizontal roll vortices existing throughout the duration of the observations (20–70 min) and beyond the extent of the chaff cloud (8–12 km). A comparison with the temperature field reveals that a line of convergence (∼10−3 s−1) 300 m above the surface was found to coincide with a thermal ridge of about 0.2°C measured by instruments on the University of Wyoming aircraft. Differences in the apparent roll structures on these two days may be explained in terms ...
External measurement of the isovolumic relaxation phase as an indicator of pulmonary artery pressure in ventricular septal defects

Abstract The data presented in this study demonstrate a linear and statistically significant relation between the mean pulmonary arterial systolic pressure and the P2-V interval in patients with isolated ventricular septal defects. No essential differences were observed when the interval was measured by using direct atrial pressure curves instead of the external jugular venous tracing. These observations confirm the value of the phonocardiogram and the jugular venous pulse in the estimation of the severity of pulmonary hypertension in such patients. It is suggested that this simple procedure may prove of value in the preoperative assessment and postoperative follow-up of patients with ventricular septal defects.
N -type doping of gallium antimonide and aluminum antimonide grown by molecular beam epitaxy using lead telluride as a tellurium dopant source

Lead telluride was used as a “captive” source of tellurium (Te) for the n-type doping of gallium antimonide (GaSb) and aluminum antimonide (AlSb)grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Controllable carrier concentrations from 1.2 x 1016 to 1.6 x 1018 cm-3 were obtained. High room-temperature Hall mobilities of 4200 cm2/V · s were measured for the low-doped GaSb samples. In the growth temperature range of interest, doping ef-ficiencies are approximately 50% of those in GaAs. For GaSb, SIMS data show that the Te incorporation decreases significantly at growth temperatures above 500° C. How-ever, in AlSb, there is no significant reduction in the incorporation of Te up to at least 650° C. In contrast, the Te incorporation into AlSb decreases at low temperatures. There is also some evidence of surface segregation in AlSb. Contrary to other doping studies, increasing the Sb : Ga flux ratio was found to reduce the Te incorporation.
Intestinal antisepsis: rationale and results.

The intensive, short-term, low-dose neomycin-erythromycin preparation regimen we have reported is effective in both microbiologic and clinical terms. The evidence establishing the efficacy of neomycin and erythromycin base in elective resections of the colon and rectum is reviewed. The concentration of bacteria in the lumen of the bowel is reliably decreased at the time of operation; emergence of resistant organisms has not been noted. Clinically, the incidence of all forms of septic complications is significantly reduced.
An ontology for RF and photonic-assisted cognitive radio networks

Automating the management of capabilities of dynamic networks (mobile ah-hoc networks or MANETs) has been addressed as a design problem. But in a network of cognitive radios, the set of manageable parameters expands the design space far in excess of current design automation or manual analysis capabilities.
Paracervical block and elective abortion: The effect on pain of waiting between injection and procedure

Abstract Objective: Our purpose was to assess the effect on pain and patient satisfaction of waiting between paracervical block and dilation during first-trimester abortions. Study Design: One hundred ninety-nine women seeking pregnancy termination were randomly assigned to a no-wait group (group 1) and a 3- to 5-minute wait between injection and dilation group (group 2). Subjects rated their pain on a visual analog scale at four times: prior to procedure, with dilation, with aspiration, and 30 to 45 minutes after procedure. Results: No significant differences were observed in pain or satisfaction ratings reported by group 1 (n = 93) and group 2 (n = 101). A significant decrease in pain with dilation (1.21 cm decrease, P =.009) and aspiration (1.15 cm decrease, P =.0015) was observed among patients who received fentanyl. Conclusion: Delay between paracervical injection and dilation during first-trimester abortion does not have an impact on patient pain or satisfaction. Fentanyl decreased pain scores by 20% to 25% during the procedure. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002;186:1304-7.)
A typology of marital interaction for sexually dysfunctional couples

Abstract An empirical typology of marital interactions for couples seeking sexual dysfunction therapy was developed based upon their self evaluations and interpersonal perceptions on the Taylor-fohnson Temperament Analysis (T-JTA). T-JTA scores of 246 couples on the psychological traits of Expressive-Responsive/Inhibited and Hostility/Tolerance were used to separate four groups of couples defining three distinct types of marital interactions. Groups 1 and 2 represented the Conflict-Centered relationship in which one spouse, wives and husbands respectively, scored high on the trait Hostility. Group 3, the Passive-Constrained relationship was characterized by husbands who scored low on the trait Expressive-Responsive (Inhibited) and Group 4, the Congenial-Affectionate relationship was based upon the profiles of the remaining couples in this sample. Self-perceptions of spouses are described and the transactional dynamics of the couple types discussed in terms of their therapeutic implications.
Comparative Literature and the Culture of the Context

In her article "Comparative Literature and the Culture of the Context," Jan Walsh Hokenson poses a series of interrogatives around the question of what, as comparatists, we have learned about "literature in the context of the culture it represents" (Mario J. Valdes). She argues that in theoretical terms, culture has become the new vessel for the old wine of sources and influences, and that global intercultural contexts will change the analytical categories for comparatists in the coming millennium. In Hokenson's opinion, if comparative literature is to survive it must regain the panoptic view, and if it is to thrive as an academic discipline, it will have to realize its historical aim of embracing all literature, notably of the East as well as the West. And finally, Hokenson proposes that comparatists clarify the credentials of the discipline, as historically rooted in the analysis of cross-cultural contexts, so that the discipline may assume its logical and deserved role as premier mode of critical study in the coming era of an emergent global poetics. Jan Walsh Hokenson, "Comparative Literature and the Culture of the Context" page 2 of 11 CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 2.4 (2000):
Tumor suppressor gene Rb is required for self-renewal of spermatogonial stem cells in mice

The retinoblastoma tumor suppressor gene Rb is essential for maintaining the quiescence and for regulating the differentiation of somatic stem cells. Inactivation of Rb in somatic stem cells typically leads to their overexpansion, often followed by increased apoptosis, defective terminal differentiation, and tumor formation. However, Rb's roles in germ-line stem cells have not been explored. We conditionally disrupted the Rb gene in mouse germ cells in vivo and discovered unanticipated consequences for GFRa1-protein-expressing A(single) (GFRa1(+) A(s)) spermatogonia, the major source of male germ-line stem cells. Rb-deficient GFRa1(+) A(s) spermatogonia were present at normal density in testes 5 d after birth, but they lacked the capacity for self-renewal, resulting in germ cell depletion by 2 mo of age. Rb deficiency did not affect the proliferative activity of GFRa1(+) A(s) spermatogonia, but their progeny were exclusively transit-amplifying progenitor spermatogonia and did not include GFRa1(+) A(s) spermatogonia. In addition, Rb deficiency caused prolonged proliferation of progenitor spermatogonia, transiently enlarging this population. Despite these defects, Rb deficiency did not block terminal differentiation into functional sperm; offspring were readily obtained from young males whose germ cell pool was not yet depleted. We conclude that Rb is required for self-renewal of germ-line stem cells, but contrary to its critical roles in somatic stem cells, it is dispensable for their proliferative activity and terminal differentiation. Thus, this study identifies an unexpected function for Rb in maintaining the stem cell pool in the male germ line.
Fracture mechanics /Dryden Lecture/

A historical outline of the engineering discipline of fracture mechanics is presented, and current analytical procedures are summarized. The current status of the discipline is assessed, and engineering applications are discussed, along with recommended directions for future study.
A note on pattern reproduction in tessellation structures

Abstract Tessellation structures that reproduce arbitrary patterns are special cases of tessellation structures having local transformations that are linear operators. We introduce a novel formulation of tessellation structures which emphasizes the connection between these structures and concepts of functional analysis. Using this formulation a behavioral analysis technique is developed which implies the earlier results on pattern reproduction and generalizes them to tessellation structures whose state alphabets are arbitrary fields of non-zero characteristic and whose tessellation arrays are arbitrary countable abelian groups. It is also shown that a local transformation can be chosen to produce at a specified time any desired set of “copies” of an initial pattern each multiplied by a specified scalar. We then indicate that connections exist between linear tessellation structures and linear partial differential equations which describe wave propagation by giving an example of a classical form of pattern reproduction.
Antinociceptive effects of intrathecal taurine and calcium in the mouse.

Abstract Taurine (Tau), calcium (Ca+2) and opiates each produce antinociception when injected i.t. in mice. This study was initiated to determine whether there is a common mechanism underlying their antinociceptive effects. Using the abdominal stretch assay, the antinociceptive effects of both Tau (12 nmol) and Ca+2 (72 nmol) were antagonized by i.t. TAG (4.4 nmol), a Tau antagonist, but not by i.p. injection of the opiate antagonist naloxone (5 mg/kg). The antinociceptive effects of Tau and Ca+2 correlated with their ability to inhibit the intensity of caudally-directed biting and scratching behaviors produced by i.t. NMDA or kainic acid. The inhibitory effects of both Tau and Ca+2 on the biting and scratching behaviors behaviors induced by substance P or excitatory amino acids were reversed by TAG, suggesting a common mediation by Tau. These data indicate that the antinoceptive effects of both Tau and Ca+2 appear to be mediated, at least in part, by Tau but not by the release of endogenous opioid compounds. In addition, inhibition of chemical irritant-induced nociception may be produced by a simple blockade of excitatory amino acid activity.
The consequences of Wari contact in the Nasca region during the Middle Horizon: archaeological, skeletal, and isotopic evidence

During the Middle Horizon (AD 650e1000), the Wari polity expanded its sphere of control in various regions of the Andes, including Nasca on the south coast of Peru. The nature of the interaction between Wari and local communities varied. This study explores the consequences of Wari contact in the Nasca region at the site of La Tiza, which includes individuals dated to the Early Intermediate, Middle Horizon, and Late Intermediate periods. Using evidence for burial ritual along with demographic, paleopathological and isotopic data, population composition, mobility, diet, and health are investigated. d 13 C data indicate a relatively stable diet through time at La Tiza with evidence for continued maize consumption, and paleopathological results indicate health problems associated with this type of diet. d 18 O and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr data suggest that most of the individuals buried at La Tiza were local to the area. However, two female adults from the Middle Horizon burials are characterized as nonlocal based on d 18 O and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr values and several individuals overlap with the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr local range for the Wari heartland. In conjunction with the use of new tomb types during this period these results highlight the ideological and populational changes occurring with Wari contact at La Tiza.
Surge protection of low-voltage D-C circuits

Devices for protection against transient overvoltages should reduce these overvoltages to a safe value well below the breakdown level of the system without causing a power outage. D-c surge protectors utilizing two types of switching elements — silicon-controlled rectifiers and 4-layer diodes — are discussed.
The sizes and distribution of ganglion cells in the retina of the owl monkey. Aotus trivirgatus.

Abstract The sizes and distribution of ganglion cells in the retina of the owl monkey were determined from whole-mount preparations stained with cresyl violet. A central area was densely packed with small to medium-sized ganglion cells which decreased rapidly in density in all directions from a peak of over 100/0.01 mm 2 to as low as 3 or less/0.01 mm 2 in the extreme periphery of the retina. Large ganglion cells were absent from the central retina, and were sparsely distributed over the rest of the retina. Isodensity contours of the distribution of ganglion cells were roughly concentric, with slight horizontal and vertical elongations outside the central retina.
ELEVATED LIPASE WITHOUT PANCREATITIS IN INFECTIOUS COLITIS

Abstract Background An elevated lipase typically confirms the diagnosis of pancreatitis. Elevated lipase may be associated with other disorders, typically with some influence on the pancreas. The differential is more limited than elevated amylase secondary to the mostly unique production of lipase in pancreatic acinar cells. Elevated lipase has been reported in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, but not previously reported in infectious colitis. Case Report A 65-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with left lower quadrant abdominal pain radiating to her left flank worsening over 2 days. She denied epigastric pain. She had occasional nausea and occasional nonbilious and nonbloody emesis, and also reported diarrhea and weight loss over the preceding months. Laboratory values were largely unremarkable except for a grossly elevated lipase level. Computed tomography scan of her abdomen was performed and revealed findings consistent with infectious colitis, without signs of pancreatic inflammation or other findings associated with pancreatitis. She was admitted to the hospital and treated for infectious colitis with antibiotics and improved over 2 days, and was subsequently discharged for follow-up with her gastroenterologist. This is the first reported case of elevated lipase without pancreatitis associated with infectious colitis. Why should an emergency physician be aware of this? Emergency physicians should be aware of other potential causes of elevated lipase and not assume that all cases of elevated lipase are associated with pancreatitis. This may possibly avoid unnecessary admission in situations that are not clearly pancreatitis.
Structured risk management: filling a gap in decision analysis education

Risk management is a standard management tool that does not generally appear in decision analysis textbooks nor is it explicitly cited as part of the standard decision-analysis paradigm. In contrast, risk management articles and books describe how decision trees can be used to evaluate specific risk management strategies. In this paper we describe a series of steps that should be a routine part of every decision tree analysis. They are designed to assess the expected value of developing a risk management strategy with regard to different aspects of uncertainty. The method is intended to trigger a focused brainstorming session to search for specific strategies to manage targeted risks. The procedure adds structure to the value-enhancing dimension of decision analysis that creates new strategies with less risk and higher expected values. The material presented here can easily be incorporated into even an overview of decision analysis in a survey class of operational research.
Non-small cell lung cancer in octogenarians: treatment practices and preferences.

Introduction Among patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), patients aged 80 or older have inferior survival. Treatment practices in this patient population are poorly described. In this report, we describe the treatment of a population of very elderly patients with NSCLC at a large teaching hospital. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed of 111 outpatients with NSCLC aged 80 or older. Patient treatment regimens were evaluated for consistency with contemporaneous stage-specific guideline-recommended therapy (GRT). Attention was paid to how patient characteristics and attitudes influence therapy decisions. Results Patients characteristics included median age of 82.6 years (range, 80–92), 30% stage I–II, 39% stage IV, 59% performance status 0–1, 25% performance status ≥2 (performance status unavailable for 15%). Eighty-four percent of the patients received some form of antineoplastic therapy, and 11% were treated with best supportive care alone. Of 34 patients with localized disease, 53% underwent tumor resection and 38% received definitive radiation. Of 70 patients with stage III or IV disease, 36% received cytotoxic chemotherapy and 27% received oral targeted therapy alone. Thirty-two percent of patients received the stage-specific GRT. Of the patients who did not receive GRT, 26% electively refused the offered GRT and 74% were not offered GRT. Conclusions The vast majority of octogenarian patients with NSCLC receive antineoplastic therapy, but only one third of this population receives stage-specific GRT. Although many patients choose aggressive therapies, a small but clinically significant portion chose not to receive the offered GRT. More data are needed on appropriate therapy recommendations for this patient population.
Coming of age in an ant colony: cephalic muscle maturation accompanies behavioral development in Pheidole dentata

Although several neurobiological and genetic correlates of aging and behavioral development have been identified in social insect workers, little is known about how other age-related physiological processes, such as muscle maturation, contribute to task performance. We examined post-eclosion growth of three major muscles of the head capsule in major and minor workers of the ant Pheidole dentata using workers of different ages with distinct task repertoires. Mandible closer muscle fibers, which provide bite force and are thus critical for the use of the mandibles for biting and load carrying, fill the posterio-lateral portions of the head capsule in mature, older workers of both subcastes. Mandible closer fibers of newly eclosed workers, in contrast, are significantly thinner in both subcastes and grow during at least the next 6 days in minor workers, suggesting this muscle has reduced functionality for a substantial period of adult life and thus constrains task performance capability. Fibers of the antennal muscles and the pharynx dilator, which control antennal movements and food intake, respectively, also increase significantly in thickness with age. However, these fibers are only slightly thinner in newly eclosed workers and attain their maximum thickness over a shorter time span in minors. The different growth rates of these functionally distinct muscles likely have consequences for how adult P. dentata workers, particularly minors, develop their full and diverse task repertoire as they age. Workers may be capable of feeding and interacting socially soon after eclosion, but require a longer period of development to effectively use their mandibles, which enable the efficient performance of tasks ranging from nursing to foraging and defense.
Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for PTSD in People with Severe Mental Illness: Three Case Studies

In this article, we present three case studies of clients with severe mental illness (SMI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who participated in a recently developed cognitive-behavioral treatment program (Mueser, Rosenberg, Jankowski, Hamblen, & Descamps, 2004). Each client had PTSD, and a DSM-IV Axis I diagnosis (1 bipolar disorder, 2 schizoaffective disorder), as well as multiple other problems that would ordinarily have resulted in exclusion from established cognitive-behavioral programs for PTSD (e.g., substance dependence, suicidal ideation, cognitive impairment, psychotic symptoms, acute psychosocial stressors). All clients were able to complete the program, and all demonstrated significant improvements in PTSD, with two out of three no longer meeting criteria for PTSD at the three-month follow-up. Clients also showed modest improvements in other psychiatric symptoms. These case studies, combined with the results of a larger pilot study of the treatment program (Rosenberg, Mueser, Jankowski,...
Statistical considerations for design and analysis of a multiperiod crossover study to compare two treatments for migraine headache

The purpose of this paper is to discuss a long-term, multiperiod crossover study to compare two treatments for migraine headache. Principal attention is given to the analysis of an example in which patients randomly received a treatment sequence with test drug for three migraine headaches and placebo for one. An issue that requires attention for this example is the influence of a carryover effect for test drug that was greater when placebo was the subsequent treatment than when test drug was the subsequent treatment. A way to address this issue without excessive loss of power is to consider tests of "total treatment effects," which are weighted averages across headaches of differences between average response to test drug and average response to placebo. Since these weighted averages are linear combinations of treatment effects and carryover effects, their use requires an argument that carryover effects are at least partly a further form of treatment effects. For the example in this paper, this argument is realistic because the test drug could have provided much better relief to migraine headache than other treatment patients might have previously used. A second purpose of the paper is to present some alternative designs for situations like that represented by the example. The structure of variances for alternative specifications for treatment comparison is provided for models of interest for these designs.
Allosteric Mechanism in Neurophysin

Neurophysins are small two- domain proteins that exhibit ligand-facilitated dimerization and its reciprocal-stronger binding by dimer than by monomer. We have previously reported evidence of conformational differences between unliganded monomer and dimer, but had not established their identity, their origin, or how they affect binding affinity.In the present study we have determined the relative structures of a neurophysin monomer and its dimer by NMR spectroscopy. The structures show that a number of neurophysin residues that interact with the essential tyrosine of the ligand peptide move from locations in the unliganded monomer that are unfavorable for binding to positions in the unliganded dimer that more closely resemble those of the liganded state, thereby contributing to the stronger binding by dimer. We have also identified the origin of the dimerization-induced conformational change; i.e., the same residues that form the principal inter-domain bonds in the monomer via side-chain interactions form the principal inter-subunit bonds in the dimer via backbone hydrogen bonding. Steric crowding upon dimerization leads to a modification of inter-domain interactions, a resultant change in the relative orientation of the two domains and associated changes in intra-domain interactions. The principal residues responsible for these interactions are the Cys residues of the 28-34 disulfide bridge (amino domain) and 74-79 disulfide bridge (carboxyl domain). Strong inter-domain van der Waals interactions between sulfur atoms appear to play important roles in determining the relative domain orientation.(Supported by grant GM-17528 from NIH).