cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermophysical abuse couplings in batteries: From electrodes to cells

Thermophysical couplings in batteries must be understood to ensure that batteries remain safe from potential immolation during operation. This article examines the ways in which thermophysical deformation of lithium-ion batteries can lead to explosions and other safety events and then provides a brief review of characterization methods to assess the behavior and results of such deformations. Finally, a recent example of an event “in the wild” is discussed and the mechanisms covered are applied to competing diagnoses of the failure.
Survival of patients with rare diseases: a population-based study in Tuscany (Italy)

Rare diseases (RDs) encompass a heterogeneous group of life-threatening or chronically debilitating conditions that individually affect a small number of subjects but overall represent a major public health issue globally. There are still limited data on RD burden due to the paucity of large population-based epidemiological studies. The aim of this research was to provide survival estimates of patients with a RD residing in Tuscany, Italy. Cases collected in the Rare Diseases Registry of Tuscany with diagnosis between 1st January 2000 and 31th December 2018 were linked to the regional health databases in order to retrieve information on mortality of all subjects. Survival at 1, 5 and 10 years from diagnosis with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was estimated by sex, age class, nosological group and subgroup using the Kaplan–Meier method. The effect of sex, age and period of diagnosis (years 2000–2009 or 2010–2018) on survival was estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression. Survival at 1, 5 and 10 years from diagnosis was 97.3%, 88.8% and 80.8%, respectively. Respiratory diseases and peripheral and central nervous system disorders were characterized by the lowest survival at 5 and 10 years. Despite a modest higher prevalence of RDs among females (54.0% of the total), male cases had a significant increased risk of death (hazard ratio, HR 1.48, 95% CI 1.38–1.58). Cases diagnosed during 2010–2018 period had a risk of death significantly lower than those diagnosed during 2000–2009 (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.82–0.96), especially for immune system disorders (HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.26–0.87), circulatory system diseases (HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.45–0.84) and diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.49–0.84). An earlier diagnosis as well as the improvement in the efficacy of treatment resulted in a decreased risk of death over the years for specific RDs. The linkage between a population-based registry and other regional databases exploited in this study provides a large and accurate mass of data capable of estimating patients’ life-expectancy and increasing knowledge on the collective burden of RDs.
How Sensory Processing Sensitivity Affects Juror Decision Making

This essay reports the findings of a first-of-its-kind study designed to measure how HSP jurors perceive cases differently from non-HSP jurors. Sensory Processing Sensitivity (“SPS”) is a personal trait that makes one cognitively sensitive to certain stimuli, including one’s own internal processes as well as external stimuli. Internal stimuli may include an increased sensitivity to one’s own emotions or bodily sensations. External stimuli include environmental or social factors, such as the emotional or social cues of others. There are four dimensions of SPS, which reflect the thinking of highly sensitive people (“HSPs”) in novel, intense, and/or unpredictable situations. The dimensions include: 1) increased awareness of sensory stimuli, 2) inhibition of behavior, 3) deep cognitive processing of sensory information, and 4) increased emotionality..SPS has been demonstrated to be related to stress and burnout at work, as well as increased emotional reactions and empathy. These dimensions have also been associated with better decision-making. It is estimated that roughly 20% of any given population is comprised of HSPs. Various findings regarding the thought processes and emotional reactions of HSPs suggest that SPS could be related to how a person views the commission of a crime. For example, due to their heightened sense of emotionality, HSPs are said to be more engaged with the emotions they experience, as well as to the emotions of others. HSPs have been found to be more responsive toward positive emotions of close persons, negative emotions of others in general, or situations that are perceived to have heightened emotional content or conflict. In addition, SPS-specific brain areas are strongly correlated with regions in the brain that involve self-awareness, self-other processing, complex decision-making, emotional sense-making, and empathy. These findings suggest that HSPs are more likely to cognitively engage in situations that are emotionally salient, particularly with respect to social scenarios. Thus, HSPs theoretically would be more likely to have a negative emotional response to dilemmas that involve the perception of harm to others.
The impact of sociocultural contexts on mental health following sexual violence: A conceptual model.

Objective Sexual violence has substantial mental health effects on survivors around the globe. Although there has been increasing attention to the ways that sociocultural environments can affect survivors' recovery, there has been no review to our knowledge of the specific factors within sociocultural environments that offer risk or protection, or the mechanisms by which these factors affect recovery. Method To address this gap, we present a conceptual model supported by a theoretical and empirical review that prioritizes research conducted with ethnic minority and global samples. Results We identify three components of global sociocultural settings-norms, structures, and environmental stressors-that may affect mental health following sexual violence. We propose that these components may affect survivors' mental health by (1) influencing how survivors themselves, survivors' social contexts, and the systems with which survivors come into contact think about and respond to sexual violence, and (2) creating additional sources of stress, burden, or protection for survivors. Conclusions We argue that future research, practice, and policy could have a greater effect on survivors by attending to sociocultural factors in recovery.
High-Field NMR of Membranes and Proteins

Deuterium NMR of specifically 2H-labelled phospholipids has been used to study interactions between lipids and proteins in model and biological membranes. Proteins decrease the order of the phospholipid hydrocarbon chains in both systems. Carbon-13 NMR spectra of lysozyme, taken in the presence of several denaturants, support a two state denaturation process.
Corporate Environmentalism and Public Policy: Deflecting enforcement of existing regulations

INTRODUCTION Our analysis in this part of the book has treated various stages of the policy life cycle. We began in chapter 3 with an analysis of how corporate environmentalism can preempt the emergence of legislation. Preemption does not always occur, of course, so chapter 4 explored how corporate environmental strategy can influence legislative and regulatory requirements. Even after regulations are finalized, corporate environmentalism can still have important effects. All regulations must be enforced, through monitoring of corporate behavior and the imposition of penalties in the event that non-compliance is detected. In this chapter, we examine how voluntary environmental investments can alter the monitoring and enforcement activities of regulators. In examining firm motivations for the adoption of environmental plans, which are natural precursors to environmental investments, Henriques and Sadorsky (1996) found that the overwhelming motivation was compliance with existing and future regulations. Some government programs, such as the EPA's StarTrack, provide incentives for firms to voluntarily increase compliance activities with respect to existing environmental regulations. Under the StarTrack program, participating firms are required to establish a self-auditing compliance program, conduct periodic audits, and institute plans for correcting any discovered violations. Initial findings and progress reports are to be submitted to the EPA and made available to the public. In addition to public recognition, participating firms benefit from being considered a “ lower inspection priority ” by the regulatory agency. We shall refer to this shift in inspection behavior as “regulatory responsiveness.” The StarTrack program is very much in the spirit of the EPA's changes in its audit practices contained in the publication Audit Policy: Incentives for Self-Policing (US EPA 1998b). The policy encourages regulated entities to voluntarily discover, disclose, and correct violations of existing environmental statutes.
A Comparative Study of the Effect of Normal Substrates and 5-Iodo-2'-deoxyuridine Triphosphate, a Metabolic Analog of Thymidine Triphosphate, on the Inactivation of Escherichia coli Deoxyribonucleic Acid Polymerase I and II by Ultraviolet Irradiation

Abstract The ultraviolet inactivation of DNA polymerase I and II both followed first order kinetics. There was no alteration in enzyme properties such as optimum concentration of magnesium chloride or of DNA template-primer, pH profile, or substrate saturation curve, and hence is compatible with an all-or-none effect. The rate of ultraviolet inactivation of DNA polymerase II was about 3 times that of DNA polymerase I, and this difference was further augmented when 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate (IdUTP), a metabolic analog of deoxythymidine triphosphate, was included during irradiation. The enhanced ultraviolet inactivation observed in the presence of IdUTP of both DNA polymerase I and II was not only dependent on the IdUTP concentration but also was a saturable phenomenon. 5-Iodo-2'-deoxyuridine and sodium iodide sensitized these enzymes to ultraviolet radiations; however, the enhanced rate of inactivation by ultraviolet light was linear over the concentrations used. Magnesium chloride by itself had no effect on the inactivation of either DNA polymerase I or II; however, magnesium chloride further enhanced the sensitizing effect of IdUTP and of 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine but not of sodium iodide. The optimum magnesium chloride concentration for such an effect was identical with that required for optimum catalytic activity. The molar ratio of magnesium chloride to IdUTP was not crucial for this effect. The DNA template also sensitized the polymerases toward inactivation by ultraviolet irradiation, the effect being greater with DNA polymerase II relative to DNA polymerase I. DNA further increased the IdUTP-sensitizing effect to ultraviolet radiation to the same extent as magnesium chloride. The free radical intermediate postulation proposed previously (Cysyk, R., and Prusoff, W. H. (1972) J. Biol. Chem. 247, 2522) for the 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine ultraviolet inactivation of thymidine kinase was also considered for the present IdUTP-DNA polymerase system.
Lycopene content in raw tomato varieties and tomato products: Lycopene content in tomato

This study evaluated the lycopene content in raw tomato varieties and processed tomato products. The separation of lycopene isomers was conducted by high-performance liquid chromatography. Lycopene content was determined on a dry weight basis (DWB). The function of three different isomers (cis, all-trans and 5-cis) of lycopene was examined. Data for raw tomato varieties were analyzed within and among groups. Cherry tomatoes ranked the highest in lycopene content. On DWB, Roma tomatoes contained the highest lycopene concentration, while the vine tomatoes ranked the lowest in lycopene content. Among processed tomato products, tomato paste ranked the highest in lycopene content and canned tomato juice the lowest. Furthermore, tomato catsup ranked the lowest in lycopene concentration after DWB. Different dilution ratios may contribute to significant variability in lycopene content.
Immortalization and altered differentiation of human keratinocytes in vitro by the E6 and E7 open reading frames of human papillomavirus type 18.

Abstract The E6-E7 region of human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 is selectively retained and expressed in cervical carcinoma cells. In cultured human keratinocytes, expression of the E6 and E7 open reading frames of human papillomavirus type 18, under the control of its homologous promoter, resulted in high-frequency immortalization. Furthermore, by using a system that allows for stratification of keratinocytes in vitro (raft system), we observed that the morphological differentiation of these E6-E7 immortalized cells was altered such that parabasal cells extended throughout most of the epithelium, with abnormal nuclei present in the upper regions. Examination of E6-E7-expressing cell lines in the raft system at a later passage revealed that complete loss of morphological differentiation had occurred. E7 alone was a much less effective immortalizing agent than E6 and E7 together and acted only minimally to alter morphological differentiation in vitro. No such activities were found for E6 alone. High-frequency transformation of human epithelial cells thus appears to require expression of both E6 and E7 gene products.
When to Risk It? Institutions, Ambitions, and the Decision to Run for the U.S. House

The health of any democratic system depends on political ambition to generate a steady supply of quality candidates for office. Because most models of candidate entry assume ambition rather than model it, previous research fails to understand its roots in individual and institutional characteristics. We develop a two-stage model of progressive behavior that distinguishes between the formation of ambition for higher office and the decision to enter a particular race. Using data from a survey of state legislators, we demonstrate that the intrinsic costs and benefits associated with running for and holding higher office shape ambitions but do not influence the decision to run. For progressively ambitious legislators, the second-stage decision is a strategic choice about when to run rather than whether to run. Our research highlights how institutional characteristics that foster progressive ambition also increase the likelihood that national or local political conditions will be translated into meaningful choices at the ballot box.
Electro-optical Wavelength Selection Enables Confocal Ratio Imaging at Low Light Levels

A confocal attachment (Odyssey) to an inverted microscope was modified to better study living cultured epithelial cells stained with fluorescent dyes. Improvements to the instrument included elimination of light leaks, improved electronic shielding, reduction of thermal effects, and use of low dark current detectors. In addition, rapid changes in illumination wavelength and power were accomplished by replacing the original mechanical filter changer by an acousto-optic tunable filter attached to the argon laser light source. The addition of a liquid crystal tunable filter to one of the two photomultiplier detectors also permitted rapid spectral scanning of the fluorescence emission. High-resolution, differential interference contrast transmitted light images were formed simultaneously by replacement of the photodiode-based transmitted light detector with a photomultiplier tube and dichroic mirror assembly. An illumination intensity of only 40 μW/cm 2 at the back focal plane of the microscope objective allowed high-quality fluorescence and transmitted light images of living cells at video rates with minimal bleaching and photodynamic damage. Both excitation ratio imaging and emission spectral scanning of living epithelial cells were accomplished. The system performance was evaluated by optical sections of fluorescent beads and thin films.
Membrane systems of freeze-etched striated muscle.

Abstract The organization of flight muscle of a dragonfly, with special reference to the fibre membrane systems, has been investigated by means of platinum-carbon replicas of freeze-etched material. The fractured surface plasma membrane and origin of transverse tubules are described together with the radial course of the tubules into the cell, along grooves in the mitochondrial surface. The form of the sarcoplasmic reti, culum cisternae is also described. Replicas are interpreted as revealing up to three unfractured membrane surfaces and several fractured profiles. The illustrations include stereo-micrographs of replicas.
Maxima of branching random walks vs. independent random walks

Abstract In recent years several authors have obtained limit theorems for the location of the right most particle in a supercritical branching random walk. In this paper we will consider analogous problems for an exponentially growing number of independent random walks. A comparison of our results with the known results of branching random walk then identifies the limit behaviors which are due to the number of particles and those which are determined by the branching structure.
A linear relationship exists among brain diffusion eigenvalues measured by diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging.

Diffusion in biological tissues can be measured by magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging The complex nature of anisotropic diffusion in the brain has been described by a diffusion tensor which contains information about the magnitude of diffusion in different directions. Each tensor contains a set of three eigenvalues which are related to the major, intermediate, and minor axes of a diffusion ellipsoid. This investigation demonstrates that the various sets of diffusion eigenvalues from different regions of the brain lie along a line in ordered eigenvalue space. Sets of ordered diffusion eigenvalues were considered points in ordered eigenvalue space. The line which best fit the data by minimizing the total squared deviations was determined. A new coordinate system was constructed through translation and rotation which spanned ordered eigenvalue space. Eigenvalues from both monkey brain and human brain were studied. It was found that the sets of eigenvalues from both species have significant linear trends. Moreover, the same line may describe the brain eigenvalues from both species. It is likely that this linear relationship of the eigenvalues observed in an ordered eigenvalue plot is related to a combination of (1) conservation of total isotropic diffusion and (2) the degree of orientational dispersion of the microfibers within each voxel.
Assessing value in platformed product family design

A platform is the set of elements and interfaces that are common to a family of products. In this paper, the design of a platform-based product family is formulated as an optimization problem. This optimization is then transformed into a two-step process amenable to industrial product design processes. The first step involves designing the technical aspects of the product family, optimizing an objective (or a set of objectives) subject to technical constraints, with external uncertain factors fixed. We have previously presented such a method for designing product families based on platforms that optimizes performance and cost metrics, using variables and a system model. That approach allows a team of engineers to design and evaluate candidate platforms, given perfect understanding of the designs and requirements. The second step is to quantify the value to the firm for each identified design alternative, while here accounting for external uncertain factors of the product family development. In this paper we present a model to perform this second step of the overall approach. Real options concepts are introduced to model the risks and delayed decision benefits present during product development due to uncertainty in technologies, funding, etc. We develop a quantitative measure of the value to the company for different family designs, and apply it to select the most appropriate design from the possible alternatives. An application to the design of platform-based families of spacecraft is shown.
Abnormal Platelet Aggregation in Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disease with Adenosine Deaminase Deficiency

The platelets from a boy with adenosine deaminase deficiency-severe combined immunodeficiency disease (ADA-SCID) showed markedly subnormal aggregation in response to collagen and ADP. In contrast with normal platelets, ATP, AMP and adenosine had little effect in inhibiting ADP-induced aggregation of ADA-SCID platelets. These observations suggest that altered adenosine metabolism exists in ADA-SCID platelets.
How do Babies Die? A Comparison of Deaths in the Pre- And Post-Surfactant Eras 162

With the availability of surfactant, high frequency oscillation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, concerns have been raised that death has been excessively prolonged for some infants in the newborn intensive care(NICU) setting. To test this hypothesis, we did a retrospective chart review of the time course and circumstances surrounding death for two cohorts of infants cared for in our level III NICU. Infants in Group 1 (N=127) died between 7/1/85-6/30/88 which immediately preceded the availability of surfactant for investigational use in our NICU. Infants in Group 2 (N=75) died between 7/1/91-6/30/94 in the three years immediately following the licensure of exogenous surfactant. Characteristics of the two groups follow: Table
Remembering disaster: Since the media do, so must public relations

Abstract Only recently has research begun concerning the longer-term aftermath of organizational crisis. This essay presents the genre of disaster rhetoric as a viable strategy to address the problems and opportunities that arise when the media write about crisis anniversaries or news stories that refer to any crisis or disaster, past or present. After a brief review of genre theory, the authors outline the seven functions of the “rhetoric of disaster” and provide multiple examples of their application to public relations activity and its news coverage. The essay concludes with questions that practitioners may use proactively in the development of copy points to address each of the rhetoric of disaster's functions.
Gravitational focusing and the association of distant quasars with foreground galaxies

The surface density of quasars brighter than a given threshold is enhanced near a galaxy by the gravitational focusing of light from those quasars that are nearly co-aligned with individual stars in the galaxy halo. The focusing can intensify and make detectable quasars which would otherwise have been below the threshold. If galaxies have massive haloes of macroscopic objects then the resulting enhancement could explain the apparent association between quasars and galaxies with discrepant redshifts found in a statistical analysis. Therefore, such quasar-galaxy associations need not require the abandonment of the cosmological interpretation of the redshift.
The on-the-run liquidity phenomenon

Abstract We test the implications of a model of multi-asset speculative trading in which liquidity differentials between on-the-run and off-the-run U.S. Treasury bonds ensue from endowment shocks in the presence of two realistic market frictions—information heterogeneity and imperfect competition among informed traders—and a public signal. Our evidence suggests that (i) off/on-the-run liquidity differentials are economically and statistically significant, even after controlling for several of the bonds’ intrinsic characteristics (such as duration, convexity, repo rates, or term premiums), and (ii) off/on-the-run liquidity differentials are smaller immediately following bond auction dates, and larger when the uncertainty surrounding the ensuing auction allocations is high, when the dispersion of beliefs across informed traders is high, and when macroeconomic announcements are noisy, consistent with our model.
Specific association of an M-phase kinase with isolated mitotic spindles and identification of two of its substrates as MAP4 and MAP1B.

Abstract Isolated mammalian (Chinese hamster ovary [CHO]) metaphase spindles were found to be enriched in a histone H1 kinase whose activity was mitotic-cycle dependent. Two substrates for the kinase were identified as MAP1B and MAP4. Partially purified spindle kinase retained activity for the spindle microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) as well as brain and other tissue culture MAPs; on phosphorylation, spindle MAPs exhibited increased immunoreactivity with MPM-2, a monoclonal antibody specific for a subset of mitotic phosphoproteins. Immunofluorescence using an anti-thiophosphoprotein antibody localized in vitro phosphorylated spindle proteins to microtubule fibers, centrosomes, kinetochores, and midbodies. The fractionated spindle kinase was reactive with anti-human p34cdc2 antibodies and with an anti-human cyclin B but not an anti-human cyclin A antibody. We conclude that spindle MAPs undergo mitotic cycle-dependent phosphorylations in vivo and associate with a kinase that remains active on spindle isolation and may be related to p34cdc2.
Carboxyl-terminal sequence of the glycine-arginine-rich histone from bovine lymphosarcoma, novikoff hepatoma and fetal calf thymus

Abstract 1. 1. The glycine-arginine-rich histones isolated from bovine lymphosarcoma and Novikoff hepatoma have been found to have virtually the same amino acid compositions as that of fetal cal thymus and calf thymus published previously 8,9 . 2. 2. The glycine-arginine-rich histones isolated from fetal calf thymus, bovine lymphosarcoma and Novikoff hepatoma were cleaved with cyanogen bromide to yield two peptides. The C-terminal CN-2 peptide for each histone was isolated by the use of Sephadex G-100. The C-terminal CN-2 peptide for each of these three tissues was found to have the same amino acid composition as that from calf thymus 12 . 3. 3. The C-terminal peptides, CN-2, of bovine lymphosarcoma, fetal calf thymus and Novikoff hepatoma were hydrolyzed with trypsin. In each case five peptides were obtained by peptide mapping and ion-exchange chromatography. The amino acid compositions of these peptides were identical for each of the tissues and to that found for calf thymus previously. 4. 4. It was concluded that the C-terminal portion of the glycine-arginine-rich histones isolaetd from these four tissues are identical with each other and with that of pea seedling 11 .
Oxidized lipids: the two faces of vascular inflammation.

Elevated plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein and generation of oxidized low-density lipoprotein have been directly associated with the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, and lipid oxidation products have been directly linked with induction and propagation of monocytic subendothelial accumulation and other inflammatory reactions associated with chronic vascular inflammation. However, accumulating data suggest that oxidized lipids may also exhibit anti-inflammatory potential and serve as potent inhibitors of nuclear factor-κB-dependent proinflammatory cascade. In addition, we have characterized a group of bioactive components of oxidized phospholipids with barrier-protective effects towards endothelial cells in the models of agonist-induced endothelial permeability and lipopolysaccharide-induced lung dysfunction. This review discusses the role of oxidized lipids in the progression of atherosclerosis as well as the important anti-inflammatory effects of oxidized phospholipids and their potential role in the modulation of vascular barrier integrity.
How Do Durkheimian Variables Impact Variation in National Suicide Rates When Proxies for Depression and Alcoholism are Controlled

Sociological research on Durkheim's theories of egoistic and anomic suicide has given Durkheim continued support more than a century after Durkheim published his work. Recent criticism by Breault (1994), though, argues that Durkheim's theories of suicide actually have not been empirically supported given the lack of psychological variables included in sociological research on suicide rates. Using proxy measures of depression and alcoholism, two known psychological variables to impact suicide, as well as classic Durkheimian variables, suicide rates in eight European countries from 1973-1997 were examined. Results indicate that Durkheim's theories of egoism and anomie, while not completely supported in statistical analysis of suicide rates, received moderate support. Results suggest the continued usefulness of Durkheim's work in aggregate analyses of suicide.
A profile of foreign direct investment by the US fruit and vegetable industry

The analysis revealed incentives for foreign direct investment (FDI) for the US fruit and vegetable industry. A relationship was found between US tariffs on fruits and vegetables and FDI by US produce firms in Latin America. Other factors affecting FDI were also investigated. The analysis revealed that a majority of the commodities produced as a result of FDI by US fruit and vegetable firms were exported to the United States. Significant implications for the US market in light of trade agreements such as NAFTA are presented. These implications include the likelihood of increased FDI and a more globally oriented marketplace for the US fruit and vegetable industry. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Cost averaging techniques for robust control of parametrically uncertain systems

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 1991.
Spontaneous coronary dissection: A cluster of cases with this rare finding

Spontaneous coronary dissection is a rare entity. It has been reported to be usually fatal, with greater than an 80% mortality rate. From April 1990 through March 1993, 10 patients had spontaneous coronary dissection. This is a significant increase in the incidence of this diagnosis, with only one prior case at this institution in 1983 (p < 0.001). All of the patients survived. Of the 10 patients, eight were women, and seven of those were premenopausal. Only one was post partum. Acute myocardial infarction was the presenting condition in nine patients. Three patients had spontaneous dissections involving two arteries. Only one patient had associated atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. Surgery was required for continued symptoms in three patients, with difficulty grafting the dissected artery in two. Nine patients have no symptoms, and one has class II angina. With aggressive medical therapy the prognosis of patients with spontaneous coronary dissection may not be as dismal as previously reported.
Aqueductal web causing obstructive hydrocephalus demonstrated on sagittal FIESTA sequence.

A 4-month-old boy presented with a rapidly increasing head circumference, a bulging anterior fontanelle and dilated scalp veins. Sagittal FIESTA sequence (Fig. 1) demonstrated a marked dilatation of the lateral and third ventricles with a normal fourth ventricle. A small web was noted within the aqueduct (arrow) that was obstructing the aqueduct and resulting in hydrocephalus. An aqueductal web is a congenital translucent membrane composed of fibrillary neuroglia with clumps of ependymal cells [1]. Recognition of this entity is crucial since it is curable by surgical resection, which avoids the morbidity and risks associated with shunting. The FIESTA (fast imaging employing steady state acquisition) is an ultrafast pulse sequence that provides high-resolution images with outstanding image contrast between the cerebrospinal fluid and brain parenchyma and high signal-to-noise ratio, thereby improving conspicuity of small intraventricular lesions like aqueductal webs. A 3D-CISS (constructive interference in steady state) sequence is a similar sequence on scanners from other manufacturers [2].
Torsional Heterotic Geometries

Abstract We construct new examples of torsional heterotic backgrounds using duality with orientifold flux compactifications. We explain how duality provides a perturbative solution to the type I/heterotic string Bianchi identity. The choice of connection used in the Bianchi identity plays an important role in the construction. We propose the existence of a much larger landscape of compact torsional geometries using string duality. Finally, we present some quantum exact metrics that correspond to NS5-branes placed on an elliptic space. These metrics describe how torus isometries are broken by NS flux.
Growth and physiology of aspen supplied with different fertilizer addition rates

Variable internal plant nutrient content may confound plant response to environmental stress. Plant nutrient content may be controlled with relative addition rate techniques in solution culture. However, because raising large numbers of plants in flowing solution culture is difficult, we investigated the feasibility of raising plants in soil mix using relative fertilizer additions. Aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) clones (216, 259 and 271) planted in pots containing a peat, sand and vermiculite (2:1:1, v/v/v) soil mix were grown with exponentially increasing fertilizer concentrations and harvested periodically to assess growth. Addition rate treatments ranged from 0.01 to 0.05 day -1 . The lag phase of growth, in which plants adjusted to the fertilizer regime, lasted 40 days after which plants entered the experimental period characterized by constant relative growth rates equivalent to applied fertilizer addition rates. Total plant nutrient concentration was (1) unique for each addition rate, (2) linearly related to addition rate and growth rate, and (3) tended to increase at the highest, and decrease at the lowest addition rates. Regardless, the plants appeared to have attained steady-state conditions. Allocation of carbon to roots increased with lower addition rate treatments and was not dependent upon ontogeny. There were no treatment differences in growth response among aspen clones. Yet there were treatment differences in leaf chlorophyll and photosynthesis within the clones. For the 0.05 day -1 addition rate treatment, chlorophyll, leaf N concentration and photosynthetic rate were strongly correlated with one another, were at a maximum in recently mature leaves, and rapidly declined with leaf age. The rate of decline in these leaf characteristics was slowest in clone 271, consistent with the leaf longevity stress response reported elsewhere. Plant responses from these relative fertilizer addition trials in soil mix agree closely with those run in hydroponics, indicating that steady-state nutrition can be achieved with a technically simple experimental assemblage.
The effects of density and relative size on the aggressive behaviour, movement and feeding of damselfly larvae (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)

Abstract How the aggressive behaviour of the larvae of a damselfly species, Ischnura verticalis, changed when density and size combinations were manipulated, and whether changes in feeding and movement patterns accompanied changes in aggressive behaviour were investigated in the laboratory. During aggressive encounters larvae struck with their mouthparts at larvae of the same size as themselves more frequently as density increased. However, proportionately fewer encounters occurred between larvae of the same size as density increased and as the size of individuals present, but not involved in the encounter, increased within the highest density. Density did not affect the behaviour used to initiate encounters by larger or smaller larvae, but both larger and smaller larvae initiated proportionately fewer encounters as density increased. All instars decreased their movement and responsiveness toward prey as larval density was increased and when paired with successively larger instars within each density. However, only the two larger instars decreased the amount of prey they consumed in response to the manipulations. Larvae appeared to reduce their involvement in aggressive encounters by increasing their vigilance of other larvae. The potential population consequences of these alterations in individual behaviour are discussed.
Why Defeating Insurgencies Is Hard: The Effect of Intelligence in Counterinsurgency Operations---A Best-Case Scenario

In insurgency situations, the government-organized force is confronted by a small guerrilla group that is dispersed in the general population with no or a very small signature. Effective counterinsurgency operations require good intelligence. Absent intelligence, not only might the insurgents escape unharmed and continue their violent actions, but collateral damage caused to the general population from poor targeting may generate adverse response against the government and create popular support for the insurgents, which may result in higher recruitment to the insurgency. We model the dynamic relations among intelligence, collateral casualties in the population, attrition, recruitment to the insurgency, and reinforcement to the government force. Even under best-case assumptions, we show that the government cannot totally eradicate the insurgency by force. The best it can do is contain it at a certain fixed level.
Women in substance abuse recovery: measures of resilience and self-differentiation.

The National Institute of Drug Abuse has promoted drug abuse research in the past two decades focusing on women and gender differences. One hundred twenty-eight Hispanic and White women have participated in this comparative descriptive study that has examined the differences between chemically dependent (CD) women in recovery and non—chemically dependent (non-CD) women in regard to resilience and self-differentiation—demographic variables associated with resilience and self-differentiation and recovery variables associated with resilience and self-differentiation in the CD women. Findings indicate that the CD women and Hispanic women have scored significantly lower on measures of resilience and self-differentiation. Among the recovery variables, resilience and self-differentiation are significant for children support but community support is not significant. The finding that Hispanic and White women in recovery score lower on resilience and self-differentiation is important for designing treatment strateg...
Needle displacement during HDR brachytherapy in the treatment of prostate cancer.

Abstract Purpose: We used clinical patient data to examine implant displacement between high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy fractions for prostate cancer to determine its impact on treatment delivery. Materials and Methods: We analyzed the verification films taken prior to each fraction for 96 consecutive patients treated with HDR brachytherapy boosts as part of their radiation therapy for definitive treatment of organ-confined prostate cancer at our institution. Patients were treated with 18–24 Gy in 4 fractions of HDR delivered in 40 hours followed by 36–39.6 Gy external beam radiation to the prostate. We determined the mean and maximum displacement distances of marker seeds placed in the prostate and of the implanted needles between HDR fractions. Results: Mean and maximum displacement distances between fractions were documented up to 7.6 mm and 28.5 mm, respectively, for the implant needles and 3.6 mm and 11.4 mm, respectively, for the gold marker seeds. All displacement of implant needles occurred in the caudal direction. At least 1 cm caudal displacement of needles occurred prior to 15.5% all fractions. Manual adjustment of needles was required prior to 15% of fractions, and adjustment of the CLP only was required in 24%. Most of the displacement for both the marker seeds and needles occurred between the first and second fractions. Conclusions: There is significant caudal displacement of interstitial implant needles between HDR fractions in our prostate cancer patients. Obtaining verification films and making adjustments in the treatment volume prior to each fraction is necesary to avoid significant inaccuracies in treatment delivery.
Universal Flow in the First fm/c at RHIC

Abstract We will show how both elliptic and radial flow generated during the first fm/c at RHIC is independent of the state of matter and depends only on the initial energy density profile. Descriptions based on partons or classical fields, thermalized or highly anisotropic, all lead to the same collective velocity given a few easily satisfied conditions. This significantly narrows the uncertainty for initializing hydrodynamic prescriptions.
Impact of maternal diabetes on birthweight is greater in non-Hispanic blacks than in non-Hispanic whites

Aims/hypothesis To determine the impact of maternal diabetes during pregnancy on racial disparities in fetal growth.
Hormesis is central to toxicology, pharmacology and risk assessment

This paper summarizes numerous conceptual and experimental advances over the past two decades in the study of hormesis. Hormesis is now generally accepted as a real and reproducible biological phenomenon, being highly generalized and independent of biological model, endpoint measured and chemical class/physical stressor. The quantitative features of the hormetic dose response are generally highly consistent, regardless of the model and mechanism, and represent a quantitative index of biological plasticity at multiple levels of biological organization. The hormetic dose-response model has been demonstrated to make far more accurate predictions of responses in low dose zones than either the threshold or linear at low dose models. Numerous therapeutic agents widely used by humans are based on the hormetic dose response and its low dose stimulatory characteristics. It is expected that as low dose responses come to dominate toxicological research that risk assessment practices will incorporate hormetic concepts in the standard setting process.
Ventilation/Perfusion Imaging in a Rat Model of Airway Obstruction

The global increase in asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other pulmonary diseases has stimulated interest in preclinical rat models of pulmonary disease. Imaging methods for study of these models is particularly appealing since the results can be readily translated to the clinical setting. Comprehensive understanding of lung function can be achieved by performing registered pulmonary ventilation and perfusion imaging studies in the same animal. While ventilation imaging has been addressed for small animals, quantitative pulmonary perfusion imaging has not been feasible until recently, with our proposed technique for quantitative perfusion imaging using multiple contrast-agent injections and a view-sharing radial imaging technique. Here, we combine the method with registered ventilation imaging using hyperpolarized (3)He in an airway obstruction rodent model. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive quantitative assessment of lung function in small animals at high spatial resolution. Standard deviation of the log (V/Q) is used as a quantitative biomarker to differentiate heterogeneity between the control and treatment group. The estimated value of the biomarker lies within the normal range of values reported in the literature. The biomarker that was extracted using the imaging technique described in this work showed statistically significant differences between the control rats and those with airway obstruction.
Spatially resolved analysis of calcium–silica tubes in reverse chemical gardens

Abstract Reverse chemical gardens consist of hollow tubular structures that form in a downward direction from a mechanically held silicate crystal immersed in a metal salt solution. As a model case for this reaction–precipitation system, we investigate the composition, morphology, and microstructure of these tubes in the framework of an experimental model based on preselected reactant concentrations and flow rates. In these experiments, the heavier waterglass solution is being injected downward into large volumes of lighter calcium chloride solution. The resulting hollow precipitation tubes have diameters that range from 0.5 to 3.0 mm. The tube walls have a typical width measurement of 40 μm and are gradient materials. Scanning electron microscopy along with energy-dispersive X-ray spectral data identify calcium and silicon as the major components within the exterior and interior surfaces, respectively. Finally, we compare the behavior, chemical composition, and morphology of tubular precipitation structures created upon the hydrodynamic injection of calcium chloride into a large volume of sodium silicate solution carried out in the upward direction.
Studies of the effects of sex hormones on autosomal and x-linked genetic control of induced and spontaneous antibody production

In these studies we investigated the modifying effect of sex hormones on both the levels of induced antibodies after immunization with single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and the levels of spontaneously produced anti-T cell antibodies (NTA). To learn whether the responses were genetically determined or under hormonal regulation, we analyzed hybrids produced by crossing the autoimmune NZB strain with the nonautoimmune DBA/2 strain. For both anti-ssDNA and NTA, males usually had a lower response than females; this difference could largely be removed by castration of the males. Females given testosterone implants also had decreased antibody levels. The higher responses in females and suppression by testosterone were true for all mice studied except NZB mice. NZB mice appear to have an insensitivity to the suppressive effects of testosterone.
Maternal Preeclampsia Predicts the Development of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Objective To test the hypothesis that exposure to preeclampsia is associated with an increased risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Study design A prospective cohort study of 107 babies born between 23 and 32 weeks gestation, collecting maternal, neonatal, and placental data. Results Of the 107 infants studied, 27 (25%) developed BPD. The bivariate odds ratio (OR) for the relationship between pre-eclampsia and BPD was 2.96 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.17 to 7.51; P = .01). When controlling for gestational age, birth weight z-score, chorioamnionitis, and other clinical confounders, the OR of developing BPD was 18.7 (95% CI = 2.44 to 144.76). Including the occurrence of preeclampsia, clinical chorioamnionitis, male sex, and maternal tobacco use in addition to gestational age and birth weight z-score accounted for 54% of the variability of the odds of developing BPD. Conclusions BPD is increased for infants exposed to preeclampsia. This has possible implications for the prevention of BPD with proangiogenic agents, such as vascular endothelial growth factor.
Antibiotic prophylaxis in the placement of totally implanted central venous access ports

Abstract Background Antibiotic prophylaxis during placement of implanted central venous access ports (CVAP) has not been studied. This retrospective review compared the rate of catheter-related infections (CRIs) with and without perioperative antibiotics. Methods This was a single-center study that compared patients treated with and without a single dose of antibiotics during CVAP placement. CRIs were defined as a patient treated with antibiotics for port site induration, positive blood cultures, or suspicion of infection that led to port removal within 30 days of placement. Results CVAP were placed in 459 patients, 103 of whom (22.4%) received antibiotic prophylaxis. Surgical technique and patient demographics were similar to those patients not receiving antibiotics (356). All 9 (2%) CRIs occurred in the non-prophylactic antibiotic group (P = .218), with 5 infections resulting in port removal. Conclusions Single-dose perioperative antibiotics may decrease CVAP infection rates and should be studied further in a prospective randomized trial.
Utilization of fatty acids by the developing steelhead sac-fry, Salmo gairdneri.

Abstract 1. 1. The fatty acid content of both the yolk and the steelhead sac-fry, Salmo gairdneri , has been studied during development. 2. 2. Losses of individual fatty acids from the yolk were proportional to the mass of the particular fatty acid present and only 18:1 showed any tendency to be retained in this compartment. 3. 3. After hatching the fatty acid composition of the sac-fry was distinct from that of the yolk. 4. 4. Certain fatty acids, 16:0, 18:0 and 22:6, were preferentially retained in the sac-fry lipids. Other fatty acids, 16:1, 18:1, 20:1 and 22:5, were retained to a much smaller extent considering the quantities available. 5. 5. It is suggested that 22:6 plays a special role in the fatty acid metabolism of the fish.