cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Imatinib Frontline Therapy Is Safe and Effective in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) with Liver and/or Renal Dysfunction.

Background: Imatinib (STI571, Gleevec) is a protein kinase inhibitor that has become the standard treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). The recommended daily oral dose of imatinib in CML is 400mg. Imatinib is mainly metabolized in the liver with a half-life of 18 hours. The safety and efficacy of imatinib in patients with CML with abnormal liver and/or renal function at start of therapy has not been reported, frequently prompting the use of lower starting doses in these patients. Aim: To determine the safety and efficacy of imatinib among patients with pre-existing liver and/or renal dysfunction. Results: We analyzed the outcome of 259 patients with CML enrolled in three imatinib frontline studies at MD Anderson Cancer Center. The starting dose was 400mg in 50 patients and 800mg in 209. Renal dysfunction mild (creatinine clearance (CrCl) 40–59mg/ml) to moderate (CrCl 20–39mg/ml) was seen in 11 (4%) patients (n=4 in 400mg; n=7 in 800 mg) before start of imatinib therapy, and liver dysfunction mild (total bilirubin upper limit of normal (ULN)) to moderate (total bilirubin between 1.5–3.0mg/dl, AST any) was seen in 38 (15%) patients (n=7 in 400 mg; n=31 in 800 mg). Dose reductions were necessary in 8/11 patients (73%, p=0.065) with renal dysfunction, 19/38 patients (50%, p=0.271) with liver dysfunction, compared with 91/211 pts (43%) with normal renal and liver functions. All 11 pts with renal dysfunction experienced further worsening of the renal function during treatment, and 2 of them (both with moderate renal dysfunction treated with imatinib 800mg) developed severe renal dysfunction (CrCl Conclusion: Although patients with organ dysfunction treated with imatinib may have a higher rate of hematologic toxicity and require more frequent dose reductions, particularly when treated at higher doses. With proper monitoring and dose management, most patients can be adequately treated resulting in response rates similar to those without organ dysfunction.
Prediction of Plasma Concentration-time Profiles of Drugs in Humans from Animals Following Oral Administration: An Allometric Approach

BACKGROUND Allometric scaling is regularly used for the prediction of human pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters from animal PK studies. The predicted human PK parameters can also be used for the prediction of plasma concentration-time profiles in humans. OBJECTIVES The main objective of this work is to predict human concentration-time profiles of drugs (one-compartment model) following oral administration using animal oral pharmacokinetic parameters. METHODS Six drugs from the literature were chosen that were described by one-compartment model in both humans and animals following oral administration. Pharmacokinetic parameters such as oral clearance, oral volume of distribution of the central compartment, time to reach maximum plasma concentration, absorption rate constant, and half-life in humans were predicted from animals using allometric scaling. These predicted human pharmacokinetic parameters were then used to predict human plasma concentrations-time profiles of drugs. RESULTS The results of this study indicate that the proposed method can be used to predict human plasma concentrations- time profiles of drugs with reasonable accuracy (≤50% prediction error). CONCLUSIONS Given the complexity in the pharmacokinetics of oral drugs there remains some uncertainty in this entire exercise. One can minimize the prediction error by experience in allometric scaling, scientific judgment, and unconventional or innovative thinking.
Brain metastases (BM) in breast (BC) and lung cancer (LC) patients

e12029 Background: Most BM arise from BC or LC. Few studies compare their attributes and distribution, though BC BM have been reported to more often involve the cerebellum. Methods: Brain scanning was for clinical evidence of BM. Contrast-enhanced computer-automated tomograms (CT) or magnetic resonance images (MRI) of brains of all BC and LC patients irradiated for BM between 1996 and 2008 were reviewed. BC epidermoid growth factor receptor2 (HER-2) expression was determined. Results: Data was from 63 BC and 59 LC patients; 58% of the BC and 55% of the LC patients had MRIs. MRIs showed more cerebellar BM (p = 0.047). Primary to BM diagnosis intervals were shorter for LC than for BC patients (p = 0.001), but LC BM were more edematous (0.019). BC patients had more cerebellar BM (p = 0.004) than LC patients, and more BM in the cerebellum only (p = 0.017). LC patient gender and small cell histology did not correlate with cerebellar BM. Both cerebrums and cerebellums of BC patients had more BM than those with ...
The Pigtail Ureteral Stent In The Cancer Patient

Nephrostomy has been the standard procedure for urinary diversion when ureters are obstructed by cancer. However, recent reports have revealed significant problems related directly to the nephrostomy. The indwelling, internal ureteral stent eliminates many of these problems. We herein describe the course and survival of 20 patients in whom the pigtail ureteral stent was used to relieve ureteral obstruction caused by cancer. In these cases an over-all prolonged longevity, better quality of life and fewer complications have been noted when compared to cases of nephrostomy diversions.
Development of a Comprehensive Flavonoid Analysis Computational Tool for Ultrahigh-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Diode Array Detection-High-Resolution Accurate Mass-Mass Spectrometry Data

Liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry methods, especially ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and high-resolution accurate-mass multistage mass spectrometry (UHPLC-DAD-HRAM/MSn), have become the tool-of-the-trade for profiling flavonoids in foods. However, manually processing acquired UHPLC-DAD-HRAM/MSn data for flavonoid analysis is very challenging and highly expertise-dependent due to the complexities of the chemical structures of the flavonoids and the food matrixes. A computational expert data analysis program, FlavonQ-2.0v, has been developed to facilitate this process. The program first uses UV–vis spectra for an initial stepwise classification of flavonoids into classes and then identifies individual flavonoids in each class based on their mass spectra. Step-wise identification of flavonoid classes is based on a UV–vis spectral library compiled from 146 flavonoid reference standards and a novel chemometric model that uses stepwise strategy and proje...
Abstract 2915: The timing of mutational burst events impact the growth of tumors in the colon

Basic and clinical scientists believe that benign polyps in the colon progress to cancers through the slow, stepwise accumulation of mutations. Interestingly, only a small percentage of all tumors progress, whereas a significant number remain static in size, regress, or resolve completely. The mechanisms underlying these differential fates are unknown, and mechanisms of tumor evolution during this premalignant phase are still under investigation and continued debate. We previously reported that sub-clonal diversity arises early in small human adenomas and contributes to the growth of tumors in the colon. An emerging hypothesis is that colorectal tumors form and progress via a process of punctuated equilibrium, where multiple copy number alterations and mutational events happen simultaneously in a burst-like fashion. In this study, we prospectively test this concept using a mouse model in which tumor induction is spatially and temporally controlled via a non-surgical delivery of adenovirus expressing CRE recombinase and a temporally controlled mutational burst via administration of the carcinogen Azoxymethane. Tumors are induced at a similar rate regardless the timing of the burst relative to tumor induction with a mean tumor incidence of 62% at three weeks post induction. However, tumor growth may be affected by the timing of the burst. Animals that had a mutational burst event prior to tumor induction or those that had a late mutational burst event had a lower average in vivo growth rate compared to controls and those with an early burst event, but the average in vivo tumor size was comparable across all groups. Taken together, these preliminary data provide evidence that the timing of a mutational burst event contributes to tumor growth. This prospective experiment is being extended through computer modeling and statistical inference to compare in silico mutational landscapes to a cohort of colon polyps removed from patients at normal screening. The findings will provide new insights into the earliest stages of tumorigenesis. Citation Format: Chelsie K. Sievers, Tien N. Vo, Perry J. Pickhardt, Bryan D. Pooler, Kristina A. Matkowskyj, Dawn M. Albrecht, Quincy Rosemarie, Michael A. Newton, Richard B. Halberg. The timing of mutational burst events impact the growth of tumors in the colon [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2915. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-2915
Microscopic studies of the optical spectra of YBa2Cu3O7.

Microscopic studies of the optical spectra of YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7} have been done using the linear-muffin-tin-orbital (LMTO) method for solving the band-structure problem. Special attention has been paid to the midinfrared and visible spectral range where a number of peculiarities including the large anisotropy of the optical reflectance was observed. It is shown that the overall features of the observed optical spectra can be well explained in the framework of the usual band-structure approach. Moreover, the anisotropy of the reflectance in the {ital a}-{ital b} planes and the positions of the main interband transitions are also in good agreement with available experimental data.
Retinothalamic White Matter Abnormalities in Amblyopia

Purpose Amblyopia is associated with a broad array of perceptual and neural abnormalities in the visual system, particularly in untreated or unsuccessfully treated populations. Traditionally, it has been believed that the neural abnormalities are confined to the visual cortex and subcortex (e.g., lateral geniculate nucleus). Here, we investigate the presence of neuroanatomical abnormalities earlier in the visual stream, in the optic nerves and tracts, of participants with two predominant forms of amblyopia. Methods We used diffusion magnetic resonance imaging and probabilistic tractography to compare the microstructural properties of five white matter visual pathways between 15 participants with amblyopia (eight anisometropic, five strabismic, and two exhibiting both etiologies), and 13 age-matched controls. Results Participants with amblyopia exhibited significantly smaller mean fractional anisotropy in the optic nerve and optic tract (0.26 and 0.31 vs. 0.31 and 0.36 in controls, respectively). We also found greater mean diffusivity in the optic radiation compared to controls (0.72 μm2/s vs. 0.68 μm2/s, respectively). Comparing etiologies, the abnormalities in the precortical pathways tended to be more severe in participants with anisometropic compared to strabismic amblyopia, and anisometropic participants' optic nerves, optic tracts, and optic radiations significantly differed from control participants' (all, P < 0.05). Conclusions The results indicate that amblyopia may be associated with microstructural abnormalities in neural networks as early as the retina, and these abnormalities may differ between amblyopic etiologies.
Numerical Extraction of Components from Mixture Spectra by Multivariate Data Analysis

The authors know by experience that, if presented in purely mathematical terms, the multivariate data analysis techniques which will be discussed in this chapter can be difficult to understand for nonmathematicians. Therefore we will explain techniques such as factor and discriminant analysis, as well as subsequent procedures aimed at extracting chemical information, primarily in geometrical terms. After the basic principles have been visualized, these principles will then be rationalized mathematically so that a link can be established with the more mathematically oriented literature. The paragraphs containing the mathematical rationalizations can be skipped, if desired.
Volume Combustion Modes in Heterogeneous Reaction Systems

Volume combustion synthesis in metal–metal systems (i.e., Ni-Al and Cu-Al) was investigated. Both thermocouple and infrared imaging techniques were used to study the temperature–time history of the process. It was found that in both systems, volume combustion starts at a temperature near the melting point of aluminum. For the Cu-Al mixture, the reaction essentially occurs uniformly along the sample body; whereas, for Ni-Al, propagation of a rapid reaction wave is typically observed. The characteristic temperature gradient of this wave is more than an order of magnitude lower and the velocity of propagation is even higher, as compared with a conventional combustion wave. An explanation of the observed results based on a new class of wave, the so-called virtual combustion wave, is given.
In Vitro Systems in Neurotoxicological Studies

Modern in vitro neurotoxicology studies typically have one or both of two goals. First, the traditional rationale for in vitro neurotoxicology research is to uncover mechanisms of action of neurotoxicants. Second, a recent emphasis by regulatory agencies is to use in vitro systems as screening tools to evaluate chemicals for toxicity, including toxicity to neurons and/or glia. In both cases, it is important to relate in vitro effects back to likely in vivo exposures and effects. In vitro studies may use systems as complex as a whole embryo or as simple as purified molecules, although cultured primary neurons, primary glia, or immortalized cells of neuronal or glial origin remain the most common models. In vitro systems may be used to investigate a wide variety of effects of known or suspected neurotoxicants, including general cytotoxicity, ion channel function, synaptic function, intracellular metabolism, and changes in gene expression or protein concentrations.
Dispositional optimism and pessimism: stability, change, and adaptive recovery following life event experiences

As a trait-like disposition, optimism has received a wealth of research attention in connection with areas of physical and psychological well-being. However, less research attention has focused explicitly on the stability of optimism during adulthood. As such, we currently know very little about the long-term stability of optimism during middle adulthood, the developmental changes in optimism that occur across adulthood, or whether optimism changes in relation to specific life event experiences. The present research addressed these gaps in the optimism literature by examining stability and changes in optimism and pessimism over approximately nine years using longitudinal data from a sample of African American adults participating in the Family and Community Health Study (FACHS). In addition, this research attempted to extend adaptation theory as a potential explanation for short-term and/or long-term changes in optimism and pessimism following life event experiences. In terms of general stability, optimism and pessimism demonstrated moderate rank-order stability over time. However, average levels of optimism and pessimism increased and decreased, respectively, across the nine-year study period. Although not entirely consistent, life event experiences did relate to reactive changes in both optimism and pessimism in specific instances. Finally, effect size estimates for adaptive changes following life event experiences were generally consistent with complete adaptive recovery processes, except for a potential exception involving changes following marriage. Discussion integrates the study findings with the literature on personality development in adulthood, the stability of optimism and pessimism, and adaptation theory, with focus on potential implications of these findings for future research efforts aimed at integrating dominant theoretical perspectives in personality psychology.
Association between glycemic control, age, and outcomes among intensively treated patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

10043Background: Hyperglycemia and increased glycemic variability are associated with infection and increased mortality. We evaluated the relationship between glycemic control during AML induction ...
“Like Make Up on a Man”: The Gendered Nature of Gun Norms

ABSTRACTPrior research has established that women involved in criminal social networks and streetlife subculture tend to have high levels of personal victimization. Despite high levels of risk, and...
NMDA receptor 2B promoter methylation predicts poor prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

1136 NMDAR family members are endogenously expressed neurotoxic molecules that can be activated in a variety of normal neurophysiological processes. We previously identified NMDAR2B as a putative tumor suppressor gene, and reported a cancer-specific methylation of the promoter in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The CpG island analyzed was directly upstream of the transcription start site (TSS). In this study, we investigated the methylation status of NMDAR2B promoter at three different sites (P1, P2, and P3) of 1 kb upstream of the TSS where two CpG islands reside. Three independent modalities for methylation analysis (bisulfite-sequencing, COBRA, and TaqMan MSP) were performed to analyze total 67 ESCC tissues that included 43 primary tumors with well characterized clinicopathological parameters including patient outcome. Using an optimized cut-off value by quantitative-methylationspecific PCR (Q-MSP), we found that patients with higher NMDA receptor 2B methylation ratios in the proximal region (P1) demonstrated poorer 5-year disease-specific survival rates than those without NMDA receptor 2B methylation (P=0.006). A significant correlation was also seen between NMDAR2B promoter methylation and the presence of vascular permeation. These results suggest that NMDAR2B promoter methylation could be a clinically applicable marker for ESCC progression.
A new method of making arterious acellular scaffold

Objective To present a new method of making arterious acellular scaffold. Methods Trypsin and SDS were used to treat canine artery at first, and then the arteries were frozen and thawed. The biological and biodynamic characters of acellular scaffold were identified. Porcine endo-thelial progenitor cells were seeded on the acellular scaffold. Then the engineered vessels were trans-planted into the pulmonary artery or the carotid artery of the cell-donator pig. After 3 and half months, the engineered vessels were explanted and the biological and mechanic characters of these ves-sels were analyzed again. Results Trypsin digestion and SDS cleaning removed all the cell component of canine artery. The porosity was reserved. Endothelial progenitor cells proliferated well on the het-erogeneous acellular scaffold and formed a mono-layer on the surface of scaffold. After in-position transplantation, the engineered vessel in pulmonary functioned well Mono-layer of endothelial cell could be seen on the internal surface. Conclusions Trypsin digestion, SDS cleaning and freezing tha-wing can remove all cellular component of artery, which can be used as an excellent acellular vessel scaffold. Key words: Endothelial cell, Tissue-engineering; Vessels
Autophagy as an on-ramp to scientific discovery.

The common view of art and science as polar opposites along the educational spectrum can sometimes mask the degree to which they inform one another. In fact, art can also serve as a way to foster i...
Zirconia-Based Aerogels for Sorption and Degradation of Dimethyl Methylphosphonate

Inspired by recent breakthroughs with Zr(OH)4-type materials that decompose chemical warfare agents (CWAs), we explore aerogel forms of zirconium oxyhydroxide (ZrOxHy) as reactive sorbents for dime...
Hyperactive MEK1 Signaling in Cortical GABAergic Neurons Promotes Embryonic Parvalbumin Neuron Loss and Defects in Behavioral Inhibition

Many developmental syndromes have been linked to genetic mutations that cause abnormal ERK/MAPK activity; however, the neuropathological effects of hyperactive signaling are not fully understood. Here, we examined whether hyperactivation of MEK1 modifies the development of GABAergic cortical interneurons (CINs), a heterogeneous population of inhibitory neurons necessary for cortical function. We show that GABAergic-neuron specific MEK1 hyperactivation in vivo leads to increased cleaved caspase-3 labeling in a subpopulation of immature neurons in the embryonic subpallial mantle zone. Adult mutants displayed a significant loss of parvalbumin (PV), but not somatostatin, expressing CINs and a reduction in perisomatic inhibitory synapses on excitatory neurons. Surviving mutant PV-CINs maintained a typical fast-spiking phenotype but showed signs of decreased intrinsic excitability that coincided with an increased risk of seizure-like phenotypes. In contrast to other mouse models of PV-CIN loss, we discovered a robust increase in the accumulation of perineuronal nets, an extracellular structure thought to restrict plasticity. Indeed, we found that mutants exhibited a significant impairment in the acquisition of behavioral response inhibition capacity. Overall, our data suggest PV-CIN development is particularly sensitive to hyperactive MEK1 signaling, which may underlie certain neurological deficits frequently observed in ERK/MAPK-linked syndromes.
Investigation of the physical, optical, and chemical properties of phase segregated AlCoOx thin films from a novel hexol-type cluster

The use of a novel inorganic nanoscale cluster (Al[(μ-OH)2Co(NH3)4]3(NO3)6) was investigated for its utility as a precursor for AlCoOx films. Mixed-metal aluminum and cobalt oxide thin films were solution deposited from the novel cluster solution via the spin-coating method on Si (100) and quartz substrates. The films were annealed at increasing temperatures up to 800 °C, and characterization of these films via TEM and XRD confirms binary Co3O4 crystalline phase present in an amorphous Al2O3 network. Films are relatively smooth (Rrms < 4 nm), polycrystalline, and demonstrate a tunable optical response dominated by Co3O4 with two electronic transitions.
'Diagnosis of Boerhaave's Syndrome With Aid of Bedside Ultrasound.

Abstract Background Boerhaave's syndrome is characterized by transmural rupture of the distal esophagus in the setting of increased intraluminal pressures combined with negative intrathoracic pressure. It is a rare condition with high mortality (20–50% mortality rate). Case Report This is a case of a 47-year-old man who appeared acutely ill, presenting with shortness of breath, chest and abdominal pain, and diagnosed with Boerhaave's syndrome with the assistance of bedside ultrasound. Why Should an Emergency Physicians Be Aware of This? Emergency physicians must have a heightened suspicion of this diagnosis in patients presenting with chest and abdominal pain and can use bedside ultrasound skills to aid with diagnosis.
Barriers and Facilitators to Informed Decision-Making About Prostate Cancer Screening Among Black Men

Background: Black men are disproportionately impacted by prostate cancer (PrCa). Current guidelines recommend that all men make informed decisions about whether to be screened for PrCa. Little is known about the barriers and facilitators of informed decision-making (IDM) about PrCa screening in Black men. Methods: We conducted focus groups with a convenience sample of Black men aged 55 to 69 years from a primary care practice (n = 21). Template analysis was used to evaluate themes related to barriers and facilitators of IDM about PrCa screening. Results: IDM was impacted by external factors, intrinsic factors, and personal beliefs about PrCa screening. Family, friends, and clinicians played a paramount role in shaping attitudes about PrCa screening. Distrust of the medical community impaired IDM, and lack of clinician communication about PrCa screening further engendered mistrust. Participants felt they lacked adequate knowledge to make an informed decision about PrCa screening. Identified areas to promote IDM included education on racial disparities, education that screening is a personal choice, and differentiating PrCa screening from colon cancer screening. Conclusions: Our results indicate that Black men may lack the prerequisite information to make informed decisions about PrCa screening, which is notable in light of known PrCa racial disparities. Clinicians can play an important role in facilitating IDM through fostering discussions about the benefits and risks of PrCa screening and educating Black men about racial disparities.
Multifunctional Elastin-like Polypeptide Fusion Protein Coacervates Inhibit Receptor-mediated Pro-inflammatory Signals and Promote Angiogenesis in Mouse Diabetic Wounds.

Objective Chronic skin wounds are one of the most devastating complications in diabetic patients due to the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) resulting from non-enzymatic glycation of proteins and lipids in hyperglycemia. AGEs, upon binding their receptors (RAGEs), trigger pro-inflammatory signals that impair wound healing in diabetes and contribute to the pathology of chronic skin wounds. Approach We previously developed a recombinant fusion protein containing the binding domain of RAGE (vRAGE) linked to elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) that acts as a competitive inhibitor of AGEs, and another ELP fusion protein containing stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF1) that promotes revascularization. Herein, we report the effects of protein coacervates incorporating both vRAGE-ELP and SDF1-ELP on wound healing in an in vitro diabetes-mimicking cell culture system, and in in vivo in full-thickness wounds on diabetic mice. Results The combination of vRAGE-ELP and SDF1-ELP increased cell metabolic activity in AGE-stimulated endothelial cells, promoted in vitro tube formation and accelerated healing in an in vitro cell migration assay. When used in a single topical application on full-thickness excisional skin wounds in diabetic mice, wound closure in the combination groups reached almost 100% on post-wounding day 35, compared to 62% and 85% on the same days in animals treated with fibrin gel control and vehicle control consisting of ELP alone. Innovation To our knowledge, this is the first study that attempts to reverse the AGE-RAGE-mediated signaling as well as to promote cell proliferation and vascularization in one single treatment. Conclusion The co-delivery of vRAGE-ELP and SDF1-ELP has potential for the treatment of diabetic wounds.
GROWTH HORMONE THERAPY IN TURNER'S SYNDROME

The estimated incidence of Turner’s syndrome in live-born, phenotypic females varies between 1/2,000 and 1/10,000 (1). As such, it is a major cause of growth retardation, and, in many pediatric endocrine centers, is as common a diagnosis as classical growth hormone deficiency. Although significant variability in phenotypic expression exists, all major reviews of spontaneous growth in Turner’s syndrome demonstrate significant reduction in final adult heights (2–7). In Ranke’s 1983 review of growth in German girls with Turner’s syndrome (7), final adult height averaged 146.8 cm (-2.57 standard deviations), while previous reviews reported mean adult heights ranging from 140.2–146.3 cm.
Historical Linguistics: Toward a Twenty-First Century Reintegration

Bringing the advances of theoretical linguistics to the study of language change in a systematic way, this innovative textbook demonstrates the mutual relevance of historical linguistics and contemporary linguistics. Numerous case studies throughout the book show both that theoretical linguistics can be used to solve problems where traditional approaches to historical linguistics have failed to produce satisfying results, and that the results of historical research can have an impact on theory. The book first explains the nature of human language and the sources of language change in broad terms. It then focuses on different types of language change from contemporary viewpoints, before exploring comparative reconstruction - the most spectacular success of traditional historical linguistics - and the problems inherent in trying to devise new methods for linguistic comparison. Positioned at the cutting edge of the field, the book argues that this approach can and should lead to the re-integration of historical linguistics as one of the core areas in the study of language.
Mañana, Mañana: Trans-Cultural Perceptions of Time and the Role of Polychronism in Latin American Legal Systems

III. MoNocHRONic TIME VERsus PoLYCHRONIC TIME: A CoMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW 109 A. High and Low Context . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 B. Polychronic Organizations and Group Behavior.. 111 IV. POLYCHRONIC TIME AND CHALLENGES FACING THE JUDICIARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 A. Corruption 113 B. Judicial Inefficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 1. Increased Transaction Costs Due to Legislative Inflation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 2. Slow Judicial Proceedings 119 3. Legal Formalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 v. RHYTHM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 A. Challenges to Reform: "Subject" Culture and Citizen's Lack of Political Inertia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 VI. CoNcLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Theory, Practice, and Sociology

During the course of the twentieth century, the population of the world increased from less than 2 billion to about 6 billion people. With this increase has come increasing demands on the world’s resources, global warming and increasing pollution of our environment, and the potential for shortages of food and fuel and fouling of air and water. The world carnes into the twenty-first century the social problems of the twentieth: ethnic conflict, the growth and centralization of corporate power, an increasing gulf between the haves and have-nots, all problems that threaten the existence of democratic institutions in both the developed part of the world as well as the developing nations. If the world’s citizens are to address these problems, we will need a combination of scientific knowledge, wisdom, and activism. We contend that well-trained sociological practitioners can and should take their place among those working on solutions.
Simulation of neural networks on a massively parallel computer (DAP-510) using sparse matrix techniques

A parallel sparse matrix algorithm is proposed for the simulation of the modified Hopfield-Tank (MHT) network for solving the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP). The MHT network using this sparse matrix algorithm has been implemented on a DAP-510, a massively parallel SIMD (single-instruction-steam, multiple-data-stream) computer consisting of 1024 processors. Problems of various sizes, ranging from eight cities up to 256 cities, have been simulated. The results show a very large speedup for the algorithm as compared with one using a standard dense matrix implementation. >
Disclosures of Sexual Abuse by Puerto Rican Children: Oppression and Cultural Barriers

Psychotherapists who have experience working with Puerto Ricans on issues of child sexual abuse, and Puerto Rican women who were abused sexually as children were interviewed in this exploratory study about disclosure. Certain cultural norms and factors related to Puerto Ricans' status as an oppressed minority in the United States were identified as making the disclosure of sexual abuse especially difficult for Puerto Rican children.
Base station transmitter antenna arrays with mobile to base feedback

A central base station simultaneously communicates with several mobile users by allocating a separate time or frequency channel for each mobile to prevent undesired crosstalk. However, each time or frequency channel may be reused among several mobiles by means of an antenna array at the base station which points a separate beam at each user. The downlink beamformer would normally operate in an "open loop" mode, in which the base steers a mainlobe in the direction of each mobile. Such a system may operate effectively in a free space environment with no multipath. In the presence of scattering, open loop methods will not perform adequately. A new "closed loop" technique is presented in which each mobile user feeds back to the base estimates of the received signal amplitudes. Using feedback, the base station can achieve precision beamforming resulting in lower crosstalk and improved signal separation even in the presence of strong scattering environments. >
Developing an undergraduate course in digital forensics

This tutorial will introduce participants to the field of digital forensics, and provide guidance in the development of a course that introduces students from a variety of backgrounds to the principles involved in digital investigations. The course is targeted at upper division undergraduates, but may also be suitable for graduate students.
Conferring Dignity: The Metamorphosis of the Legal Homosexual

The legal homosexual has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past three decades, culminating in United States v. Windsor, which struck down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). In 1986, the homosexual was a sexual outlaw beyond the protection of the Constitution. By 2013, the homosexual had become part of a married couple that is “deemed by the State worthy of dignity.” This Article tells the story of this metamorphosis in four phases. In the first, the “Homosexual Sodomite Phase,” the United States Supreme Court famously declared in Bowers v. Hardwick that there was no right to engage in homosexual sodomy. In the second, the “Equal Homosexual Class Phase,” the Court in Romer v. Evans cast the legal homosexual as a member of a “class of citizens” whose exclusion from anti-discrimination protections the Constitution could not tolerate. In the third, the “Free Intimate Bond Phase,” the Court shifted its focus in Lawrence v. Texas to an enduring intimate bond involving private sexual acts protected from government intrusion. In the fourth and current phase, the “Dignified Married Couple Phase,” the Court in United States v. Windsor validated the decision of several states to “confer” upon homosexuals “a dignity and status of immense import.” The heart of the Article is an analysis of this final phase. Although Windsor is an important civil rights victory, the Court’s opinion ushers in important consequences for the legal homosexual. In the process of dignifying the same-sex couple, the Court erased the terms “homosexual” and “lesbian,” cast marriage as an elevated moral state, and, most importantly, promoted a concept that the Article calls a “weak dignity.” Windsor’s dignity is weak in three ways. First, human dignity was not understood by the Court as inherent in all humans. The Court instead assumed that the State confers dignity upon individuals. Second, Windsor’s concept of dignity is much narrower than theories promoted by contemporary moral and legal philosophers. Third, Windsor adopted a rhetoric of injury and pity that presents all those in same-sex relationships and their children as the wounded and humiliated victims of DOMA. The Article concludes with suggestions on how advocates and courts applying Windsor can employ the concept of equal dignity while moving beyond Windsor’s weaknesses.
What are the samples for learning efficient routing heuristics? [MCM routing]

In this paper we present a genetic algorithm (GA) based approach to learn heuristics for MCM routing. More exactly, given the MCM, the GA learns heuristics for routing this specific MCM. These heuristics are sequences of some given basic optimization modules (BOMs). The learning environment consists of a set of routing samples, which we call the training set. Since the training set plays a key role in the learning process, the paper is focused on the search for proper training sets. Two methods which are based on hierarchical decomposition of MCMs are proposed and experimentally proven to be very efficient. The experiments show that efficient and fast heuristics for large problems can be rapidly learned by GAs starting with problem specific BOMs, in general.
Beyond the medical record: other modes of error acknowledgment.

BACKGROUND: Studies before and since the 1999 Institute of Medicine report have noted the limitations of using medical record reporting for reliably quantifying and understanding medical error. Quantitative macro analyses of large datasets should be supplemented by small-scale qualitative studies to provide insight into micro-level daily events in clinical and hospital practice that contribute to errors and adverse events and how they are reported. DESIGN: The study design involved semistructured face-to-face interviews with residents about the medical errors in which they recently had been involved and included questions regarding how those errors were acknowledged. OBJECTIVE: This paper reports the ways in which medical error is or is not reported and residents’ responses to a perceived medical error. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-six residents were randomly sampled from a total population of 85 residents working in a 600-bed teaching hospital. MEASUREMENTS: Outcome measures were based on analysis of casers residents described. Using Ethnograph and traditional methods of content analysis, cases were categorized as Documented, Discussed, and Uncertain. RESULTS: Of 73 cases, 30 (41.1%) were formally acknowledged and Documented in the medical record; 24 (32.9%) were addressed through Discussions but not documented; 19 cases (26%) cases were classified as Uncertain. Twelve cases involved medication errors, which were acknowledged in different categories. CONCLUSIONS: The supervisory discussion, the informal discussion, and near-miss contain important information for improving clinical care. Our study also shows the need to improve residents’ education to prepare them to recognize and address medical errors.
Systems Engineering Foundations of Software Systems Integration

This paper considers systems engineering processes for software systems integration. Systems engineering processes, as intended here, concern how engineering capability should be factored into problem-solving agencies for performance of software systems integration tasks. Systems engineering processes also concern how the results produced by these agencies should be communicated and integrated into a system solution. The environment in which systems integration takes place is assumed to be model-driven. In the proposed solution, problemsolving agencies, working from various viewpoints, employ differing notations and analytical skills. In the course of identifying the systems engineering process, the paper presents a conceptual model of systems engineering, and reviews a classification of impediments to software systems integration.
Adult Primary Central Nervous System Vasculitis Treatment and Course: Analysis of One Hundred Sixty-Three Patients

Objective To describe the treatment and outcomes of patients with primary central nervous system (CNS) vasculitis. Methods We retrospectively studied a cohort of 163 consecutive patients with primary CNS vasculitis who were seen at the Mayo Clinic over a 29-year period. We analyzed treatments, treatment responses, and factors predictive of outcomes. Results A favorable response was observed in 85% of patients treated with prednisone alone and in 80% of patients treated with prednisone and cyclophosphamide. Relapses were observed in 27% of patients, and 25% of patients had discontinued therapy by the time of the last followup visit. Treatment with prednisone alone was associated with more frequent relapses (odds ratio [OR] 2.90), while large vessel involvement (OR 6.14) and cerebral infarcts at the time of diagnosis (OR 3.32) were associated with a poor response to treatment. Prominent gadolinium-enhanced cerebral lesions or meninges were linked with continued treatment at the last followup encounter (OR 2.28). Higher disability scores at the last followup visit were associated with increasing age at the time of diagnosis (OR 1.44) and cerebral infarctions (OR 3.74), while lower disability scores were associated with gadolinium-enhanced cerebral lesions or meninges (OR 0.35) and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (OR 0.24). Increased mortality was associated with increasing age at diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR] 1.39), diagnosis by angiography (HR 3.28), cerebral infarction (HR 4.44), and large vessel involvement (HR 4.98), while reduced mortality was associated with gadolinium-enhanced cerebral lesions or meninges (HR 0.20). Conclusion The majority of patients with primary CNS vasculitis responded to treatment. Recognition of findings at diagnosis that predict the course or outcome may aid in decision-making regarding therapy.
Large penile mass with unusual benign histopathology.

Pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia is an extremely rare condition presenting as a lesion on the glans penis in older men. Physical exam without biopsy cannot differentiate malignant from nonmalignant growth. We report a case of large penile mass in an elderly male with a history of lichen sclerosis, highly suspicious for malignancy. Subsequent surgical removal and biopsy demonstrated pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia, an unusual benign histopathologic diagnosis with unclear prognosis. We review the literature and discuss options for treatment and surveillance.
Bifurcations in a simple hydraulic oscillator: The 'Tantalus' cup'

The dynamics of a simple hydraulic oscillator (the 'Tantalus' cup') is studied. Phase-resetting for a single perturbation and locking phenomena in the periodically forced regime are described. A simplistic time-discrete model of the system is proposed. A few other didactic problems are suggested.
Analysis of the Projection Domain of the Microtubule Associated Protein Tau using Force Spectroscopy

Microtubule associated proteins (MAPs) are an important class of biological molecules that stabilize and organize microtubules. The MAP tau has been the subject of particular attention recently because it plays a role in some neurodegenerative diseases. This study focused on tau's projection domain in order to gain a better understanding of how the functional properties of this region of the protein affect its behavior. Using force spectroscopy of tau immobilized on mica substrates, we evaluated three versions of the protein where the projection domain had been modified, and compared long-range interactions between proteins. We found that as increasingly larger portions of tau's projection domain are removed, the range of long-range interactions decreases. Varying experimental conditions also changed the behavior of the projection domain, which is evident when the measurements are conducted in a high ionic strength buffer. This condition essentially removed the long-range interactions and provided strong evidence that the observed interactions are primarily electrostatic in nature. We also demonstrate that careful control of the experimental system allows us to measure tau-tau interactions or the behavior of tau alone on the mica. Our data confirms that the projection domain can exert strictly (entropic) repulsive interactions and can take part in more specific electrostatic interactions, depending on the geometry of the system.
A One-Seraester, Laboratory-Based, Quality-Oriented Statistics Curriculum for Engineering Students

Abstract This article describes a new laboratory-based undergraduate engineering statistics course being offered by the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering at Penn State. The course is intended as a service course for engineering students outside of industrial engineering. We describe the topics covered in each of the eight modules of the course and how the laboratories are linked to the lecture material. We describe how the course is implemented, including facilities used, the course text, grading, student enrollment, and the implementation of continuous quality improvement in the classroom. We conclude with some remarks on the benefits of the laboratories, the effects of CQI in the classroom, and dissemination of course materials.
Collagen synthesis in the regenerating forelimb of the adult newt, Diemictylus viridescens

The regenerating and stump tissues of amputated forelimbs of the adult newt, Diemictylus viridescens, were analyzed for collagen content and synthesis. Collagen soluble and insoluble in 0.45 M NaCl was assayed by (1) spectrophotometric determination of hydroxyproline, (2) radiotracer determination of 14C-proline incorporation, and (3) radiochromatographic analysis of the 14C-proline/14C-hydroxyproline ratio in the two collagen fractions. The results obtained reveal that there is significantly less saline insoluble as well as soluble collagen in the regenerating limb tissues than in the basal stump of the amputee, though a soluble fraction is demonstrable throughout the course of regeneration. By ninety days after amputation, there is a significant increase in the insoluble collagen fraction in the regenerating limb. The soluble collagen fractions assayed in the regenerating tissues are newly synthesized protein, and this synthetic activity appears to be greatest during the paddle and early digitiform stages of regeneration. The soluble collagen extracted from regenerates appears to be less completely hydroxylated with respect to hydroxyproline content than obtains in corresponding fractions from limb stump and control limb tissues.
Target detection above rough surfaces in microwave imaging using Compressive Sampling

A subspace extraction approach for detection of targets embedded in the clutter is presented in this work. Subspace extraction approach that makes use of both Compressive Sampling and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is presented in this paper. Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) Imaging measurement data is used to validate the proposed approach. Experimental results of targets above rough surface with intermediate roughness are presented. Results showed the dimensionality of an intermediate scale rough surface is generally larger than the dimensionality of the finite size targets. Results showed that by compressing the dimensionality through compressive sampling and extracting the principal components, significant improvement in target subspace extraction can be achieved.
Managing momentum on the dawn low thrust mission

Dawn is low-thrust interplanetary spacecraft enroute to the asteroids Vesta and Ceres in an effort to better understand the early creation of the solar system. After launch in September 2007, the spacecraft will flyby Mars in February 2009 before arriving at Vesta in summer of 2011 and Ceres in early 2015. Three solar electric ion-propulsion engines are used to provide the primary thrust for the Dawn spacecraft. Ion engines produce a very small but very efficient force, and therefore must be thrusting almost continuously to realize the necessary change in velocity to reach Vesta and Ceres.
Standing wave pressure fields generated in an acoustic levitation chamber

We are developing an acoustic levitation chamber for measuring adhesion force strengths among biological cells. Our research has four phases. Phase I, presented here, is concerned with the design and construction of a chamber for trapping cell-sized microbubbles with known properties in acoustic standing waves, and examines the theory that describes the standing wave field. A cylindrical chamber has been developed to generate a stable acoustic standing wave field. The pressure field was mapped using a 0.4-mm needle hydrophone, and experiments were performed using 100 micron diameter unencapsulated air bubbles, 9 micron diameter isobutane-filled microbubbles, and 3 micron diameter decafluorobutane (C 4 F 10 )-filled microbubbles, confirming that the net radiation force from the standing wave pressure field tends to band the microbubbles at pressure antinodes, in accordance with theory.