cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Standardization for image characteristics in telemammography using genetic and nonlinear algorithms

As the soft copy reading and computer assisted diagnosis (CAD) in mammography become more and more important, the standardization of digital images becomes paramount. Telemammography and telemedicine requires the standardization for image characteristics, such as image resolution, bit-depth and intensity response. Soft copy reading and CAD in mammography are both dependent on the characteristics of the source of the digital data, either direct digital mammography or digitized screen-film mammography. An algorithm developed on images from one database may not perform well as on images from another database (with a different digitization). In this paper, we describe two methods based on a genetic algorithm and a nonlinear algorithm for standardization of digitized and digital mammography. The proposed standardization techniques are based on geometric and intensity transformations that are discovered using a set of calibration images. A set of transformation algorithm is used to search for the best standardization.
Multiple transcription start sites for FOXP2 with varying cellular specificities

FOXP2 is a forkhead transcription factor implicated in developmental verbal dyspraxia, a human speech and language disorder. FOXP2 is expressed in complex patterns during brain, lung, heart, and gut development and on into adulthood. Both the protein sequence and brain expression patterns are highly conserved through much of vertebrate evolution. FOXP2 also contains six ultraconserved regions in its introns, consistent with the idea that FOXP2 is tightly regulated. Previous evidence suggested the presence of three transcription start sites for FOXP2, and we sought to characterize them and determine their cell and tissue specificity. We used 5' RNA ligase-mediated rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RLM-RACE) and RT-PCR to identify four transcription start sites for human FOXP2, the fourth being in a novel exon. Two of the transcription start sites, including the one in the novel exon, appear to be more cell line specific and lie in an area of remarkably high conservation. We propose that these two transcription start sites may be of great interest in future studies of FOXP2 regulation.
Culture and commodifictation: technology and structural power in the early US recording industry

Draws on Neo‐Weberian theory to argue that commodification is itself a cultural process, whilst not discounting the potentially negative effect of commercialisation. Examines product conception in the early US recording industry citing three disparate periods. Shows that in the late 1870s, recording firms sold and leased phonographs to entrepreneurs for public exhibitions, the the late 1880s firms leased phonographs and graphophones for dictation purpose and in the 1890s, firms exploited the phonograph by offering musical recordings. Concludes that structural power helped shape the product concepts of the industry.
Resection of Pulmonary Blebs and Pleurodesis for Spontaneous Pneumothorax

Over a 20-year period, 83 patients underwent operative pleurodesis with resection of pulmonary blebs for spontaneous pneumothorax. Follow-up for all patients was between 5 and 25 years, with a mean of 9.1 years. There were five early (5.6 percent) and three late recurrences (3.6 percent). There were no deaths or need for blood transfusion in our series. There was a low incidence of postoperative fever (n = 8), minor wound infection (n = 6), air leak (n = 6), or pneumonia (n = 2). The low morbidity and recurrence rates compare favorably with published series of alternative treatment options for spontaneous pneumothorax.
Physical activity, self-esteem, and self-efficacy relationships in older adults: a randomized controlled trial.

A randomized controlled trial examined the growth and form of multidimensional self-esteem over a 12-month period (6-month exercise intervention and 6-month follow-up) in 174 older adults engaged in either a walking or stretching/toning program. The extent to which changes in physical fitness parameters and physical self-efficacy were related to changes in perceptions of attractive body, strength, physical conditioning, and physical self-worth was also determined. Latent growth curve analyses showed a curvilinear pattern of growth in esteem with significant increases at all levels of self-esteem upon completion of the intervention followed by significant declines at 6 months poistintervention in both groups. Frequency of activity and changes in physical fitness, body fat, and self-efficacy were related to improvements in esteem perceptions relative to attractive body, strength, and physical condition. Model fitting procedures suggested that the best fit of the data was to a model in which the influence of changes in efficacy and physical parameters on physical self-worth were mediated by perceptions of attractive body and physical conditions.
Assessment of Liquefaction Potential Using Optimum Seeking Method

The use of the cone penetration test (CPT) resistance data as an index for liquefaction assessments is receiving increased attention because of the advantages of this in-situ test method. This paper investigates the feasibility of using the optimum seeking method to assess liquefaction potential from actual CPT field data. Optimization theory is a very important branch of applied mathematics, and has a wide application in the practical world. Using the available field liquefaction and nonliquefaction data, the influence of various factors is quantified using the optimum seeking method. The factors considered are: the earthquake magnitude, M; the vertical effective overburden stress, σv0′; the CPT tip resistance, qc; the peak acceleration at the ground surface of the site, amax; and the median grain diameter of the soil, D50. The most important factor has been identified as the CPT tip resistance. Since neither normalization of qc nor calculation of seismic shear stress is required, the proposed method is ...
Special deLIVERy: podocyte injury promotes renal angiotensin II generation from liver-derived angiotensinogen

The role of the circulating renin–angiotensin system (RAS) in regulating systemic blood pressure and sodium balance is well established. More recently, researchers have turned their focus to the local generation of angiotensin II (Ang II) in specific tissues. Matsusaka et al. revisit the renal RAS and provide evidence that liver-derived angiotensinogen (AGT) is a major determinant of renal Ang II levels in a model of podocyte injury.
A Comparison of Four Batterer Intervention Systems Do Court Referral, Program Length, and Services Matter?

A comparative multisite evaluation was conducted in four geographically distributed cities to examine the relative effectiveness of different approaches. The intervention systems represented a range of court-referral procedures (pretrial or postconviction), program duration (3 months to 9 months), and additional services (occasional referral or in-house alcohol treatment). 210 men at each site were recruited and tested (background, Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory, Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test). The batterers' partners were interviewed by phone every 3 months over a 15-month follow-up after intake, with a response rate of 77% overall. There was no significant difference in the reassault rate, portion of men making threats, and victim quality of life across the four sites. The longest, most comprehensive program did, however, have a significantly lower rate of severe reassault substantiated in a logistic regression controlling for background variables. The findings suggest that differing interven...
The Role of Reciprocity and Proximity in Junior High School Friendships.

The relationship of reciprocity, sex, and race to friendship proximity in adolescent friendships was studied. Intelligence, personality, physical attractiveness, popularity, and proximity were measured for 136 junior high school students. Subjects were classified as either having reciprocated or nonreciprocated friendships. Reciprocated adolescents were perceived as more attractive, had higher social status, and were more committed to their best friend than nonreciprocated adolescents. More black than white students were in the nonreciprocated group. White students had more in-school contact and black students more out-of-school contact with their friends.
Use of thermal desorption modulators in gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer

A thermal desorption modulator is comprised of a short length of tubing with some adsorbent or chromatographic stationary phase inside. A flowing stream containing a sample can be introduced into an instrument such as a gas chromatograph through a modulator. The concentration of samples in the flowing stream can be effectively modulated by modulating the temperature of the modulator. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the application of a thermal desorption modulator in GC/MS.
Lupus nephritis: guidelines for lupus nephritis--more recommendations than data?

Several management guidelines for lupus nephritis have been published this year. All of the guidelines provide clear and consistent recommendations, but although evidence-based, many of the recommendations are not supported by high-quality clinical data. The guidelines reveal these evidence gaps and are thus an important roadmap for future lupus nephritis clinical research.
Effects of divalent cations on phase behavior and structure of a zwitterionic phospholipid (DMPC) monolayer at the air-water interface

Effects of divalent cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+) on a zwitterionic phospholipid monolayer at the air−water interface are investigated by surface pressure−area isotherms and in situ X-ray scattering. Divalent cations lower the surface pressure for the fluid (LE) to condensed (L2) phase transition in a strongly ion-specific manner. Surprisingly, the two-dimensional lattice dimensions and the tilt of the lipids’ alkyl tails in the L2 phase show a nearly ion-nonspecific dependence on the excess surface pressure above the transition pressure. An empirical “universal” relationship was found between the tail tilt and the excess pressure, with the tails in the L2 phase always displaying a tilt of 29° at the transition. A practical implication of these results is that, regardless of the divalent cation present, the microscopic details of the lipid tail packing in the L2 phase can be deduced at any surface pressure once the transition pressure is obtained from isotherms.
The Glass Transition and Sub-Tg-Relaxation in Pharmaceutical Powders and Dried Proteins by Thermally Stimulated Current

The main goal of the study was to evaluate the applicability of thermally stimulated current (TSC) as a measure of molecular mobility in dried globular proteins. Three proteins, porcine somatotropin, bovine serum albumin, and immunoglobulin, as well as materials with a strong calorimetric glass transition (Tg), that is, indomethacin and poly(vinypyrrolidone) (PVP), were studied by both TSC and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Protein/sugar colyophilized mixtures were also studied by DSC, to estimate calorimetric Tg for proteins using extrapolation procedure. In the majority of cases, TSC detected relaxation events that were not observed by DSC. For example, a sub-Tg TSC event (beta-relaxation) was observed for PVP at approximately 120°C, which was not detected by the DSC. Similarly, DSC did not detect events in any of the three proteins below the thermal denaturation temperature whereas a dipole relaxation was detected by TSC in the range of 90–140°C depending on the protein studied. The TSC signal in proteins was tentatively assigned as localized mobility of protein segments, which is different from a large-scale cooperative motions usually associated with calorimetric Tg. TSC is a promising method to study the molecular mobility in proteins and other materials with weak calorimetric Tg. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 98:81–93, 2009
Neutronics aspects of a DHCE experiment

Abstract The DHCE (dynamic helium charging experiment) irradiation experiment was conceived to simulate fusion-relevant helium production in a fission reactor irradiation. The main objective is to maintain the helium-to-dpa ratio at, roughly, the same level as expected in a fusion environment. The problem in fission reactor irradiation is that helium production is very low, because the fission neutrons, for basically all structural materials relevant for fusion applications, do not have enough energy to trigger the helium producing reactions. A DHCE experiment involves the decay of tritium to He-3 to produce the required helium during irradiation. This paper describes an analysis of the most important aspects of a DHCE experiment and compares different types of fission reactors and their suitability for performing such an experiment. It is concluded that DHCE experiments are feasible in a certain class of mixed-spectrum fission reactors, but a careful and detailed evaluation, for each facility and condition, must be performed to ensure the success of the experiment.
1 MeV Electron Radiation Effects in SnO2 - SiO2 - Silicon Solar Cells

High efficiency semiconductor-insulator-semiconductor (SIS) solar cells irradiated at 1 MeV showed a 66% decrease in AMO efficiency compared to a typical 23% decrease in n/p junction cells at a fluence of 1 × 1015 e-/cm2. These stable terrestrial cells had a critical fluence of 1 × 1013 e-/cm2. Spectral response and diffusion length measurements show that this pronounced degradation is related to increased minority carrier recombination in the 0.5 ?-cm n-type Si. Thermionic emission theory indicates a decrease in barrier height with increased fluence. This contributed to the 75% decrease in short circuit current density at 3.1 × 1016 e-/cm2. SIS cells on p-type Si should show improved response.
The Crash of the Long Machine and its Aftermath

In seven short turbulent years Huey Long built a political machine that made him dictator of the state and a strong figure in national politics. At the time of his death in 1935, he left his political heirs an organization which, it seemed, would keep them in power for years to come. Through legislative enactments and constitutional amendments the machine had absolute control of the state election machinery. It controlled the registration books, and appointed all election officials. Through the state "civil service" law the machine had the authority to approve or disapprove almost all city, parish, and state employees. The political revolution that terminated the Long regime was the result of several factors. The most important were federal investigations, indictments, convictions, and fear of election officials to manipulate the votes; the crusading newspapers, especially in New Orleans, investigating and exposing scandals, and giving full publicity to the federal exposures; the organization of clubs and societies in New Orleans and other cities demanding reform and campaigning against Earl Long, the successor to the throne; disunity within machine ranks and half-hearted support of Long; and, finally, vigorous campaigning by candidates against Long. Undoubtedly, the most important single factor was the activity of both the federal government and the press in exposing corruption and graft on the part of state officials. As early as the Spring of 1938, the United States Collector of Revenue for Louisiana began an investigation of a rumor he had heard that James Monroe Smith, President of Louisiana State University, was gambling in warehouse receipts for Canadian whiskey.' As the investigation proceeded it was learned that Dr. Smith was plunging in grain, apparently trying to corner the grain market. While this investigation was under way State Senator James A. Noe, one-time ally and favorite of Huey Long, urged an investigation into Louisiana politics by the United States Department of Justice. On June 3, 1939, Senator Noe had a conference with 0. John Rogge, United States Assistant At-
Composite-meson model and meson exchange currents

We study the meson exchange currents (MEC) mechanism for the pion double-charge exchange (DCX) reaction in a composite-meson model. The model assumes that the mesons are two-quark systems and can interact with each other only through quark loops. The contributions of the ρ, σ, and f 0 mesons, the four-quark box diagram as well as a contact diagram has been taken into account. It is shown that the contribution of the ρ, σ, and f 0 mesons increases the forward scattering cross-section in an average by 25% and decreases with energy.
Individual differences in peripheral blood immunological and hormonal measures in adult male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta): Evidence for temporal and situational consistency

A growing body of research has indicated that consistent individual differences exist in physiological systems with which the immune system interacts. Few data have been reported that demonstrate stable individual differences in immunological measures, however. In the present study, enumerative measures of immune system activity were examined in 36 adult male rhesus macaques over a 13 month period under baseline conditions as well as under conditions of pharmacological and physical challenge. Blood samples were assayed for plasma concentrations of ACTH and cortisol, as well as neutrophil, total lymphocyte, CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte numbers, and the CD4/CD8 ratio. Analyses revealed that individual differences in the CD4/CD8 ratio and, to a lesser extent, plasma ACTH and cortisol concentrations, and neutrophil and CD4+ lymphocyte numbers were consistent across situations and times, despite changes in mean values during the various blood sampling sessions. The results suggest that the CD4/CD8 ratio might be considered trait-like and a useful immunological measure of biobehavioral organization.
High resolution electron beam lithography using ZEP-520 and KRS resists at low voltage

ZEP‐520 and KRS resist systems have been evaluated as candidates for use in low voltage electron beam lithography. ZEP‐520 is a conventional chain scission resist which has a positive tone for over two orders of magnitude in exposure dose. KRS is a chemically amplified resist which can be easily tone reversed with a sensitivity ∼8 μC/cm2 at 1 keV. Both resist systems are shown to have sensitivities ∼1 μC/cm2 for positive tone area exposures to 1 keV electrons. A decrease in contrast in 50 nm thick resist layers is seen when exposure voltage is lowered from 2 to 1 keV, indicating nonuniform energy deposition over the resist thickness. High resolution single pass lines have been transferred into both Si and SiO2 substrates at both low and high voltages in each resist system without using multilayer resist masks. The ZEP‐520 and KRS resists are shown to have resolutions of 50 and 60 nm, respectively, at 1 kV, within a factor of 2 of their high voltage resolutions under identical development conditions. A cusp shaped etch profile in Si allows high aspect ratio 20 nm wide trenches to be fabricated using these resists on bulk Si. Low voltage exposures have been used to pattern gratings with periods as small as 75 and 100 nm in ZEP‐520 and KRS, respectively. Low voltage exposures on SiO2 show no indications of pattern distortion due to charging or proximity effects.
Elastic properties of a polymer chain

We describe the results of computer simulations on a model polymer chain with excluded volume interactions in the presence of an external stretching force. For weak and moderate forces the response is linear while for strong forces the behavior is nonlinear, consistent with the non-Gaussian nature of the end-to-end vector $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{R}$ distribution for large $R$. In the vicinity of the $\ensuremath{\bigominus}$ temperature the onset of nonlinearity occurs at larger forces.
Boundary-Activated Dissociation of Peptide Ions in a Quadrupole Ion Trap

Boundary-activated dissociation (BAD) of peptides has been investigated as an alternative to the use of resonant excitation to effect collision-induced dissociation in the quadrupole ion trap. BAD's nonresonant excitation mechanism overcomes a major drawback in resonant excitation, namely, the variation of the resonant excitation frequency as a function of ion space charging. As with resonant excitation, the pulsed introduction of heavy gases (argon, xenon) extends the applicability of BAD when tandem mass spectrometry is performed on peptide ions. The presence of heavy gases during ion activation allows greater internal energy deposition and also enables BAD to be performed at much lower trapping field strengths (lower q values) than previously reported for this technique. This extends the mass range over which product ions can be collected.
Unconscious Bias in Citizens’ Evaluations of Public Sector Performance

The premise of our article is that repeated exposure to antipublic sector messages affects the way people evaluate the performance of public sector organizations. More specifically, we argue that individuals’ implicit attitudes regarding public sector organizations are biased: Citizens automatically and unconsciously associate public sector organizations with inefficiency, inflexibility, and other pejoratives, and these automatic associations color their assessments of public sector performance. Implicit antipublic sector bias has important theoretical implications. It may help to explain whether, and to what degree, individuals respond favorably to positive public sector performance information. More specifically, it suggests that individuals’ evaluations of government performance will be weighed down by their deep-seated, unconscious views of the public sector; that the effect of information on individuals’ performance evaluations will be short-lived; and that individuals’ underlying beliefs about public sector performance will be difficult to change. We design three survey experiments to investigate these propositions, focusing on individuals’ evaluations of United States Postal Service (USPS) performance. We find evidence for each proposition.
Terahertz antennas and systems for space borne platforms

Space based applications in astrophysics, planetary, and Earth sciences have been the primary drivers for the technology developments in the terahertz frequency band. In this paper we review the status of the terahertz technology today as it applies to antennas and systems and discuss the future needs and direction.
Assessment of graphene nanomesh and nanoroad transistors by chemical modification

Chemical modification of graphene plays an important role on opening a bandgap for potential digital electronic device applications. We propose and examine the performance limits of graphene nanoroad and graphene nanomesh transistors created by selective hydrogenation and fluorination of graphene. First principle ab intio simulations with a ballistic transistor model are applied to model two-dimensional transistor channels made of hydrogenated or fluorinated graphene nanoroads and nanomeshes. It is shown that array of graphene nanoroads defined by hydrogenation or fluorination of atomically narrow dimmer lines in a 2D graphene are most ideal for transistor channel material in terms of delivering a large on-current, which significantly outperforms Si MOSFETs. In addition, comparable performance to silicon can be achieved by careful designed graphene nanomesh through patterned hydrogenation or fluorination. Fluorination is shown to be energetically more preferred and easier to achieve than hydrogenation.
INHIBITION OF TELOMERASE IS RELATED TO THE LIFE SPAN AND TUMORIGENICITY OF HUMAN PROSTATE CANCER CELLS

Purpose: Telomerase, the enzyme that catalyzes the elongation of telomeres, is illegitimately activated in the majority of cancers, including that of the prostate, where it may greatly extend the life span of malignant cells. The inhibition of telomerase by molecular intervention has been shown to lead eventually to cell death in several tumor or in vitro immortalized cell lines and in 1 case prevent tumor growth in vivo. Therefore, we tested whether a similar strategy may be used to limit the tumorigenic potential of late stage prostate cancer cells.Materials and Methods: PC-3, LNCaP and DU-145 human prostate cancer cells were infected with a retrovirus encoding a dominant-negative version of the catalytic subunit of telomerase (DN-hTERT). Subclones or polyclonal populations were assayed for DN-hTERT expression, telomerase activity, telomere length, cell life span and in most cases tumorigenicity in nude mice.Results: DN-hTERT expression levels directly correlated with cell life span and tumorigenic grow...
Production of Antitoxins to Two Toxins of Clostridium difficile and Immunological Comparison of the Toxins by Cross-Neutralization Studies

We prepared antitoxins specific for each of two toxins of Clostridium difficile and used these to demonstrate that the toxins are immunologically distinct.
Ritual Behaviour and the Origins of Modern Cognition

This article argues that ritual behaviour was a critical selective force in the emergence of modern cognition. The argument is based on the following observations: (1) Upper Palaeolithic Cro-Magnons exhibited unprecedented levels of social complexity and there is evidence to suggest that this complexity may have begun even earlier in Africa, possibly connected with the Toba eruption. (2) Creating larger, more complex social arrangements, especially those that cut across traditional within-group boundaries, would have required more elaborate and demanding social rituals. (3) Ritual behaviour requiring focused attention and the inhibition of pre-potent responses places demands on areas of the brain known to be associated with working memory. (4) An enhancement of working-memory capacity was very likely necessary for the emergence of modern cognition. (5) The social rituals of traditional societies, which provide the best window on the social rituals of our ancestors, are highly demanding in terms of maintaining focused attention and inhibiting pre-potent responses. (6) Those of our ancestors best able to successfully engage in ritual behaviour would have accrued fitness advantages from increased access to resources, status enhancements and psychophysical health effects. (7) Larger working-memory capacity was very likely a characteristic of these more ritually-capable hominins.
Development of Method for the Preparation of Highly Purified 90Y

Abstract The extraction of Y3+ from Sr2+ has been carried out with a new type of extractant, sym-dibenzo-16-crown-5-oxyacetic acid, in chloroform using 87mSr and 90mY as tracers. The extraction efficiency of Y3+ depends strongly on the pH of aqueous phase, whereas the extraction of Sr2+ is negligible at pH
Transitions in ethylene polymers

A study of polyethylenes and ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymers by dynamic mechanical mesurements gives new information on the transitions in polyethylene polymers. The melting points agree with the predictions of Flory's theory. The alpha transition is shown to be due to the melting of crystallites containing ethylene sequences of lengths near the average sequence lengths; this transition is related to the lengths of crystallites. The beta transition is not necessarily due to branch points, as a number of noncrystallizable groups produce beta transitions at the same temperature. The beta transition degenerates into the gamma transition if the crystallinity is destroyed.
The anthrax toxin activator gene atxA is associated with CO2-enhanced non-toxin gene expression in Bacillus anthracis

The Bacillus anthracis toxin genes, cya, lef, and pag, can be viewed as a regulon, in which transcription of all three genes is activated in trans by the same regulatory gene, atxA, in response to the same signal, CO2. In atxA+ strains, toxin gene expression is increased 5- to 20-fold in cells grown in 5% CO2 relative to cells grown in air. CO2-enhanced toxin gene transcription is not observed in atx4-null mutants. Here, we used two independent techniques to obtain evidence for additional CO2-induced atxA-regulated genes. First, total protein preparations from atxA4+ and atxA isolates grown in 5% CO2 and in air were examined by two-dimensional electrophoresis. Comparison of the resulting protein patterns indicated that synthesis of non-toxin proteins is influenced by growth in elevated CO2 and the toxin gene regulator, atxA. Second, we generated random transcriptional lacZ fusions in B. anthracis with transposon Tn917-LTV3. Transposon-insertion libraries were screened for mutants expressing CO2-enhanced atxA-dependent beta-galactosidase activity. DNA sequence analysis of transposon insertion sites in 17 mutants carrying CO2- and atxA-regulated fusions revealed 10 mutants carrying independent insertions on the 185-kb toxin plasmid pXO1 which did not map to the toxin genes. The tcr-lacZ fusion mutants (tcr for toxin coregulated) were Tox+, indicating that these genes may not be involved in anthrax toxin gene activation. Our data indicate a clear association of atxA with CO2-enhanced gene expression in B. anthracis and provide evidence that atxA regulates genes other than the structural genes for the anthrax toxin proteins.
Package characterization and development of a flip chip QFN package: fcMLF

Describes the performance of a low cost molded package using flip chip interconnections on a copper lead frame substrate. Two flip chip interconnect metallurgies were evaluated: High Pb bumps attached to the lead frame using eutectic Sn37Pb solder paste; Au bumps attached to the leadframe using eutectic Sn3.5Ag solder paste. This package format is identified as the flip chip MicroLeadframe (fcMLF) package family (QFN) in this presentation. Temperature cycle, HAST, storage, and MRT testing were performed. All reliability requirements were achieved. Level 1 260/spl deg/C J-STD-020A moisture classification was achieved. This fcMLF package was also evaluated with and without an exposed thermal pad. Electrical model simulations were completed showing the package was applicable for use up to 40 GHz, depending upon die to package size ratio. Thermal models were completed that demonstrated thermal dissipation of 35/spl deg/C/W theta JA for a 4.00 /spl times/ 4.00 mm body size with an exposed pad.
Agrarian reform and revolutionary justice in Soconusco, Chiapas: Campesinos and the Mexican state, 1934-1940

During the mid- to late 1930s, rural activism surged in the coffee-growing region of southern Chiapas and north-western Guatemala. This article examines the causes and impacts of sustained campesino protests at the grassroots level on the Mexican side of the border. The porous border between the two nations hindered the development of centralised power networks that prevailed in other parts of Chiapas. Campesinos and reformist federal government officials such as teachers and agrarian engineers built alliances that challenged the power of the coffee growers. This article explores the process of negotiation that occurred among campesinos, federal bureaucrats, regional authorities and elite coffee planters in order both to implement and to challenge agrarian reform.
Low-grade appendiceal neoplasm presenting as a volvulus of the cecum

Mucocele of the appendix is an uncommon disorder that is often asymptomatic, but can present similarly to acute appendicitis. Timely diagnosis and treatment is imperative due to the many complications that can result from the mucocele, such as perforation. Appendiceal mucoceles (AM) were previously thought to be either benign or malignant; however, a different pathological classification of AM is currently favored. Also, only a few cases of volvulus of a benign AM have been reported. Here, we present the first reported case of a low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm resulting in a volvulus of the cecum.
On Fraenkel's N-Heap Wythoff's Conjectures

The N-heap Wythoff’s game is a two-player impartial game with N piles of tokens of sizes \( A^1, \ldots , A^N, A^1 \leq \ldots \leq A^N \) Players take turns removing any number of tokens from a single pile, or removing (a1,..., aN) from all piles - ai tokens from the i-th pile, providing that \( 0 \leq a_i \leq A^i, \sum^{N}_{i=1} a-i > = \quad \mathrm{and} \quad a_1 \bigotimes \ldots \bigotimes a_N = 0 \) where ⊕ is the nim addition. The first player that cannot make a move loses. Denote all the P-positions (i.e., losing positions) by \( (A^1, \ldots , A^{N-2}, A^{N-1}_n , A^{N}_{n}), A^{N-2} \leq A^{N-1}_{n} \leq A^{N}_{n} \quad \mathrm{and} \quad A^{N-1}_{n} N_1, A^{N}_{n} = A^{N-1}_{n} + n \). ii) there exist integers N2 and α_2 such that when \( n > N_2, A^{N-1}_{n} = \lfloor n \Phi \rfloor + \epsilon_n + \alpha_2 \quad \mathrm{and} \quad A^{N}_{n} = A^{N-1}_{n} + n, \quad \mathrm{where} \quad -1 \leq \epsilon_n \leq 1 \quad \mathrm{and}\quad \Phi = (1 + \sqrt{5})/2\), the golden section.
Galanthamine Analogs: 6H-benzofuro[3a,3,2,-e,f][1]benzazepine and 6H-benzofuro[3a,3,2-e.f][3]benzazepine

Abstract The known cholinesterase inhibitory capability of the Amarylidaceae alkaloid galanthamine prompted preparation of analogs in which the position of the nitrogen within the azepine ring is altered. The analogs 6 H -benzofuro[3a,3,2- e , f ][1]benzazepine and 6 H -benzofuro[3a,3,2- e , f ][3]benzazepine were prepared in 19 and 2.5%, respectively, following Kametani and Shimizu approaches, respectively. The aniline derivative 6 H -benzofuro[3a,3,2- e , f ][1]benzazepine failed to undergo most of the reactions typical for galanthamine. Thus, it neither oxidized to the analogous narwedine, nor epimerized to the analogous epigalanthamine, nor reduced to the lycoramine analog, under the conditions used for galanthamine.
The Dynamics of Phytoplankton Blooms in Puget Sound, a Fjord in the Northwestern United States*

This paper describes a quantitative investigation of relationships between the growth of phytoplankton, and climatic and hydrodynamci conditions in temperate fjords with marked tides, as exemplified by Puget Sound, Washington (USA). Algal growth in the open waters of the central basin of the Sound is dominated by a number of intense blooms beginning in late April or May and recurring throughout the summer. Rarely, and only briefly, does nitrate become exhausted. The phytoplankton production rate in the central basin of Puget Sound is about 465 g C m-2 year-1. During the springs of 1966 and 1967, oceanographic measurements were carried out at a mid-channel station with sufficient frequency to allow investigation of physical and biological processes with time scales of the order of a day. The principal investigative tool is a numerical model in which the hydrodynamical conditions are represented by an approximate analysis of the gravitational convection mode of circulation. Algal concentration is represented as a continous function of space and time in the model which ascribes changes in phytoplankton density to variations in photosynthetic and respiratory activity, algal sinking, grazing by herbivores, and to mixing and advection. Computations adequately reproduce the principal features of phytoplankton concentrations observed during 75 days and 35 days in the springs of 1966 and 1967, respectively. Numerical experiments assess the relative importance of various processes which govern the level of primary production in Puget Sound. It is concluded that phytoplankton growth is limited by a combination of factors, including vertical advection and turbulence, modulation of underwater light intensity by self-shading and inorganic particulates, sinking of algal cells, and occasional rapid horizontal advection of the population from the area by sustained winds. The high primary productivity of the Sound is due to intensive upward transport of nitrate by the estuarine mechanism. These results should be generally applicable to other temperate fjords because of the largely conventional choice of the biological functions.
ngsTools: methods for population genetics analyses from next-generation sequencing data

Summary: Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies produce short reads that are either de novo assembled or mapped to a reference genome. Genotypes and or SNPs are then determined from the read composition at each site, which become the basis for many downstream analyses. However, for low sequencing depths, e.g. < 10×, there is considerable statistical uncertainty in the assignment of genotypes because of random sampling of homologous base pairs in heterozygotes, and sequencing or alignment errors. Recently, several probabilistic methods have been proposed to account for this uncertainty and make accurate inferences from low quality and/or coverage sequencing data. We present ngsTools, a collection of programs to perform population genetics analyses from NGS data. The methods implemented in these programs do not rely on SNP nor genotype calling, and are particularly suitable for low sequencing depth data. Availability: Programs included in ngsTools are implemented in C/C++ and are freely available for non-commercial use at https: //github.com/mfumagalli/ngsTools.
Gender Differences in Providing Urgent Childcare among Dual-earner Parents

It may be premature to think that contemporary families are egalitarian because wives are working more and fathers are more involved with children. This research contends that egalitarianism is reflected in gender similarity in missing work to attend to children's needs. Drawing from two national surveys of dual-earner parents, familial factors (especially children and spouse's work hours) exceeded job-related factors in determining women's sole provision of urgent childcare. Although men's egalitarian ideology was positively associated with urgent-childcare provision, men as a whole were less likely than women to adapt their work efforts to familial demands. These findings suggest more persistent traditionalism than progress toward egalitarianism in work-family role performance. The implications of these results for future research were briefly discussed.
Fully integrated 23dBm transmit chain with on-chip power amplifier and balun for 802.11a application in standard 45nm CMOS process

A fully integrated transmit chain for 802.11a band with on-chip power amplifier and on-chip balun matching network in 45nm standard digital CMOS process demonstrates saturated power of +23dBm. The average efficiency is +5% and peak efficiency is +15%. A standalone class AB CMOS power amplifier with on-chip BALUN matching network was also produced and detailed characterization data is presented. Using digital predistortion, an EVM of −28dB is achieved at 19dBm for 5GHz band and 2.5GHz band for standalone Power Amplifier.
Urinary retention following routine neurosurgical spine procedures.

Abstract Background The rate and duration of urinary retention after routine cervical and lumbar spine procedures were studied. METHODS Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors related to urinary retention (age, sex, duration of operation, medications, Foley use, hospital stay, and cost) were analyzed in a retrospective review of 503 patients’ charts. RESULTS Urinary retention occurred 38% of the time following cervical and lumbar spine procedures. Advanced age and preoperative β blockers contributed to a higher incidence of urinary retention. Preoperative anti-inflammatory medications and narcotic analgesics reduced the frequency of urinary retention. The duration of urinary retention was prolonged in older patients and patients who underwent intraoperative Foley catheterization. Urinary retention contributed to longer hospitalization and increased hospital costs. CONCLUSIONS Transient urinary retention is a common complication of routine neurosurgical spine procedures that prolongs hospital stays and increases the costs of hospitalization.
An Abstract Framework for Elliptic Inverse Problems: Part 1. An Output Least-Squares Approach

The solution of an elliptic boundary value problem is an infinitely differentiable function of the coefficient in the partial differential equation. When the (coefficient-dependent) energy norm is used, the result is a smooth, convex output least-squares functional. Using total variation regularization, it is possible to estimate discontinuous coefficients from interior measurements. The minimization problem is guaranteed to have a solution, which can be obtained in the limit from finite-dimensional discretizations of the problem. These properties hold in an abstract framework that encompasses several interesting problems: the standard (scalar) elliptic BVP in divergence form, the system of isotropic elasticity, and others.
Morphologic and Molecular Characteristics of Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer in men, and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Pathologic evaluation of urothelial cancers relies predominantly on histomorphologic features but can be aided in a small subset of cases by immunohistochemical analyses. Distinction of papillary versus flat lesions, low-grade versus high-grade cytology, and histologic variants and the presence or absence of invasive tumor is important for proper clinical management. Advances in the molecular alterations associated with the various subtypes of urothelial carcinoma have been made but such studies are ongoing.
Preliminary Results From a Newly Established Behavioral Health Home: Early Identification of Glucose Metabolism Disorders in Individuals With Serious Mental Illness.

AbstractObjective: Individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) have higher rates of preventable diseases such as diabetes in comparisontothegeneral population. Whilemultifaceted, these high rates ofpreventable diseases in thepopulation withSMI may bepartiallyattributedtolimitedaccesstoprimarycare.Anewprogram,theBehavioralHealthHome(BHH),whichallowsforthedeliveryofsomatic care coordination and population-based care, may provide this population with the much needed somatic coordinationand education it requires.Methods: The impact of the population-based health management program of the BHH identification and severity rating ofglucose metabolism disorders was assessed during the initial 10 months of the BHH.Results: Multiple patients were identified who either were not having hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels drawn per recommendedguidelines for individuals prescribed antipsychotic medications or were within diabetic range but did not have a diagnosis ofdiabetes. Mixed results occurred in regard to patients’ HbA1c levels while engaging in the BHH.Conclusion: This case study provides some initial evidence for the utility of the BHH in regard to identifying patients who needpreventive care.Keywordsaccess to care, community health, efficiency, health promotion, prevention
Monetary Policy, Inner City Unemployment and Implications for Black and Minority Banks – A Possible Role for the Farm Credit System Model

The Freedman’s Savings Bank (1865-1874) was Congressionally-approved to meet the credit needs for the emerging African American community. Preceding and then after Freedman, the post-bellum financial infrastructure was built reflecting a national banking system (1863), the Central Bank (Federal Reserve Board - FRB) in 1913, and the Farm Credit System (FCS) in 1916. That framework did not provide for scalable black banks nor did any assigned mandate include financing black economic development. By 1992, Brimmer linked poor black bank performance to elevated black unemployment levels. With maximum employment as its mandate, an expectation is that the FRB would be engaged if black unemployment reflected poorly on its effectiveness and efficiency in the conduct of monetary policy - conduct that might relate to the structure (or lack thereof) for black banks. Following Brimmer we found that since 1972 black unemployment was consistently about twice white unemployment rates. These are unemployment results consistent with the proposition that structural banking arrangements for FRB monetary policy have not been relatively effective in the black community as elsewhere. When compared with rural unemployment results we conclude that the FCS provides a potential template for revisiting the structural arrangements to foster robust black banks for inner city financing and economic development.
The ideal democratic apparel: t-shirts, religious intolerance, and the clothing of democracy

ABSTRACTStudies of clothing highlight the power of fashion and the ways dominant groups police deviant fashion; however, they neglect to analyze how a mainstream fashion item, the T-shirt, also helps monitor the boundaries and norms of American society. This article examines the relationship between the T-shirt form and religious intolerance. Scholars have analyzed nativist rhetoric, polemical literature, and caricatured renderings, yet clothing as a site of religious conflict remains understudied. To address these scholarly gaps, this article first investigates the history and meanings of the T-shirt, and then presents a case study of religious intolerance focused on Islamophobic T-shirts. This analysis builds toward an understanding of the T-shirt as the ideal article of democratic apparel for disseminating religious intolerance. In the end, we see how these T-shirts refashion religious intolerance as American individualism, thus perpetuating the idea that religious intolerance is only an occasional acc...
False Friends: The U.S. Cigarette Companies’ Betrayal of American Tobacco Farmers

Tobacco farming has played an important role in this nation’s history, dating back more than 200 years. Today tobacco growers face an uncertain future after years of declining tobacco leaf purchases and declining profitability — trends that have already led to a dramatic decrease in the number of small, family-owned tobacco farms. The purpose of this report is to analyze these trends and the actions that have led to the current state of affairs. There are four central conclusions: 1. The American tobacco grower is facing increasingly hard times. In the 1950s there were more than 500,000 small family tobacco farms. Today there are fewer than 85,000, with a drop of more than 100,000 just since 1980. Purchases of U.S.-grown tobacco leaf are down, farming costs are up, prices are not keeping up with inflation, and grower profits have shrunk steadily. 2. The reduced purchases of U.S.-grown tobacco leaf have little to do with the gradual smoking declines in the United States. Instead, they are tied almost entirely to the decisions of the U.S. cigarette companies to manufacture more of their products overseas and to use more foreign-grown tobacco in the cigarettes that they make both here and abroad. Since 1980, the U.S. share of worldwide tobacco exports has been cut almost in half. Although American manufacturers are now selling more cigarettes than ever before, from 1997 to 1999 the U.S. cigarette companies reduced their purchases of American tobacco leaf for domestic cigarette manufacturing by roughly 35 percent. 3. While the interests of the American tobacco farmer and the American tobacco manufacturer were once the same, this is no longer true. The U.S. cigarette companies have chosen to maximize their profits by relying on less-expensive foreign labor and cheap foreign-grown tobacco while sacrificing the economic well-being of the American tobacco farmer. 4. If current trends continue, the worldwide sales and profits of the major American tobacco manufacturers will grow steadily, and family-owned tobacco farms in the United States will continue to disappear. Those that remain will face a difficult and uncertain future. Accordingly, U.S. tobacco growers have begun to explore new options and strategies and create new alliances with the public health community.