cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Young children with perforated appendicitis benefit from prompt appendectomy

Abstract Background/Purpose To identify factors associated with nonoperative treatment failure in pediatric perforated appendicitis compared to immediate appendectomy. Methods After IRB approval, between September 2016 and August 2017, prospective data were recorded for children (age: 1–18 years) with completed appendectomies and pathologist-confirmed perforations. Children were treated according to clinician-designated preference. Nonoperative treatment was considered failed if a nonresolving obstruction developed or any return of symptoms before the planned interval. The median time from pain onset to treatment initiation was 3 days (range: 1–14). Presentation on days 1 or 2 (early) was compared to day 3 or after(late). The nonoperatives were compared to appendectomies stratified by presentation time. Variables were compared by chi-square, Fisher exact or t-tests. Logistic regression evaluated for independence. Results Of 201 suspected perforations, 176 were included, 101 (57%) immediate appendectomies and 75 (43%) nonoperatives. Of 75, 24 (32%) failed; 6 (25%) in hospital, 18 (75%) after discharge. In 51 (68%), nonoperative treatment succeeded. Significantly younger children failed nonoperative treatment (p = 0.03). Failure was independently associated with treatment initiation within 2.75 days from pain onset (OR: 0.07, 95% CI: 0.57–0.98) (p = 0.010) and lower WBC at presentation (OR: 0.03, 95% CI: 0.81–0.98) (p = 0.014). When compared to immediate appendectomy, nonoperatives had more morbidity. Conclusion Younger children fail nonoperative treatment, perforate rapidly and have a significantly lower WBC, but benefit from immediate appendectomy. Level of evidence Treatment Study Level II.
Change in Food Consumption and Food Choice Determinants among East Asian International Students in New York

This study describes East Asian international students’ changes in food consumption since coming to the US, and reasons for the changes. The results of this cross-sectional study from four campuses...
Charles Goodhart (1936

Charles Goodhart has made major contributions to the study of financial markets and macroeconomics, pioneering the integration of those two disciplines and applying his insights to the structure and practice of central banking. Goodhart served at the Bank of England in the 1970s and 1980s and as a policy maker on the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). Along with Mervyn King, he founded and led the Financial Markets Group (FMG) at LSE, which has helped to ground the study of financial markets in actual practice. He foresaw many of the issues that led to the 2008 global financial crisis (GFC), has made a number of suggestions for preventing a repeat and has commented extensively on the strengths and weaknesses of the regulatory and monetary policy responses to that crisis.
Nuclear power and promise

Confessions of a Rogue Nuclear Regulator, written by former chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Gregory Jaczko, is one part engrossing memoir and another part seething diatribe, depicting a government agency that routinely caves to industry pressure.
Determinants of Pain and Predictors of Pain Relief after Ulnar Shortening Osteotomy for Ulnar Impaction Syndrome

Background The purpose of this study is to characterize patient- and surgery-specific factors associated with perioperative pain level in patients undergoing ulnar shortening osteotomy (USO) for ulnar impaction syndrome (UIS). We hypothesize that preoperative opiate consumption, tobacco utilization, and severity of ulnar variance will be associated with less postoperative pain relief. Methods All cases of USO between January 2010 and December 2016 for management of UIS were retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographics, smoking status, type of labor, and opioid utilization before surgery were recorded. Radiographic measurements for ulnar variance, radial tilt and inclination, as well as triangular fibrocartilage complex and distal radial-ulnar joint (DRUJ) morphology were assessed. Pre- and postoperative pain score were recorded. Regression analysis was performed to determine predictors of pain scores. Results A total of 69 patients were included for the final analysis with a mean age of 44 years (range 17–73 years). Seventeen patients reported use of daily opioid medications at the time of surgery (25%). Patients who used opioid analgesics daily, active laborers, smokers, and patients involved in worker compensation claims had significantly less pain relief after surgery. Patients with osteotomy performed at the metaphysis had significantly more pain relief than patients that had diaphyseal osteotomy. Regression analysis identified tobacco utilization and anatomic site of osteotomy as independent predictors of postoperative pain. Conclusion The results from this study identified smoking and location of osteotomy as independent predictors of postoperative pain relief. While smoking cessation is paramount to prevent delayed/nonunion it may also help improve pain relief following USO. The potential to achieve greater shortening with a metaphyseal osteotomy suggests that in addition to the mechanical unloading the carpus, pain relief after USO may also stem from tensioning the ulnar collateral ligaments of the wrist, the ECU subsheath, and the radioulnar ligaments. Level of Evidence This is a Level III, therapeutic study.
Proteinuria impacts patient survival differentially based on clinical setting: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of cohorts from a single health system: Retrospective cohort study.

Abstract Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) staging is improved by adding proteinuria to glomerular filtration rate (GFR). While proteinuria independently predicts CKD progression and mortality, the clinical setting of proteinuria determination has not been well-studied previously. The objective of our study is to determine whether clinical setting differentially impacts survival outcomes. Methods Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards analyses of overall survival were performed retrospectively for cohorts of outpatients (n = 22,918), emergency patients (n = 16,861), and inpatients (n = 12,304) subjected to urinalysis (UA) at a single health system in 2010. GFR (G1-G5) and proteinuria (A1: 300 mg) were classified under Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines. Results GFR and proteinuria levels varied more in inpatients than in emergency and outpatients. For each clinical population, survival significantly decreased with increasing proteinuria (A1>A2>A3, p Conclusions The value of UA to screen for proteinuria in each clinical setting is evident, but the impact of A2 and A3 level proteinuria on survival varies depending on the clinical scenario in which the determination was made. The clinical setting of proteinuria measurement should be factored into both patient care and clinical research activities.
Bioelectric Control of Metastasis in Solid Tumors.

Abstract As the leading cause of death in cancer, there is an urgent need to develop treatments to target the dissemination of primary tumor cells to secondary organs, known as metastasis. Bioelect...
The Case for Custom TMY’s: Examples Using the NSRDB

A typical meteorological year (TMY) data set essentially represents an hourly compilation of median months constructed using multi-year datasets. Although TMY data sets are generated from irradiance data in the horizontal plane, they are used in photovoltaic (PV) modeling for systems inclined to various angles. This paper demonstrates that a POA TMY (plane of array TMY) generated by selecting median months from a multi-year POA irradiance timeseries dataset produces significantly different results than a POA TMY generated by transposing a TMY dataset constructed from horizontal data. In some months the differences can be more than 3%. These results point to the need for generating TMY’s using POA irradiance timeseries representing the orientation at which PV panels will be deployed.
Trends in Endovascular Mechanical Thrombectomy in Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke in the United States.

Background Numerous randomized controlled trials have shown that endovascular mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is an effective treatment for large vessel ischemic stroke. This study examines variation in rates of MT across the United States by geographic region and urban-rural areas to identify utilization disparities. Methods Data from the Global Burden of Disease Collaborative Network were used to determine acute ischemic stroke (AIS) incidence by state for 2016. The 2016 National Inpatient Sample was accessed to identify patients who underwent MT and patients who were diagnosed with cerebral infarct due to thrombosis or embolism of anterior circulation arteries representing the AIS population of interest. National Inpatient Sample data were used to create national weighted estimates of the size of subject populations, age at admission, length of stay, and discharge status. Results In the United States, approximately 13,010 mechanical thrombectomies were performed in 2016, representing 3.1% of the AIS population. Proportions of patients undergoing MT were highest in large central metropolitan areas and lowest in rural settings when compared with the national estimate. East North Central and West South Central regions had significantly lower proportions of patients treated with MT. Discharge destinations, a proxy for clinical outcome, differed significantly by region and urban-rural designation. Conclusions The number of MTs performed in 2016 increased approximately 1.3 times from 2015. Considering that 10%–17% of patients with AIS may be MT-eligible, current rates of MT are low across all regions, but the most pronounced disparities and poorer clinical outcomes occur in rural areas, particularly in the Northeast/Southwest regions of the Midwest.
Bariatric Surgery in Post-Transplantation Patients; Does Diabetes Influence Outcomes?

Abstract Background Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is frequently present in Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (MBS) patients and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Organ transplantation patients also suffer from severe obesity and are now increasingly undergoing MBS. Objective To determine the association of T2D and perioperative outcomes after MBS in previous solid organ transplantation patients Setting University Hospital, United States. Methods Patients with a history of solid organ transplantation undergoing sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass were identified from the 2017 Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program database. Patients were then stratified by a history of T2D. Propensity-score matching was performed between the 2 cohorts. Outcomes were compared by Mann-Whitney U, Χ2, and multivariable logistic regression analysis for overall and morbidity related to MBS. Results Before matching 338 patients with a prior history of solid organ transplantation were identified including 132 (39%) with and 206 (61%) without diabetes. There were no significant differences in outcomes between the 2 cohorts at baseline, but these patients were significantly different at baseline. After matching, 85 patients with and without T2D were identified. Overall and morbidity related to MBS were similar (P > .5). Furthermore, multivariable logistic regression revealed T2D to not have an increased risk for overall (odds ratio .95, P = .09) or morbidity related to MBS (odds ratio .92, P = .87). Conclusion MBS in T2D patients with previous solid organ transplantation is overall safe with low rates of morbidity and mortality. Diabetes was not an independent predictor of adverse outcomes in this cohort of patients. Larger cohort studies are needed.
Advances in Hospitality Education: Courseware, Audiographics, and Cyberspace

Technology will play an increasingly larger role in the education of students within the hospitality curriculum. There are a significant number of emerging educational technologies aimed at changing the delivery of the entire curriculum. The development of technological platforms for multimedia instructional courseware, distance learning through audiographics, and virtual reality simulation are expected to alter and enhance the learning process while extending the boundaries of the traditional hospitality classroom.
Impact of KRAS status on tumor response and survival after neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer

Background Mutation of the KRAS oncogene (mKRAS) in colorectal cancer has been associated with aggressive tumor biology, resistance to epidermal growth factor inhibitors, and decreased overall survival (OS). The aim of the current study was to analyze the association of mKRAS with pathologic complete response (pCR) and neoadjuvant rectal (NAR) score, and its impact on the survival of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who were managed with multimodality therapy. Methods The National Cancer Database was queried for stage II-III rectal cancer patients with a known KRAS status who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (nCRT) and proctectomy between 2004 and 2015. Results In total, 1886 patients were identified; 12% had pCR and 36% had mKRAS. Patients with mKRAS were more likely to have advanced pathologic T stage, tumor deposits, perineural invasion, and elevated carcinoembryonic antigen levels (all p ≤ .05). After adjustment for available confounders, mKRAS status was not associated with pCR or NAR score. In multivariable analysis, patients with pCR and lower NAR score had better OS, whereas mKRAS was independently associated with a worse prognosis. Conclusion In this cohort of locally advanced rectal cancer patients who underwent proctectomy after nCRT, mKRAS was not associated with lower pCR rates or NAR scores; however, these patients experienced worse survival.
Cell-nonautonomously tunable actomyosin flowsorient distinct cell division axes

Cell division axes during animal development are arranged in diverse orientations, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this diversity remain unclear. By focusing on oriented divisions that are independent of known microtubule/dynein pathways, we show here that the non-muscle myosin II motor is an extrinsically tunable force generator that orients cell division axes through cortical actomyosin flows. We identified three extracellular cues that generate different actomyosin flows. A single contact site locally inhibited myosin activity in a mechanosensitive manner to generate local flow asymmetry, while size asymmetry of two contact sites and Wnt signaling both polarized myosin activity and actomyosin flow, with the latter overriding mechanosensitive effects. These intracellular actomyosin flow anisotropies specify distinct division axes to establish the geometries of not only Caenorhabditis elegans 4-, 6-, and 7-cell stage but also mouse 4-cell stage embryos. Tunable actomyosin flows together with microtubule/dynein pathways may specify diverse division axes across species.
The epidemiological signature of pathogen populations that vary in the relationship between free-living survival and virulence

Abstract Multi-contrast MRI captures information about brain macro- and micro-structure which can be combined in an integrated model to obtain a detailed “fingerprint” of the anatomical properties of an individual’s brain. Inter-regional similarities between features derived from structural and diffusion MRI, including regional volumes, diffusion tensor metrics, neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging measures, can be modelled as morphometric similarity networks (MSNs). Here, individual MSNs were derived from 105 neonates (59 preterm and 46 term) who were scanned between 38 and 45 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA). Inter-regional similarities were used as predictors in a regression model of age at the time of scanning and in a classification model to discriminate between preterm and term infant brains. When tested on unseen data, the regression model predicted PMA at scan with a mean absolute error of 0.70 ± 0.56 weeks, and the classification model achieved 92% accuracy. We conclude that MSNs predict chronological brain age accurately; and they provide a data-driven approach to identify networks that characterise typical maturation and those that contribute most to neuroanatomic variation associated with preterm birth. Highlights Multiple MRI features are integrated in a single model to study brain maturation in newborns. Morphometric similarity networks (MSNs) provide a whole-brain description of the structural properties of neonatal brain. The information encoded in MSNs is predictive of chronological brain age in the perinatal period. MSNs provide a novel data-driven method for investigating neuroanatomic variation associated with preterm birth.
Longer-term impacts of sugar-sweetened beverage taxes on fast-food beverage prices: evidence from Oakland, California, 2-year post-tax.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax implemented in Oakland, California, in July 2017, on prices of beverages sold in fast-food restaurants 2-year post-tax. Design: Using a difference-in-differences (DID) approach, we analysed beverage price data collected from fast-food restaurants 1-month pre-tax and 2-year post-tax in Oakland (intervention site) and Sacramento, California (comparison site). Separate linear regression models were used to estimate the impact of the tax on prices of bottled regular soda, bottled diet soda, bottled unsweetened beverages and fountain drinks. Setting: Oakland and Sacramento, California, USA. Participants: Chain and non-chain fast-food restaurants (n 85). Results: DID estimates indicate that in fast-food restaurants, on average, the price of bottled regular soda increased by 1·44 cents/oz (95 % CI 0·50, 2·73) (tax pass-through rate of 144 %) and the price of bottled diet soda increased by 1·17 cents/oz (95 % CI 0·07, 2·13). No statistically significant differences were found between bottled regular and diet soda price increases. Price effects for unsweetened beverages and fountain drinks were not statistically significant. Further, the estimated price change for fountain drinks was nearly zero. Conclusions: Findings suggest that the effectiveness of SSB taxes in discouraging SSB consumption may be limited in fast-food restaurants in Oakland, California, because there were similar price increases in taxed and untaxed bottled soda and no changes in fountain drink prices.
What We Talk about When We Talk about Truth: Dewey, Wittgenstein, and the Pragmatic Test

Pragmatic theories of truth need to pass the pragmatic test: they need to make a difference. Unfortunately, defenders of the pragmatic theory have rarely applied this test. I argue that a Deweyan p...
Resisting print-culture norms: Charles Dickens’s “Hunted Down” in the anglophone periodical press

Charles Dickens’s 1859 serial “Hunted Down” was the first work by Dickens initially published in the U.S. and later in the U.K. “Hunted Down” was published in Robert Edwin Bonner’s New York Ledger,...
Performance Analysis of Gaussian Normal Basis GF ( $2^{m}$ ) Serial Multipliers and Inverters

Cryptography hardware processors enable fine-tuned designs supporting secure communications in extreme environments such as resource-constrained applications. Secure communications of resource-constrained wireless devices require efficient cryptographic arithmetic circuits such as finite field multipliers and inverters. Gaussian Normal Basis (GNB) provides cost-free squaring operation which is advantageous in repeated square-multiply cryptographic algorithms. In this paper, we realize the Itoh-Tsuji inverter based on the parallel-in-serial-out multiplier, for the first time to the best of our knowledge. We also report the design complexity of the GNB multipliers and inverters using the same technology and provide a comprehensive analysis of existing GNB multipliers and inverters in current literature. We conduct performance analysis of different multiplier architectures with varying digit sizes ( $d\geq 1$ ) and bit-serial ( $d=1$ ) inverter architectures. We also analyze the power variation of multiplier/inverter architectures for controlled input variations. The area, time complexities, and power analysis are reported using the standard 65nm CMOS and the open-source 45nm NangateOpenCellLibrary technology. The results show that the new inverter design has a competitive area and power consumptions compared to IT inverter based on Parallel-In-Parallel-Out multiplier when implemented using 65nm CMOS Standard cell library.
Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer in Patients under 50 Years of Age: Demographics, Disease Characteristics, and Survival

Abstract Introduction Incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (EO-CRC) is increasing in younger demographics. This study analyzes disease-specific survival in individuals under 50 years of age. Methods Patients with colorectal malignancy were identified in the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database from 2004-2015. Cases were categorized into typically screened (age 50-79 years) and non-typically screened (age 20-49 years) cohorts, as well as by decade. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard models were used to study survival. Results A total of 240,772 patients with colorectal cancer were analyzed. Average annual percent change in incidence was -0.24% among typically screened patients and 1.12% among patients with EO-CRC. Patients with EO-CRC more frequently presented with distal tumors (70.6% vs. 57.6%, p Conclusion Patients with EO-CRC are diagnosed at a later stage and have lower disease-specific survival than those in typically screened cohorts. Additional studies on tumor biology and surveillance strategies are needed to improve outcomes in this population.
Adaptive Control Via Input Matching Despite Plant Structure Uncertainty

Adaptive control methods based on input matching bypass the identifiability and/or exact model-matching constraints of the bulk of existing adaptive control methods. The focus on input matchability allows the use of general controller structures capable of adequately controlling a plant, the structure of which may arbitrarily vary within an allowable class.
The Business Scene

This book is about easy-to-use, interactive computer systems that possess some or all of the following features: text, graphics, color, picture quality displays, sound, animation, and motion video. The focus is on business or organizational applications rather than consumer applications, but much of the information is applicable to either environment. These types of computer systems are distinguished from the traditional systems found in data processing departments by their information rather than their data orientation, by their stylized presentations and ease of use, and by their connectivity to other systems in and outside the organization. Computer systems with such features are known by a variety of names: videotex, multimedia, hypermedia, telemedia, and mixed media. Because these terms may mean different things to different people, the expression enhanced system is often used in this book. Hopefully this term is neutral enough to avoid misunderstanding yet specific enough to convey the idea that the computer systems being discussed represent an innovative use of information technology. Some of the names associated with enhanced systems surround the perimeter of Figure 1.1, while the interior lists acronyms of the communications services that make connectivity and the two-way flow of information possible. These terms are expanded on in later chapters, and there is a list of acronyms and a glossary in the appendices.
Computing Approximating Automata for a Class of Linear Hybrid Systems

Approximating automata are finite-state representations of the sequential input-output behaviors of hybrid systems characterized by threshold events that trigger discrete changes in the continuous dynamic equations. Procedures proposed for constructing approximating automata require forward and backward mappings of sets of continuous state trajectories - mappings which are not available for arbitrary continuous dynamics. This paper develops the foundations for constructing approximating automata automatically for hybrid systems in which the continuous dynamics are defined by convex polytopes in the vector space of the derivatives of the continuous state trajectories. The computations are illustrated for a simple example which also demonstrates the use of approximating automata to solve verification problems that may be intractable using fixed-point computations for linear hybrid automata.
Detection and expression of enterotoxin genes in endophytic strains of Bacillus cereus

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine whether endophytic Bacillus cereus isolates from agronomic crops possessed genes for the nonhaemolytic enterotoxin (Nhe) and haemolysin BL (HBL) and, therefore, have the potential to cause diarrhoeal illness in humans. Methods and Results: PCR followed by sequencing confirmed the presence of enterotoxin genes nheA, nheB, nheC, hblA, hblC, hblD in endophytic B. cereus. All nhe genes were detected in 59% of endophytic B. cereus, while all hbl genes were detected in 44%. All six genes were detected in 41% of isolates. Enterotoxin genes were not detected in 15% of B. cereus isolates. Reverse transcriptase real-time PCR confirmed that endophytic B. cereus could express enterotoxin genes in pure culture. Conclusions: This study showed that endophytic B. cereus isolates that possess genes for enterotoxin production are present in agronomic crops. Other endophytic B. cereus isolates lacked specific genes or lacked all nhe and hbl genes. Additionally, host, country of origin and tissue of origin had no impact on the enterotoxin genes detected. Significance and Impact of the Study: Bacillus cereus with the potential of causing diarrhoeal illness in humans is a cosmopolitan endophytic inhabitant of plants, not incidental surface inhabitants or contaminants, as often suggested by previous research.
Otitis media in children: Use of diagnostic tools by family practice residents

Background and objectives Although otitis media is a common problem in primary care, little is known about the use of diagnostic tools such as pneumatic otoscopy, tympanometry, acoustic reflectometry, or tympanocentesis by family physicians in training. Methods This was a self-reported observational study of family practice residents' use of otitis media diagnostic tools. Twenty-three family practice programs in Texas and Oklahoma were surveyed during November and December 2000. Residents were asked about their use of diagnostic tools, and, if tools were not used, they were asked the reason for not using them. Residents were also asked about the criteria they used to diagnose otitis media, and their responses were compared to criteria recommended by national guideline panels. Results The response rate was 61% (n = 316). The percentage of residents using pneumatic otoscopy was 66%, tympanometry 29%, acoustic reflectometry 2%, and tympanocentesis 0%. The most common reasons cited for not using tools were lack of training or unavailability of equipment. Fifty-five percent of family practice residents do not report pneumatic otoscopy for diagnosing otitis media and thus did not use recommended criteria. Faculty training of residents in the use of diagnostic tools was associated with a higher rate of using these tools. Discussion Few residents believed that diagnostic tools had no value in the diagnosis of otitis media, but lack of training or equipment problems were reported as contributing to their not using these tools. Half of family practice residents may be inadequately diagnosing middle ear problems since they did not report that pneumatic otoscopy was necessary for diagnosing otitis media. Because training was associated with higher rates of using appropriate diagnostic tools, family medicine faculty can play a significant role in improving the residents' diagnostic skills.
Global methane emissions from landfills: New methodology and annual estimates 1980–1996

[1] Significant interannual variations in the growth rate of atmospheric CH4 justify the development of an improved methodology for landfill emissions, the largest anthropogenic source in many developed countries. A major problem is that reliable solid waste data often do not exist, especially for developing countries where emissions are increasing. Here we develop and apply a new proxy method to reconstruct historical estimates for annual CH4 emissions for the period 1980–1996. Using composited solid waste data from 1975–1995, we developed linear regressions for waste generation per capita based on energy consumption per capita, a surrogate which reflects population and affluence, the major determinants of solid waste generation rates. Using total population (developed countries) or urban population (developing countries), annual landfill CH4 emissions were estimated using a modified Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) methodology. Methane recovery was modeled by fitting historic data to time-dependent linear relationships. Two scenarios for global emissions using the surrogate were compared to two scenarios using an IPCC standard methodology. Results from all four scenarios range from 16 to 57 Tg CH4 yr−1, a similar range as previous estimates. We support the use of the lower energy surrogate scenario (A) with annual emissions of 16–20 Tg CH4 yr−1, both positive and negative annual variations, and commercial recovery >15% by 1996. The surrogate provides a reasonable methodology for a large number of countries where data do not exist, a consistent methodology for both developed and developing countries, and a procedure which facilitates annual updates using readily available data.
Psychology : Briefer Course

Foreword Introduction by Michael M. Sokal Psychology: Briefer Course Index Notes Appendix James's Annotations of His Private Copy of Psychology: Briefer Course A Note on the Editorial Method The Text of Psychology: Briefer Course 1. The History 2. The Documents 3. The Editorial Problem Apparatus Emendations Textual Notes Historical Collation Word-Division General Index Key to the Pagination of Editions
Injection considerations for mirror reactors

Monte Carlo calculations of charge-exchange losses during neutral-beam injection into small mirror devices are described. Local hot spots on the first wall are identified that have serious design consequences. Also, the twin-beam mirror (TBM) concept is described where a high-energy beam (> 200 keV) is injected into a beam-driven, mirror-confined, target plasma (≈ 60 keV). For a FERF device, this could relax injection requirements and provide plasma stabilization.
Pleural effusions after endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy.

Abstract The prevalence of pleural effusions after endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy was reviewed in 30 patients undergoing 65 sclerotherapy sessions. Pleural effusions were identified radiographically after 31 of the 65 (48%) sclerotherapy sessions. Eleven of the effusions were right-sided, 10 were left-sided, and 10 were bilateral. Most of the effusions (20 of 31, 65%) were small. Significant postsclerotherapy chest pain was found more commonly in those patients who developed pleural effusions (11 of 31, 35%) compared with those who did not (4 of 34, 12%) (p
Recent Chandra Results on AGNs & Future Prospects

I review Chandra's achievements in the last two years in AGN research. I concentrate on some topics of my interest; some others are reviewed in an accompanying article by K. Nandra. I comment briefly on the need to allow for the discovery space to ensure rapid progress in the field.
Quantitation of latent varicella-zoster virus DNA in human trigeminal ganglia by polymerase chain reaction.

Abstract Competitive polymerase chain reaction was used to quantitate latent varicella-zoster virus (VZV) DNA in human trigeminal ganglia. Ganglionic DNA from five subjects was amplified with oligonucleotide primers specific for VZV gene 28. Two of the samples were also analyzed with primers specific for VZV gene 62. Our results indicated that there are 6 to 31 copies of the VZV genome in every 100,000 ganglionic cells.
Communication and Events in History: Toward a Theory for Documenting the Past

While communication is a central factor in society, the creation and func- tions of documents of interest to archivists and historians have not been extensively studied. The author reviews several investigations of communication in history along
Plants in the forest canopy: some reflections on current research and future direction

Plants are one of the sessile components of the forest canopy, and consequently quantitative studies of plant components are more widely available than for some of their mobile counterparts. From a global perspective, several exciting and innovative canopy access tools have been designed over the past few decades that have facilitated the expansion our understanding of canopy plants. These include a network of canopy cranes, the development of the French luge (or sled), and the construction of walkways and platforms for access into different levels of the canopy on a permanent basis. At the recent international forest canopy conference in Sarasota, Florida (Forest Canopies 1998: Global Perspectives, November 4–8, 1998), many canopy plant studies were presented that illustrated the achievements in this field. As co-chair at this event, I present here some reflections based on my observations of the development of canopy research between the first and second international conferences. A selection of case studies from the conference presentations are cited in this review, including: tree crown respiration studies from the crane in Panama; epiphyte ecology from walkways in Peru; insect-plant relationships in tree crowns of the USA using platforms; experimental studies of epiphytes in cloud forests using single rope techniques; and epiphyte diversity surveys in Africa. Ideas for the future are also mentioned such as the novel concept of canopy farming of orchids in Costa Rica, the linking of canopy processes to forest floor activities, and the construction of canopy walkways to provide a sustainable forest economy instead of the conventional practice of logging. The integration of research with sustainable use of forests provides a conservation theme for future canopy studies. Such new approaches to studies of canopy plants are important, as scientists increasingly play a role in global conservation policies.
Big Data Computing for Digital Forensics on Industrial Control Systems

The paper describes our initial effort on an experimental capability for the collection and analysis of big data of forensics value from the industrial control systems that operate the electrical power grid. The collection over the network of extensive logs of forensics value is performed through a distributed file system, which is designed to safeguard the real-time requirements of industrial control systems and networks. To achieve that goal, we are pursuing an approach that calculates the time and communication complexity of the algorithms that run on industrial control systems, and thus leverages control theory, CPU scheduling, and optimizations of the file system structure and cryptographic mechanisms. The forensics data analytics is done through big data computing algorithms, which are being designed via knowledge discovery from big data, descriptive statistics, predictive analytics based on statistical inference and probability theory, as well as distributed algorithms over very large graphs and matrices. The big data computing algorithms are run on a local cluster of commodity computers, with an eye towards deployment on cloud computing.
Do Centrioles Generate a Polar Ejection Force

A microtubule-dependent polar ejection force that pushes chromosomes away from spindle poles during prometaphase is observed in animal cells but not in the cells of higher plants. Elongating microtubules and kinesin-like motor molecules have been proposed as possible causes, but neither accounts for all the data. In the hypothesis proposed here a polar ejection force is generated by centrioles, which are found in animals but not in higher plants. Centrioles consist of nine microtubule triplets arranged like the blades of a tiny turbine. Instead of viewing centrioles through the spectacles of molecular reductionism and neo-Darwinism, this hypothesis assumes that they are holistically designed to be turbines. Orthogonally oriented centriolar turbines could generate oscillations in spindle microtubules that resemble the motion produced by a laboratory vortexer. The result would be a microtubule-mediated ejection force tending to move chromosomes away from the spindle axis and the poles. A rise in intracellular calcium at the onset of anaphase could regulate the polar ejection force by shutting down the centriolar turbines, but defective regulation could result in an excessive force that contributes to the chromosomal instability characteristic of most cancer cells.
SU‐GG‐J‐76: Dosimetric Consequences of Patient Setup Decisions in Image‐Guided Procedures Based On Soft‐Tissue Fiducials for Imaging

Purpose: The purpose of this work is to demonstrate the dosimetric consequences of patient setup and tracking technique decisions for 4D adaptive SBRT treatments. Method and Materials: Clinical fiducial tracking scenarios of 450 SBRT cases, 120 of them treated with 4D adaptive SBRT, were analyzed and classified into different case scenarios. A flowchart was created to systematically display each clinical tracking scenario and the decision options. Based on the flowchart, scenarios which could cause a deviation from delivered dose to planned dose were identified. For these situations, each tracking decision was evaluated for dosimetric impact by simulating the situation in treatment planning software using a patient CT and an artificially created elliptical tumor.Results: Only two clinical scenarios were identified as having dosimetric consequences. One scenario contains tumors which rotate significantly (>5 degrees) during the respiratory cycles. For rotations smaller than 5 degrees we saw no differences in the DVH than non‐rotating tumors. For tumors with rotation angles larger than 6 degrees, the DVH shows increasing, but still small, tumor underdose. The second scenario with potential dosimetry changes was a small rotational change (<5 degrees) of the tumor position relative to the global patient position. Our calculations show that changing the global patient position to move the tumor into the treatment field did change the DVH, because the SSD and obliquity of incoming beams changes. A third tracking scenario was identified in which a repeat simulation is necessary. Conclusion: Fiducial setup and rotational tumor tracking decisions for SBRT treatments were classified. Dosimetric impact was studied for the two relevant class decisions. A class of patients which needed re‐CT was identified. Our flowchart and dosimetry studies will help in the future to systematically identify and address soft‐tissue fiducial tracking scenarios and choice of tracking technique for SBRT.
Primary structure of the mouse β1-adrenergic receptor gene

The mouse beta 1-adrenergic receptor was isolated from a genomic library and cloned into pBluescript SK-. Characterization of the clone revealed an open reading frame which encodes a predicted protein of 466 amino acids. The mouse beta 1 receptor is 92.7% identical to the human sequence, 98.5% identical to the rat sequence, and contains a consensus site for N-linked glycosylation at Asn-15 and a cAMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation site at Ser-301.
Serotonin neuroleptics change patterns of preovulatory secretion of luteinizing hormone in rats.

Abstract Serotonin receptor agonists or antagonists were used in this study to determine the timing and influence of serotonergic neurotransmission on phasic secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH). Daily injections of cyproheptadine (CP) or methysergide (MS), serotonin antagonists, initiated at 1600h on the day of vaginal proestrus, blocked the LH surge and ovulation. Vaginal smears remained cornified for 2–3 days. The drugs were ineffective when given at 0800h, though they terminated the LH surge prematurely when administered at 1730h. When quipazine, a serotonin receptor agonist was injected at 1400h or 2000h on proestrus, serum LH levels rose. This effect caused the LH surge to begin prematurely or to be sustained unusually long. Quipazine injected on diestrus 2 did not cause LH levels to rise, suggesting that its effect is estrogen dependent. Serotonin turnover in the hypothalamus was greater during onset of the LH surge than during its termination. When the LH surge was prolonged by exposing rats to light on proestrous evening, serotonin turnover remained high. The results of this study indicate that phasic secretion of LH on proestrus is accompanied by and may be dependent upon a period of serotonin neural activity.
Effects of nutrient enrichment on the decomposition of wood and associated microbial activity in streams

SUMMARY 1. We determined the effects of nutrient enrichment on wood decomposition rates and microbial activity during a 3-year study in two headwater streams at Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory, NC, U.S.A. After a 1-year pretreatment period, one of the streams was continuously enriched with inorganic nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) for 2 years while the other stream served as a reference. We determined the effects of enrichment on both wood veneers and sticks, which have similar carbon quality but differ in physical characteristics (e.g. surface area to volume ratios, presence of bark) that potentially affect microbial colonisation and activity. 2. Oak wood veneers (0.5 mm thick) were placed in streams monthly and allowed to decompose for approximately 90 days. Nutrient addition stimulated ash-free dry mass loss and increased mean nitrogen content, fungal biomass and microbial respiration on veneers in the treatment stream compared with the reference. The magnitude of the response to enrichment was great, with mass loss 6.1 times, and per cent N, fungal biomass and microbial respiration approximately four times greater in the treatment versus reference stream. 3. Decomposition rate and nitrogen content of maple sticks (ca. 1–2 cm diameter) also increased; however, the effect was less pronounced than for veneers. Wood response overall was greater than that determined for leaves in a comparable study, supporting the hypothesis that response to enrichment may be greater for lower quality organic matter (high C : N) than for higher quality (low C : N) substrates. 4. Our results show that moderate nutrient enrichment can profoundly affect decomposition rate and microbial activity on wood in streams. Thus, the timing and availability of wood that provides retention, structure, attachment sites and food in stream ecosystems may be affected by nutrient concentrations raised by human activities.
The effects of heroin on prolactin levels in male rhesus monkeys: use of cumulative-dosing procedures.

Abstract There is considerable evidence that mu opioid receptors are involved in the regulation of anterior pituitary function. For example, in nonhuman primates and humans, mu agonists generally increase prolactin (PRL) levels. In contrast, mu antagonists decrease or have no effect on PRL levels. The goal of this study was to assess the potential utility of cumulative-dosing procedures to evaluate the endocrine effects of mu opioid receptor ligands. The effects of single and multiple, cumulative doses of the mu agonist heroin and the mu-selective antagonist quadazocine on PRL levels were investigated in four male rhesus monkeys. Cumulative dose-response curves were determined by infusing increasing drug doses at 60 min intervals over 290 min. Blood samples for PRL analysis were collected at 25 and 50 min after each cumulative infusion. Samples were collected at similar time points following single drug dose administration. Heroin (0.01–0.32 mg/kg, IV) administration dose-dependently increased PRL levels. Maximum levels of heroin-induced PRL levels were equivalent after single and cumulative doses. Quadazocine alone (0.032–1.0 mg/kg, IM) did not alter PRL levels significantly. However, quadazocine (0.1 mg/kg, IM) antagonized heroin-stimulated increases in PRL levels and produced a significant rightward shift in the heroin dose-effect curve. These data suggest that a cumulative-dosing procedure similar to that used in behavioral pharmacology may be useful to study the endocrine pharmacology of mu opioids in rhesus monkeys.
Competition between glycoprotein hormones and horseradish peroxidase for mannose-specific binding sites in cells of endocrine organs.

Mannose-specific binding sites for horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were studied in paraformaldehyde-fixed, frozen sections of endocrine organs by a cytochemical method reported previously. In the testis, HRP was bound to interstitial cells, probably macrophages, and to sites extending along the surface of spermatozoa in the seminiferous tubules. In the epididymis, cells in the connective tissue, probably fibroblasts or macrophages, showed the specific reaction. In the ovaries, the reaction for lectin-bound HRP was observed in connective tissue cells of the theca externa, and in the mucosa of the uterus, binding of HRP occurred to many fibroblasts. The glycoprotein was also bound to cells in the connective tissue of the thyroid, probably mast cells, as well as to endothelial cells in the adrenal medulla and cortex. In all cases, the binding reaction required Ca2+ and was suppressed by mannose or mannan. Partially purified and highly purified preparations of glycoprotein hormones [ovine follicle-stimulating hormone, ovine luteinizing hormone, bovine thyroid-stimulating hormone, and human chorionic gonadotropin] as well as bovine thyroglobulin and yeast invertase competed with the binding of HRP to all the cells mentioned thus showing that the hormones were bound to the same sites as HRP. When 1 μM HRP was present in the incubation medium, the addition of 15–25 μM of highly purified hormones almost suppressed the reaction for lectin-bound HRP and competitive effects could be observed at even lower concentrations of the hormones.
Can Models of God Compete

Though the very task of modeling God implies that the reality of God is to some degree unknown, there are a variety of positions one may take concerning the degree to which a model is informed by God’s reality. In this essay, I define four possible positions from which one might approach the construction of religious models: mysteriosophy, theopoetics, optimistic realism, and reticent realism. Of these four, I propose that reticent realism is the most advantageous method for constructing models of God. Reticent realism simultaneously assumes that our models are able, in principle, to refer to a divine reality, but must do so with a tentative stance. Absolute confirmation or universal consensus concerning the accuracy of the models will likely never be obtained. Reticent realism entails that models of God can and should be judged better or worse, though a single winning model must remain an eschatological hope.