cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distress intolerance mediates attentional control on posttraumatic stress symptoms: Evidence from two clinical samples.

Abstract Theoretical models emphasize the importance of both affective and cognitive risk factors in the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). Two such factors predicting PTSS have been studied extensively: distress intolerance (DI) – an affective factor indicative of the ability to tolerate negative affective states – and attentional control (AC), a cognitive factor reflecting the ability to flexibly shift and maintain attention to goal-relevant tasks. Previous work primarily highlights the independent contributions of DI and AC and their interaction to predict PTSS. Some models, however, suggest a mediational pathway such that AC indirectly affects PTSS via diminished DI. The current paper addressed this gap by first attempting to replicate prior findings, while also exploring this mediation model. Results were examined in two clinical samples – a trauma-exposed sample of adults (study 1; N = 73) and trauma-exposed treatment-seeking adults (study 2; N = 204). Results partially supported our hypotheses; both studies failed to replicate prior moderation findings, but our mediational hypothesis was supported in both samples. Low AC appears to decrease an individual's tolerance for distressing situations, which in turn increases the severity of PTSS. Results suggest that PTSD treatments may benefit by incorporating components of AC, DI, or a combination of the two to mitigate PTSS. Taken together, this study provides a novel examination of how cognitive and affective risk factors, namely AC and DI, work in tandem to increase PTSS.
Adult Genitourinary Sarcomas: Pelvic Sarcomas

Soft tissue sarcomas are rare, accounting for approximately 1% of all malignant tumors (Suit et al. 1975). Most patients present with large, high-grade tumors that are very aggressive locally and tend to spread hematogenously. In general, adults have a worse prognosis than children with the same sarcoma. The largest series of genitourinary sarcomas is from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center involving a prospective data base of 43 patients. This study revealed that 86% of tumors were high grade, 56% of tumors were >5 cm in diameter and 21% of the patients presented with metastatic disease (Russo et al. 1992). In this series, complete surgical resection was possible in 58% of cases. The authors reported an actuarial relapse-free survival rate for urologic sarcomas of 55% and 40% at 3 and 5 years, respectively, regardless of histologic type, patient age, or sex (Russo et al. 1992). Despite the modern forms of therapy used in this series, their data are not significantly different from historical controls (Powers et al. 1956).
BLIND ALLEYS OF FINANCIAL FRAUD

This paper discusses four lesser known human factors and interrelationships between them that could lead to financial reporting fraud. Identified as blind alleys, these factors are self-regarding d...
Symmetry in the making.

After years of speculation on the origins of symmetry-making and -breaking during crystallization, time-resolved in situ scanning probe microscopy and all-atom molecular dynamics simulations have shown that the formation of olanzapine crystals largely occurs by the incorporation of centrosymmetric dimers into growth sites.
Modular Categories and Orbifold Models

In this paper, we try to answer the following question: given a modular tensor category ? with an action of a compact group G, is it possible to describe in a suitable sense the “quotient” category ?/G? We give a full answer in the case when ?=?ℯ? is the category of vector spaces; in this case, ?ℯ?/G turns out to be the category of representation of Drinfeld's double D(G). This should be considered as the category theory analog of the topological identity {pt}/G=BG. This implies a conjecture of Dijkgraaf, Vafa, E. Verlinde and H. Verlinde regarding so-called orbifold conformal field theories: if ? is a vertex operator algebra which has a unique irreducible module, ? itself, and G is a compact group of automorphisms of ?, and some not too restrictive technical conditions are satisfied, then G is finite, and the category of representations of the algebra of invariants, ? G , is equivalent as a tensor category to the category of representations of Drinfeld's double D(G). We also get some partial results in the non-holomorphic case, i.e. when ? has more than one simple module.
Clinical diagnosis of presumed SOX2 gonadosomatic mosaicism

Purpose: To describe a family with presumed SOX2 gonadosomatic mosaicism diagnosed upon ophthalmic examination of the proband's mother.Methods: The family underwent comprehensive ophthalmic and physical examination. Variant detection was performed using trio exome analysis on peripheral leukocyte DNA from blood and saliva samples. Variant segregation analysis was performed using a custom panel NGS sequencing. An identified variant in the SOX2 gene was confirmed in the proband by Sanger sequencing.Results: We report an individual with bilateral microphthalmia, developmental delay, hearing loss, and dysmorphic features. Her mother was found to have asymptomatic forme fruste uveal coloboma affecting her anterior segment. Her father, aunt, and sisters were unaffected. Trio exome sequence analysis showed an apparent de novo heterozygous deletion in the proband, NM_003106.3:c.70_89del, NP_003097.1:p.(Asn24Argfs*65), classified as pathogenic. Testing of the other family members' peripheral blood and saliva was negative for this variant. The iris transillumination abnormalities in the proband's mother supports a gonadosomatic mosaicism scenario.Conclusions: The results from this family underscore the importance of performing detailed evaluations of the parents of apparently sporadically affected individuals with heritable ophthalmic disorders. The identification of mildly affected individuals could substantially alter recurrence risks.
Positron Emission Tomography of a Human Prostate Cancer Xenograft: Association of Changes in Deoxyglucose Accumulation with Other Measures of Outcome following Androgen Withdrawal

The current means of assessing response in prostate cancer are imprecise because changes in tumor size are often slow and difficult to document, and alterations in serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels do not always correlate with clinical outcomes. Using the CWR22 human prostate cancer xenograft model, serial changes in prostate tumor metabolism were assessed after androgen withdrawal by [3H]deoxyglucose (DOG) accumulation in the tumors and noninvasively using positron emission tomography (PET) with 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose as a radiotracer. A significant decrease in [3H]DOG accumulation was observed at 48 h after androgen withdrawal [62% of preandrogen withdrawal value (95% confidence interval: 0.59, 0.65)], reaching a maximum decline at day 10 [38% of preandrogen withdrawal value (95% confidence interval: 0.37, 0.40)]. Using PET, parallel changes in tumor metabolism were demonstrated and preceded changes in tumor volume and marked declines in serum PSA. DOG accumulation returned to near baseline upon reintroduction of androgen. The decrease in DOG accumulation was associated with a decline in the proportion of tumor cells in active cell cycle from >60% to <5% at 7-10 days after androgen withdrawal. No increase in the proportion of tumor cells undergoing apoptosis was observed during this time period, implying an arrest in a G0/early G1 state. DOG accumulation in tumor cells, measured directly and by PET, correlated with androgen changes in the host. The results suggest that serial monitoring of DOG accumulation using PET scanning may be useful as an early indicator of treatment efficacy and other outcome measures in prostate cancer.
WHEN TO USE AND WHEN TO AVOID MEDIATION

This article examines voluntary mediation and provides suggested criteria for attorneys in deciding whether or not to use mediation. The author discusses what mediation has to offer, what it takes to make it work, and important cautions for attorneys in deciding about the use of this process.
A Control Strategy for Terrain Adaptive Bipedal Locomotion

Rhythmic movements of a five-link sagittal biped with muscle-like actuators are considered. In walking, as the support phases change contact is periodically made with the environment. The inputs to every actuator are modeled after the inputs to muscles in mammals. The system possesses intrinsic position and velocity feedback due to the actuator dynamics. A control strategy is articulated that is novel in that it; a) is physiologically viable; b) simplifies the dynamics; and c) adapts to the speed of walking, going up and down stairs, going up or down inclines, maneuvering over obstacles or holes, and the tempo and stride length of walking. Walking simulations of a five-link sagittal biped are presented.
Behavioral Economics of Cigarette Purchase Tasks: Within-Subject Comparison of Real, Potentially Real, and Hypothetical Cigarettes.

Introduction Hypothetical rewards are commonly used in studies of laboratory-based tobacco demand. However, behavioral economic demand procedures require confirmation that the behavior elicited from real and hypothetical reward types are equivalent, and that results attained from these procedures are comparable to other accepted tasks, such as the hypothetical purchase task. Methods Nineteen smokers were asked to purchase 1 week's worth of cigarettes that they would consume over the following week either at one price that incrementally increased across four weekly sessions ("real" sessions) or four prices in a single session ("potentially real" session), one of which was randomly chosen to be actualized. At each session, participants also completed a hypothetical cigarette purchase task. After each week, participants reported the number of cigarettes they actually smoked. Results Demand was found to be equivalent under both the real and potentially real reward conditions but statistically different from the demand captured in the hypothetical purchase task. However, the amounts purchased at specific prices in the hypothetical purchase task were significantly correlated with the amount purchased at comparable prices in the other two tasks (except for the highest price examined in both tasks of $1.00 per cigarette). Number of cigarettes consumed that were obtained outside of the study was correlated with study cigarette price. Conclusions Combined, these results suggest that purchasing behavior during potentially real sessions (1) was not functionally different from real sessions, (2) imposes fewer costs to the experimenter, and (3) has high levels of both internal and external validity.
Who's on First?: License Team Workflow Tracking With Trello

The North Carolina State University Libraries license team recently made the decision to migrate workflow tracking from its staff intranet tool, Confluence, to the cloud-based project management software, Trello. Using a model of boards, lists, and cards to allow for the management of projects at various levels of granularity, Trello has proved to be a very valuable addition to the Libraries’ licensing process. This article will review NCSU Libraries’ electronic resources licensing workflow, its transition to Trello, and how this software has streamlined the Libraries’ complex license negotiations.
Cost and Benefit of Perioperative Antimicrobial Prophylaxis: Methods for Economic Analysis

Cost-benefit analysis of perioperative prophylaxis with antimicrobial agents involves efforts in two main areas: first, economic aspects of a decision whether or not to use prophylaxis are examined; and second, the financial benefit of a drug or regimen is compared with that of the currently used drug or regimen. Both cost and benefit have a number of components, both direct and indirect; methods are available for the analysis of some of these components. Systematic economic analysis permits evaluation of the relative importance and magnitude of the various elements of cost and benefit. Often the analysis shows that information about one or more elements is not worth collecting because it will have minor or no impact. Failure to clearly identify the viewpoints of persons interpreting the data hinders analysis; systematic economic analysis makes these differences in viewpoint clearer. Convincing economic data in favor of prophylaxis exist for some operative procedures; hospitals should insist that these regimens be implemented. Surgical wound infection is the only type of nosocomial infection for which a consistent drop in rate of occurrence has been seen during the past decade. This drop undoubtedly is related in part to the perioperative use of antimicrobial agents. Perhaps these results constitute the best cost-benefit assessment of all.
The effect of wavelength on binocular summation

Abstract Binocular (dichoptic) summation was studied for identical wavelengths (monochromatic combinations) and dissimilar wavelengths (bichromatic combinations) presented to each eye. For comparison, monocular summation data were obtained from the same subjects. Dichoptic bichromatic additivity failures were found to be qualitatively similar to, but more pronounced than, corresponding bichromatic monoptic additivity failures. Also, for color normals, dichoptic monochromatic summation was greatest for saturated spectral hues and least for less saturated hues.
Application of an Expert System Approach for Assessing Grassland Status in the U.S.- Mexico Borderlands: Implications for Conservation and Management

Grasslands around the world have experienced dramatic decline for more than a century. The spatial extent and condition of grasslands in many regions of the world are poorly understood because they lack conservation priority relative to other ecological systems. We developed a simple, yet broadly applicable rapid assessment expert system approach that can be used to assess these aspects of grassland status for improved conservation planning and management. Here we apply our approach to the semi-arid grasslands of the Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico borderlands. We specifically used a combination of expert input and field verification. The accuracy of the expert input was 71%–77%. Native grasses dominate nearly 50% of identified grasslands. However, over two-thirds of these grasslands have experienced a moderate level of shrub encroachment. These areas may be restorable to open grassland with use of prescribed fire. Non-native perennial grasses are common to dominant on 12% of the study area. More than 67% of native grasslands occur on private and state land where there is little legal protection. In a region experiencing substantial development pressure, grasslands are at risk of becoming increasingly fragmented and vulnerable to non-native species invasion. Now, with our approach to assessing grassland status, conservation practitioners and partners are better positioned to protect and restore the remaining grasslands in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands and elsewhere.
A comparison of two optimization techniques for sequence discriminative training of deep neural networks

We compare two optimization methods for lattice-based sequence discriminative training of neural network acoustic models: distributed Hessian-free (DHF) and stochastic gradient descent (SGD). Our findings on two different LVCSR tasks suggest that SGD running on a single GPU machine achieves the best accuracy 2.5 times faster than DHF running on multiple non-GPU machines; however, DHF training achieves a higher accuracy at the end of the optimization. In addition, we present an improved modified forward-backward algorithm for computing lattice-based expected loss functions and gradients that results in a 34% speedup for SGD.
Direct current potential difference correlation for open-hole, single-crack coupons

Abstract This work provides forward and inverse voltage to crack length correlations for direct current potential difference (DCPD) crack size measurements in open-hole, single-crack fatigue test coupons. A finite element model was used to develop the correlations for a domain with a centrally located open hole in a long finite-width strip with a through crack from one side of the hole. The strip width was varied from 2 to 10 times the hole diameter. The correlations were applied to experimental results and validated by comparing DCPD results to digital photomicroscopic crack length measurements. A conformal mapping of the often-used Johnson solution was found to be inaccurate for the open-hole geometry.
MICROBIOLOGY AND QUALITY ATTRIBUTES OF AGED HAMS PRODUCED FROM FROZEN GREEN HAMS

48 hams of similar weight and quality were frozen at -29°C and then stored for about 8 wk at -18°C. The hams were divided into 4 equal groups for thawing and curing. Groups 1 and 2 were placed in cure after thawing at 13°C for 24 hr, while Groups 3 and 4 were cured frozen. Groups 1 and 3 were cured with salt, sugar, potassium nitrate (KNO,) and sodium nitrite, and groups 2 and 4 were cured with the same ingredients with the omission of KNO,. Surface swab samples were obtained from hams in each group when fresh, after cure, after salt equalization and after aging 1, 2 and 3 months and evaluated for aerobes and pseudomonads (7, 26 and 37°C), lacto-bacilli, enterococci, streptococci, and yeasts and molds. Pseudomonads were not enumerated after salt equalization or after 1 and 2 months aging. Enumerations were made for coliforms before curing and after aging 3 months and for staphylococci after aging 3 months. Weight loss was recorded periodically as processing and aging progressed. After aging 3 months the hams were cut, evaluated visually and by a palatability panel, sheared for tenderness and analyzed for moisture, salt and nitrite. Coliforms were detected only on the thawed hams before curing. Coliforms were not detected after aging 3 months. No coagulase-positive staphylococci were detected after aging. Except for the Pseudomonas count at 7°C (P < 0.05), all counts were higher (P < 0.01) for thawed hams than for frozen hams before curing. After curing, thawed hams had higher counts than hams cured frozen, but only the difference for aerobic count (37°C) was significant (P < 0.01). Hams cured without KNO3 tended to have higher counts than hams cured with it, but the differences were not significant. No differences were observed after salt equalization and after aging 1 and 2 months. Frozen hams cured without KNO3 tended to have counts that were higher than the hams cured with KNO3+ NaNO2. Only the differences between the aerobic counts at 7°C and yeast and mold counts after aging 3 months were significant (P < 0.01). There were no differences in color, aroma, or general appearance, organoleptic scores, or composition due to the presence or absence of KNO3. Hams placed in cure while frozen had less weight loss and lower salt content than those thawed before being placed in cure. Color, aroma, general appearance, palatability scores, shear values, moisture and nitrite content were similar in the frozen and thawed groups.
Acute exacerbation in chronic type B hepatitis: comparison between HBeAg and antibody-positive patients.

The incidence, clinicopathological features and etiology of acute exacerbation occurring in patients with chronic type B hepatitis were assessed prospectively among 385 patients who had HBeAg and 279 who had anti-HBe in serum. During an average follow-up of 23.5 months, acute exacerbations occurred in 197 HBeAg-positive patients and in 56 anti-HBe positive patients, with a calculated annual incidence of 28.6 and 10.3%, respectively (p < 0.001). The clinical and laboratory findings of acute exacerbations were similar in the HBeAg-positive and anti-HBe positive patients. The mean serum bilirubin and α-fetoprotein levels were higher in anti-HBe positive patients (p < 0.01), but actual differences were small. The histologic features of acute exacerbations were also similar in the HBeAg-positive patients and anti-HBe positive patients. Lobular alterations were the main histologic findings; in addition, one-fourth of patients had bridging necrosis and one-fourth had piecemeal necrosis. Spontaneous reactivation of hepatitis B was the major cause of these exacerbations in both HBeAg-positive patients (91.5%) as well as anti-HBe positive patients (62.5%). Hepatitis delta virus superinfection accounted for a higher percentage of exacerbations in anti-HBe positive patients (14.3%) than in HBeAg-positive cases (6.5%). Hepatitis A and possibly non-A, non-B virus superinfections also contributed to some episodes of exacerbation. Thus, acute exacerbations of disease occurred more frequently in HBeAg-positive patients than in anti-HBe positive patients with chronic type B hepatitis, but the clinicopathological features and etiologies were similar.
Dietary Supplements: Inpatient Policies in US Children's Hospitals

Background Variations in hospital policies and practices regarding the use of vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other dietary supplements could compromise patient safety and quality of care. We undertook this study to describe pediatric hospital policies regarding dietary supplements. Methods We administered a cross-sectional survey of a sample of National Association of Children Hospitals and Related Institutions members. Pharmacy personnel were asked about the following: written policies addressing dietary supplements; how such policies are made; and responsibilities for storage, administration, documentation, and checking for potential interactions. We created a 10-point hospital policy and practices quality score to assess the quality of each policy. Results Of the 186 eligible National Association of Children Hospitals and Related Institutions hospitals, 109 responded (59%). Forty-four percent reported having written policies on vitamins and minerals, herbs, and other dietary supplements. Few hospitals had herbs (2%) or other dietary supplements (38%) on formulary. However, most (81%) allowed patients to use their home supply of dietary supplements under defined circumstances, and 64% allowed staff to make recommendations about dietary supplement use. In 70% of hospitals, nurses stored and administered the home supply of dietary supplements. Less than half (46%) required documentation of a check for drug or dietary supplements interactions. One third (32%) had surgical preoperative recommendations regarding dietary supplements. Only 11% of 109 hospitals satisfied the 10 criteria necessary for a perfect hospital policy and practices quality score indicative of quality practices regarding patient use of dietary supplements. Conclusion Even among those hospitals that have written policies about dietary supplements, there is a wide range in policy quality, which may compromise the safety of patients.
Ultraviolet B, vitamin D, and their mechanisms in cancer prevention

Background: Recent advances confirming the role of vitamin D in prevention of cancer have created new scientific interest. The main source of vitamin D is exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB). Factors that reduce atmospheric penetration of UVB play a role in increasing risk of cancers of the colon, breast, and other sites. Objective: To systematically review available epidemiological and laboratory studies concerning effects of UVB or vitamin D on colon, breast, prostate and ovarian cancer. Methods: All published research articles that identified the role of ultraviolet B, vitamin D, and its metabolites in conjunction with colon and breast cancer were ascertained and abstracts or articles were reviewed. Results: The preponderance of epidemiological and laboratory studies support the hypothesis that moderate exposures to ultraviolet B and vitamin D provide protection against colon and breast cancer, among others. The effect is present throughout life for colon cancer, but is exerted mostly during the first two decades for breast cancer. Conclusion: Latitude, climate, sulfate air pollution, stratospheric ozone, and behavioral factors combine to reduce the dermal synthesis of vitamin D to virtually zero during winter months. Populations at 37+ degrees of latitude are at markedly elevated risk of vitamin D deficiency, and, consequently, of colon, breast and prostate cancer incidence and mortality.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Sub-saturation phases of nuclear matter

Abstract We study the zero-temperature equation of state of isospin-symmetric nuclear matter below saturation density by minimizing the energy of the nucleons in a periodic cubic cell at each mean density. We take the energy per nucleon to be the Thomas-Fermi approximation to the Skyrme III functional and include the Coulomb energy. We find several phase transitions between different topologies of matter, going from spheres to rods to slabs to tubes to bubbles with increasing density, and discuss their implications for models of supernova core collapse.
Quantitation of IgG by the ammonium sulfate technique. II. The immunological specificity of antiserum against human IgG Fc.

Abstract Studies were undertaken to test the efficiency and specificity of purified proteins to block the interaction between standard dilutions of 125I Fc and rabbit anti-human Fc in the ammonium sulfate system. Myeloma proteins of the IgG, IgA, IgD, IgE classes, Wadenstrom IgM and IgM from normal subjects were tested. The 125I Fc-anti-Fc system was found to be specific for γ heavy chains and failed to reveal cross reactivity with α, δ, ϵ, or μ heavy chains and K or λ light chains. Myeloma IgG exhibited some variation in reactive determinants within subclasses. Whereas three of the IgG subclas materials possessed a full complement of determinants homologous toIgG, a relative deficiency, or absence of a determinant (s), was noted in others. The attributes of the inhibition system to quantitatively measure IgG were further explored, utilizing sera of normal and hypogammaglobulinemic subjects as well as an IgG contaminated IgA preparation
The Contribution of Diagnostic Substitution to the Growing Administrative Prevalence of Autism in US Special Education

OBJECTIVE. Growing administrative prevalence of autism has stirred public controversy and concern. The extent to which increases in the administrative prevalence of autism have been associated with corresponding decreases in the use of other diagnostic categories is unknown. The main objective of this study was to examine the relationship between the rising administrative prevalence of autism in US special education and changes in the use of other classification categories. METHODS. The main outcome measure was the administrative prevalence of autism among children ages 6 to 11 in US special education. Analysis involved estimating multilevel regression models of time-series data on the prevalence of disabilities among children in US special education from 1984 to 2003. RESULTS. The average administrative prevalence of autism among children increased from 0.6 to 3.1 per 1000 from 1994 to 2003. By 2003, only 17 states had a special education prevalence of autism that was within the range of recent epidemiological estimates. During the same period, the prevalence of mental retardation and learning disabilities declined by 2.8 and 8.3 per 1000, respectively. Higher autism prevalence was significantly associated with corresponding declines in the prevalence of mental retardation and learning disabilities. The declining prevalence of mental retardation and learning disabilities from 1994 to 2003 represented a significant downward deflection in their preexisting trajectories of prevalence from 1984 to 1993. California was one of a handful of states that did not clearly follow this pattern. CONCLUSIONS. Prevalence findings from special education data do not support the claim of an autism epidemic because the administrative prevalence figures for most states are well below epidemiological estimates. The growing administrative prevalence of autism from 1994 to 2003 was associated with corresponding declines in the usage of other diagnostic categories.
Particle simulation of Langmuir turbulence during ionospheric heating

Ionospheric heating leads to strong Langmuir turbulence including modulational instability, soliton formation, and spatial collapse. The Zakharov model usually used to describe these effects contains a low-frequency ion-acoustic wave equation which cannot be rigorously justified in the ionosphere where the electron and ion temperatures are comparable. In the present work, the low-frequency physics is described by a many-ion computer simulation. While some differences are found, the results for the most part confirm the earlier, much less difficult, Zakharov calculations.
Selective Sensing of Individual Gases Using Graphene Devices

Graphene chemiresistors have enabled gas and vapor detection with high sensitivity. However, changes in graphene resistivity under the equilibrium gas exposure cannot be used to determine both the gas concentration and its type, making the sensing selectivity with resistive detection one of the key barriers to overcome. In this paper, we report on using low frequency noise to define the new characteristic parameters, which, in combination with the resistance changes, form unique gas signatures. The noise measurements can also be used in combination with evaluating “memory step” effect in graphene under gas exposure. The “memory step” is an abrupt change of the current near zero gate bias at elevated temperatures T > 500 K in graphene transistors. The “memory step” in graphene under gas exposure can be also used for high-temperature gas sensors, and is attractive for harsh-environment applications.
Atomic geometry and electronic structure of native defects in GaN

We have studied the electronic structure, atomic geometry, and formation energies of native defects in GaN using first-principles total-energy calculations. Our results reveal the vacancies to be the dominant defects in GaN, whereas antisites and interstitials are energetically less favorable. In p-type GaN the nitrogen vacancy (a donor) has the lowest formation energy, in n-type GaN the gallium vacancy (an acceptor). Our results show that the vacancies may be important for compensation. However, isolated point defects and particularly the nitrogen vacancy can be excluded as the source for the n-type conductivity in as-grown GaN, contrary to the generally accepted picture.
The 'Elephant in the Room'.

Why does no one in the Arab world currently address the real problems of female pelvic medicine and surgery? More than two decades ago, during one of the annual AUA conferences, I was engaged in an interesting conversation with the eminent and visionary Professor Mohamed Ghoneim. During our discussion, I asked him very pointedly why a prominent institution such as the Urological Institution of Mansoura – which at that time was the only institute offering several urological subspecialties as an integrated service – does not include a specialist in Female Urology? His answer was simple and convincing. He said, “We have so many bigger urological problems in Egypt”. That was many years ago. Since that time, knowledge of pelvic floor disorders (PFD) has advanced tremendously. The dominance of traditional specialties such as urology, gynaecology, and general surgery has gradually given way to subspecialties such as female urology, urogynaecology, and colorectal surgery. This has allowed experts to focus on a narrower field, and provide more optimal care for women. The ultimate goal is for the ‘vertical’ approach, adhered to by each specialist, to give way to the ‘whole pelvis’ approach. There are many disadvantages to the ‘vertical’ concept, as the effect of therapy on other pelvic organs is not considered, surgical procedures are sequential rather than combined, and there is thus decreased patient satisfaction. One major and important problem with a subspecialty such as Female Urology is that it deals with quality of life, which many specialists might not consider to be of primary importance. However, as seen in the realm of Female Urology, women who are suffering from urological disorders see this as their ‘social cancer’, as the late Dr. Rodney Appel would say. The incidence of urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, pelvic organ prolapse and anal incontinence increases with age and parity. Apart from a few epidemiological studies, there is currently a lack of good epidemiological data in the literature related to the incidence of these PFD in the Arab female population. However, in the Western world, about a third of women are affected by one or any combinations of PFD. Thus, a similar or even greater incidence can be expected in the Arab world. What happens to the millions of Arab women who often suffer in silence from PFD? Are they invisible? Not at all. In fact, they are living longer, are more educated, and many refuse to live in silence, as their mothers did, suffering from PFD. Two decades after my discussion with Professor Ghoneim, it is evident that there is still a strong need for further subspecialization in the field of Female Urology, especially with the ageing population and prevalence of incontinence and PFD. We cannot face this demand and health problem with individual efforts diluted by broader interests and continue non-specialization. It is time to co-operate, reach out to other specialties, broaden our knowledge and hone our skills. We must educate a new generation of urologists who will develop a passion for this subspecialty and become future ‘leaders’ in Female Urology.
Phenylalanine transfer RNA: molecular dynamics simulation

Yeast phenylalanine transfer RNA was subjected to a 12-picosecond molecular dynamics simulation. The principal features of the x-ray crystallographic analysis are reproduced, and the amplitudes of atomic displacements appear to be determined by the degree of exposure of the atoms. An analysis of the hydrogen bonds shows a correlation between the average length of a bond and the fluctuation in that length and reveals a rocking motion of bases in Watson-Crick guanine X cytosine base pairs. The in-plane motions of the bases are generally of larger amplitude than the out-of-plane motions, and there are correlations in the motions of adjacent bases.
Effect of location of the conditional cue on conditional discrimination learning by monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

Abstract Monkeys were trained on conditional discrimination problems consisting of a pair of objects differing in form, or, depending on the problem, in size. The conditional cue was color of the test tray for half the S s and color of the pair of objects for the other half. The discriminative response was displacement of one of the objects. Original and reversal learnign were generally better when the conditional cue was color of the objects. This agrees with previous findings that monkeys are more likely to attend to stimuli that they touch when responding than those they do not touch.
Chemical and immunological differences between normal and tumoral colonic mucoprotein antigen

WE have found immunological and chemical differences between the colonic mucoprotein antigen (CMA) isolated from normal and tumour tissue. CMA is one of at least ten antigens reported from human colonic mucosa, one or more of which has been claimed to be tissue specific. Nairn1 demonstrated histologically that one of these was a mucoprotein similar to the blood group substances, yet distinct and specific for the gastrointestinal system. Its clinical importance was emphasised by Bromberger and Perlmann2, who demonstrated the presence of antibodies to it in the sera of patients with ulcerative colities. The differences reported here may be useful as diagnostic markers for colonic carcinoma.
Prognostic Significance of Depressive Symptoms on Weight Loss and Psychosocial Outcomes Following Gastric Bypass Surgery: A Prospective 24-Month Follow-Up Study

Background This study examined the prognostic significance of depressive symptoms in bariatric surgery patients over 24 months of follow-ups.
Reactions of 1-Butene andcis-2-Butene on Platinum Surfaces: Structure Sensitivity ofcis-2-Butene Isomerization

Abstract The hydrogenation and isomerization of 1-butene andcis-2-butene molecules are studied on platinum foil and single crystal (111), (100), and the stepped (755) surfaces at 300–350 K. In the presence of hydrogen, 1-butene andcis-2-butene are hydrogenated to butane. In addition, 1-butene is isomerized tocis- andtrans-2-butenes, whilecis-2-butene is converted totrans-2-butene. With a hydrogen pressure between 7 and 500 Torr, and a butene pressure of 3.5–70 Torr, both butene hydrogenation and isomerization rates exhibit a near-first-order dependence on the hydrogen pressure and a zero-order dependence on the hydrocarbon pressures. For both 1-butene andcis-2-butene molecules, the hydrogenation rates are insensitive to surface structures. The isomerization rate, however, is doubled forcis-2-butene molecules on the stepped platinum surface (Pt(755)).
Audience Evolution and the Future of Audience Research

This article considers how changes in audience behaviors and in audience information systems are affecting the future of academic audience research. This article first illustrates how changes in the media environment are undermining traditional approaches to audience research while also giving rise to alternative analytical approaches. This article then outlines the contours of a next-generation audience research agenda that reflects these ongoing conceptual and methodological developments. Reflecting these developments, this article next argues for a definition of ratings analysis that focuses not on a particular aspect of audience behavior (i.e., exposure), but on whatever forms of currency are employed in the audience marketplace. From this standpoint, the new media environment provides new forms of “ratings” that exist alongside—and integrate with—the old, and that can renew and revitalize the field of ratings analysis. ACCESS TO FULL TEXT
Full-exon resequencing reveals toll-like receptor variants contribute to human susceptibility to tuberculosis disease.

Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death worldwide due to an infectious agent. Data have accumulated over decades suggesting that variability in human susceptibility to TB disease has a genetic component. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a critical role in initiating the innate immune response to many pathogens in mouse models, but little is known about their role in human infections. Human TLRs have been reported to recognize mycobacterial antigens and initiate an immune response. We tested the hypothesis that amino acid-altering polymorphisms in five TLRs were associated with susceptibility to TB disease using a population-based case-control study with 1,312 adult TB patients and controls. Full-coding region sequencing of the five TLR genes in all 1,312 subjects yielded a data set in excess of 16 Mb. Rare nonsynonymous polymorphisms in TLR6-TLR1-TLR10 were significantly overrepresented among African-American TB cases compared with ethnically-matched control subjects. Common nonsynonymous polymorphisms in TLR6-TLR1-TLR10 also were significantly associated with TB disease in certain ethnic groups. Among African Americans, homozygotes for the common-variant haplotype TLR1-248S, TLR1-602I, and TLR6-249S had a significantly increased TB disease risk. A transmission/disequilibrium test on an independent sample found that the TLR1-248S variant was preferentially transmitted to diseased children, thereby confirming disease association. These results are consistent with recent reports implicating TLR1 variants, including TLR1-602, in significantly altered innate immune responses. Also consistent with disease association, rare TLR6 variants were defective in their ability to mediate NF-κB signal transduction in transfected human cells. Taken together, the data suggest that variant TLRs contribute to human susceptibility to TB disease. Extensive full-exon resequencing was critical for revealing new information about the role of TLRs in human-pathogen interactions and the genetic basis of innate immune function.
Storable palladacycles for selective functionalization of alkyne-containing proteins

We report the facile preparation of palladacycles as storable arylpalladium(II) reagents from acetanilides via cyclopalladation. The palladacycles exhibit good stability in PBS buffer and are capable of functionalizing a metabolically encoded HPG-containing protein, thus providing a new type of biocompatible organometallic reagent for selectively functionalizing the alkyne-encoded proteins.
Non-resolution theorem proving

This talk reviews those efforts in automatic theorem proving, during the past few years, which have emphasized techniques other than resolution. These include: knowledge bases, natural deduction, reduction, (rewrite rules), typing, procedures, advice, controlled forward chaining, algebraic simplification, built-in associativity and commutativity, models, analogy, and man-machine systems. Examples are given and suggestions are made for future work.
Amount of breathing mode admixture in the first excited state of 4He.

It is noted that one requires a very small admixture of the breathing mode state (1${s}_{1/2}$0${s}_{1/2}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$${)}^{J=0}$ in the 20.1 MeV ${0}^{+}$ first excited state of $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ in order to explain the results of recent inelastic scattering experiments. This lends support to our previous work in which it was noted that two- and four-particle excitation into a deformed p shell could account for the low-lying positive parity excited states.
Electrochemical CO2 capture and storage with hydrogen generation

Abstract Electrochemical splitting of calcium carbonate (e.g., as contained in inexpensive and abund ant minerals such as limestone) is proposed as a novel method of forming hydroxide solutions that can absorb, neutralize, and store carbon dioxide from the air or from waste streams. CaCO3 is dissolved in the presence of the highly acidic anolyte of a saline water electrolysis cell, forming Ca(OH)2 and H2CO3 (or H2O and CO2). By maintaining a pH between 6 and 9 in the resulting solution, subsequent hydroxide reactions with CO2 primarily produce dissolved calcium bicarbonate, Ca(HCO3)2. Thus, for each mole of CaCO3 split, there can be a net capture of up to 1 mole of CO2. The resulting dissolved Ca(HCO3)2 can be diluted and stored in the ocean, or in reservoirs on land or underground. Net process cost is estimated to be $100/tonne CO2 mitigated. Other potential co-benefits of the approach include: i) production of significantly carbon-negative H2 if renewable - or nuclear - derived electricity is used as the power source, ii) the option of locally producing electricity and freshwater via fuel cell oxidation of the H2, iii) direct neutralization of ongoing ocean acidification if the Ca(OH)2 generated is added to seawater, iv) preservation or enhancement of otherwise threatened marine shellfish and coral populations, via CO2 absorption and Ca(HCO3)2 formation in or addition to the marine environment, and v) safe ut ilization of the ocean’s vast carbon storage and energy production potentials for CO2 mitigation and “super green” hydrogen generation.
Novel human TEF-1 isoforms exhibit altered DNA binding and functional properties.

The transcriptional enhancer factor-1 (TEF-1) is a member of the TEA/ATTS domain family. TEF-1 binds to GT-IIC (GGAATG), SphI (AGTATG), SphII (AGCATG), and M-CAT (GGTATG) response elements and is involved in the transactivation of a variety of genes, including the SV40 large T antigen, mammalian muscle-specific genes, and human chorionic somatomammotropin genes. Also, TEF-1 acts as a transcriptional repressor in placental cells, possibly through interaction with the TATA binding protein (TBP), preventing TBP binding to the TATA box. Here we describe the cloning, tissue-specific expression pattern, and functional characterization of two novel TEF-1 isoforms, TEF-1β and TEF-1γ. These isoforms most likely arise from alternative splicing of mRNA transcribed from a single gene and involve substitutions and/or insertions in a region immediately following the DNA binding domain. TEF-1β appears to be widely distributed like the prototypic TEF-1, designated TEF-1α, whereas TEF-1γ exhibits a narrower tissue-specifi...
Not invented here: A psychoindustrial farce in one act

This `fictional case study' describes the early stages in the assignment of an engineering manager to a major computer development program, with emphasis on his resistance to the use of the work done by others.
Shift variant linear system modeling for multispectral scanners

Multispectral scanner data are affected both by the spatial impulse response of the sensor and the spectral response of each channel. To achieve a realistic representation for the output data for a given scene spectral input, both of these effects must be incorporated into a forward model. Each channel can have a different spatial response and each has its characteristic spectral response. A forward model is built which includes the shift invariant spatial broadening of the input for the channels and the shift variant spectral response across channels. The model is applied to the calibrated airborne multispectral scanner as well as the airborne terrestrial applications sensor developed at NASA Stennis Space Center.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Characterization of the methoxy carbonyl radical formed via photolysis of methyl chloroformate at 193.3 nm

This study investigates two features of interest in recent work on the photolytic production of the methoxy carbonyl radical and its subsequent unimolecular dissociation channels. Earlier studies used methyl chloroformate as a photolytic precursor for the CH3OCO, methoxy carbonyl (or methoxy formyl) radical, which is an intermediate in many reactions that are relevant to combustion and atmospheric chemistry. That work evidenced two competing C-Cl bond fission channels, tentatively assigning them as producing ground- and excited-state methoxy carbonyl radicals. In this study, we measure the photofragment angular distributions for each C-Cl bond fission channel and the spin-orbit state of the Cl atoms produced. The data shows bond fission leading to the production of ground-state methoxy carbonyl radicals with a high kinetic energy release and an angular distribution characterized by an anisotropy parameter, beta, of between 0.37 and 0.64. The bond fission that leads to the production of excited-state radicals, with a low kinetic energy release, has an angular distribution best described by a negative anisotropy parameter. The very different angular distributions suggest that two different excited states of methyl chloroformate lead to the formation of ground- and excited-state methoxy carbonyl products. Moreover, with these measurements we were able to refine the product branching fractions to 82% of the C-Cl bond fission resulting in ground-state radicals and 18% resulting in excited-state radicals. The maximum kinetic energy release of 12 kcal/mol measured for the channel producing excited-state radicals suggests that the adiabatic excitation energy of the radical is less than or equal to 55 kcal/mol, which is lower than the 67.8 kcal/mol calculated by UCCSD(T) methods in this study. The low-lying excited states of methylchloroformate are also considered here to understand the observed angular distributions. Finally, the mechanism for the unimolecular dissociation of the methoxy carbonyl radical to CH3 + CO2, which can occur through a transition state with either cis or, with a much higher barrier, trans geometry, was investigated with natural bond orbital computations. The results suggest donation of electron density from the nonbonding C radical orbital to the sigma* orbital of the breaking C-O bond accounts for the additional stability of the cis transition state.