cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Serum cotinine verification of self-reported smoking status among adults eligible for lung cancer screening in the 1999-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Abstract Background Self-reported smoking behavior is widely used in identifying the eligibility for lung cancer screening (LCS). In clinical trials, self-reported smoking status was shown to be a reliable measure, while its effectiveness outside of trial settings remains to be clarified. We aimed to verify self-reported smoking status with serum cotinine levels among LCS-eligible adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Methods From the combined 1999-2018 NHANES data, we selected adults (aged ≥18 years) with complete data on serum cotinine and smoking behavior, and determined their LCS eligibility according to the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommendation. Using established race/ethnicity specific cotinine cutpoints as the gold standard, we verified self-reported current smoking status with five measures: sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and reliability Kappa. We also compared these performance measures in subgroups stratified by sex, race/ethnicity, education, family income to poverty ratio, health insurance, and secondhand smoking exposure (SHS) at home. All analyses took into account the complex survey design. Results Approximately 9.3% (n = 2335, equivalent to 8.82 million weighted population) of all adults who currently smoke or formerly smoked were eligible for LCS. The prevalence of current smoking was 52.6% and 60.8% based on self-report and cotinine, respectively. The Se and Sp were 86.4% (95%CI: 83.9%-88.9%) and 99.7% (95%CI: 99.4%-100%), respectively; PPV and NPV were 99.8% (95%CI: 99.6%-100%) and 82.6% (95%CI: 79.4%-85.7%), respectively; and Kappa was 0.83 (95%CI: 0.80-0.86). The reliability Kappa was higher among females than males (0.87 (95%CI: 0.82-0.93)) vs 0.80 (95%CI: 0.77-0.84), the lowest among non-Hispanic white (0.82 (95%CI: 0.78-0.86)), and higher among those with SHS (0.72 (95%CI: 0.63-0.80) vs (0.68 (95%CI: 0.61-0.76)). Conclusion Self-reported smoking status is reasonably reliable among adults with high risk for developing lung cancer in the general population.
Abstract A33: The next-generation BET inhibitor, PLX51107, delays melanoma growth, altering the tumor immune microenvironment via Cox2 inhibition

Epigenetic agents such as bromodomain and extra terminal domain inhibitors (BETi) slow tumor growth via tumor intrinsic alterations; however, their effects on antitumor immunity remain unclear. A recent advance is the development of next-generation BETi that are potent and display a favorable half-life. Here, we tested the next-generation BETi, PLX51107, for immune-based effects on tumor growth in BRAF V600E melanoma syngeneic models. PLX51107 delayed melanoma tumor growth to differing degrees and altered the immunogenicity by lowering PD-L1 and FasL and increasing MHC-I in highly responsive melanomas. Moreover, PLX51107 treatment increased activated, proliferating and functional CD8+ T cells in tumors, leading to CD8+ T-mediated tumor growth delay. PLX51107 led to increased CD8-promoting, antitumor dendritic cells by acting as a Cox2 inhibitor. The accumulation of CSF-1R+ tumor-associated macrophages in poorly responsive melanoma limited PLX51107 efficacy. Importantly, PLX51107 delayed the growth of tumors that progressed on anti-PD-1 therapy, a response associated with decreased Cox2 levels, decreased PD-L1 expression and increased MHC-I expression on nonhematopoietic cells and increased intratumoral CD8+ T cells. Thus, next-generation BETi represent a potential first-line and secondary treatment strategy for metastatic melanoma by eliciting effects, at least in part, on antitumor immunity. Citation Format: Dan A. Erkes, Conroy O. Field, Claudia Capparelli, Manoela Tiago, Timothy J. Purwin, Shea A. Heilman, Inna Chervoneva, Adam C. Berger, Sheera R. Rosenbaum, Edward J. Hartsough, Jessie Villanueva, Andrew E. Aplin. The next-generation BET inhibitor, PLX51107, delays melanoma growth, altering the tumor immune microenvironment via Cox2 inhibition [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2018 Nov 27-30; Miami Beach, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2020;8(4 Suppl):Abstract nr A33.
Projection-domain iteration to estimate unreliable measurements

Due to the beam-hardening effect of the broad energy spectrum of the X-ray source in computed tomography, the reconstructed images usually suffer from severe artifacts when metallic objects are being imaged. Metal artifact correction methods are usually sophisticated and not practical, especially in some non-medical applications, in which the linear attenuation coefficients are unknown. This paper suggests a simple and effective algorithm to estimate the unreliable measurements. The proposed algorithm is an iterative algorithm, in which the iteration is performed in the projection domain, while the objective function is set up in the image domain. The final image is reconstructed with the conventional filtered backprojection algorithm. The feasibility of the proposed method is verified with airport bags that contain some unknown metals.
Development and Implementation of an Upper Respiratory Infection Treatment Protocol in a Primary Care Health Clinic.

Background and Purpose:Acute viral respiratory infections (ARTIs) are among the most common reasons for a healthcare encounter throughout the industrialized world. Among the approximately100 millio...
The New “Wholly Trinity” in the Diagnosis and Management of Inborn Errors of Immunity

The field of immunology has a rich and diverse history, and the study of inborn errors of immunity (IEIs) represents both the "cake" and the "icing on top of the cake," as it has enabled significant advances in our understanding of the human immune system. This explosion of knowledge has been facilitated by a unique partnership, a triumvirate formed by the physician who gathers detailed immunological and clinical phenotypic information from, and shares results with, the patient; the laboratory scientist/immunologist who performs diagnostic testing, as well as advanced functional correlative studies; and the genomics scientist/genetic counselor, who conducts and interprets varied genetic analyses, all of which are essential for dissecting constitutional genetic disorders. Although the basic principles of clinical care have not changed in recent years, the practice of clinical immunology has changed to reflect the prodigious advances in diagnostics, genomics, and therapeutics. An "omic/tics"-centric approach to IEI reflects the tremendous strides made in the field in the new millennium with recognition of new disorders, characterization of the molecular underpinnings, and development and implementation of personalized treatment strategies. This review brings renewed attention to bear on the indispensable "trinity" of phenotypic, genomic, and immunological analyses in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of IEIs.
Sample Average Approximation For Functional Decisions Under Shape Constraints

Sample average approximation methods are most often applied when the set of decision variables is finite. This research develops a method of finding optimal solutions to infinite-dimensional simulation optimization problems when the decision variable is a monotone function on a random variable used to model the uncertainty itself. This problem is motivated from approximately solving the principal-agent problem in economics, but also has close connections to nonparametric statistical estimation. We demonstrate how to approximate the infinite-dimensional problem with a discrete formulation that allows the use of standard sample average approximation methods. We also demonstrate how to utilize related bounding techniques on the optimal value, and show convergence results for the estimated optimal values and solutions.
Predictions, Pivots, and a Pandemic: a Review of 2020's Top Translational Bioinformatics Publications.

Objectives: Provide an overview of the emerging themes and notable papers which were published in 2020 in the field of Bioinformatics and Translational Informatics (BTI) for the International Medical Informatics Association Yearbook. Methods: A team of 16 individuals scanned the literature from the past year. Using a scoring rubric, papers were evaluated on their novelty, importance, and objective quality. 1,224 Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms extracted from these papers were used to identify themes and research focuses. The authors then used the scoring results to select notable papers and trends presented in this manuscript. Results: The search phase identified 263 potential papers and central themes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), machine learning, and bioinformatics were examined in greater detail. Conclusions: When addressing a once in a centruy pandemic, scientists worldwide answered the call, with informaticians playing a critical role. Productivity and innovations reached new heights in both TBI and science, but significant research gaps remain.
COVID-19: Lessons Learned and Lessons to Be Learned

Background: An abundance of misinformation spread during the COVID-19 pandemic. Contradictory public health policies only added to gaps in knowledge about this new virus. As a result, public attitudes towards CDC recommendations, health guidelines, and basic disease prevention techniques varied. The goal of this study was to examine public attitudes regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study collected data about public perceptions and attitudes regarding COVID-19 from individuals 18 y old between in March of 2021. A questionnaire with 18 items evaluated perceptions about COVID-19, its vaccines, and adherence to public health and CDC guidelines. The survey was designed using Google Forms and distributed via social media platforms. Participants and their responses remained anonymous. IRB approval was obtained. Descriptive statistics were used to present data. Results: Data from 246 participants was used for analysis. Most participants were female (69.5%), 18–40 y old (61.8%), Hispanic (80.9%), had tested positive for COVID-19 (79.3%) and knew someone who had tested positive for COVID-19 (98.8%) or had received the vaccine (99.6%). Most respondents trusted the vaccine (80.5%). However, only 58.1% had been fully vaccinated, 17.9% received only a first dose, and 24% had not been vaccinated at all. Of those not vaccinated yet, 16.3% reported not planning on receiving it. Regarding public safety guidelines, most trusted masks to prevent COVID-19 transmission (89%) wore a mask in public (94.7%), and in most cases either a surgical mask (46.7%) or cloth mask (43.1%). Few wore any additional PPE such as gloves (15.4%) or face shield (11%). Most participants only left home for work or essential errands (48.4%) while some left home for leisure 1 to 3 times a week (28.5%), or even more than 3 times a week (11.4%). No participant was in complete isolation and 11.8% left home as much as they were used to. When visiting people (71.1%), only half of them wore a mask (52%), maintained a 6ft distance (42.7%). While 71.1% reported frequent hand washing during visits, 16.7% were not following any of the CDC guidelines during their visits. Conclusions: This study indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic affected the public’s perceptions and attitudes toward CDC guidelines, vaccination, and general public health mandates. In the face of uncertainty, reliable literature tempered by transparency, expertise, and collaboration should be trusted when making decisions about public health safety.
The effectiveness of a standardised positioning tool and bedside education on the developmental positioning proficiency of NICU nurses

In order to improve the developmental proficiency of neonatal intensive care unit nurses, a standardised infant positioning assessment tool and a bedside education programme were introduced to the registered nurses in a 46 bed level III neonatal intensive care unit in the western United States. A developmental positioning team collected pre-intervention positioning scores on 54 preterm infants. This was followed by a survey of the registered nurses beliefs and attitudes, the introduction of the standardised assessment tool and an informal education programme. Post-intervention positioning scores were collected on 55 preterm infants, and analysis of the data indicated there was a statistically significant change in mean positioning scores. Additionally, the registered nurses identified several barriers to the implementation of developmental positioning. This research indicates the use of a standardised infant positioning assessment tool and bedside education may be useful strategies for improving the developmental positioning proficiency of NICU nurses.
Incorporating Problem Solving into Secondary School Curricula

Publisher Summary This chapter explains the incorporation of problem solving into secondary school curriculums. It makes some basic distinctions concerning retention versus transfer, rote versus meaningful learning, creative versus routine problem solving, and representation versus solution processes. Learning outcomes can be evaluated using two types of tests. Retention tests measure the degree to which a student remembers the material that was presented, and transfer tests measure the degree to which a student can apply what was presented to a new situation. Both rote and meaningful learning have a place in education. Problem solving involves strengthening and weakening associations between problem situations and solution responses. According to the view of thinking as knowledge construction, humans are sense makers who try to find meaning in what is presented to them. The four recommendations based on a commonsense approach to problem solving are general skill, basic skill, academic subject, and low-level basic skills. Four recommendations based on cognitive constructivist research are what to teach, how to teach, where to teach, and when to teach. The constructivist vision of learning and cognition has stimulated exciting possibilities for promoting student problem solving.
Relations and categories.

Publisher Summary Local monies, legal tenders, the euro, migrant remittances, trust networks, nationalism, and citizenship display some unexpected common properties. Despite enormous variation in the criteria of value among these different social phenomena, in all of them shared accounting systems figure as well: obviously in the varieties of money, more subtly in the counting of rights and obligations of trust, nationalism, and citizenship. Citizenship continues to bind people to particular states by means of rights and obligations, which means that shifts of power to transnational or non-state institutions threaten existing patterns of citizenship. Even if whole kinship networks, formally computed, rarely qualify as trust networks, by virtue of cohabitation and procreation, some segments of kinship networks often undertake consequential collective enterprises, such as placement of children, and lend themselves to other enterprises such as trade and provision for incompetent persons.
Preliminary characterization studies on the Neisseria catarrhalis respiratory electron transport chain.

The Neisseria catarrhalis respiratory electron transport system was examined in a sonic type particulate membrane fraction and shown to have a moderately active succinate as well as nonpyridine nucleotide-dependent dl-lactate oxidoreductase and a very active tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine oxidase. l-Malate and l-glutamate oxidation were found to be dependent on pyridine nucleotides and exclusively associated with a soluble (or nonmembranous) fraction. The primary cytochrome components in the electron transport system appear to be c-type in nature (555 nm and 550 nm) as well as cytochrome a1 (600 nm) and cytochrome o.
Review of Executive wisdom: Coaching and the emergence of virtuous leaders.

When asked to review Richard Kilburg's book (Executive Wisdom: Coaching and the Emergence of Virtuous Leaders), I anticipated reading a complement to his 2000 book on executive coaching. Kilburg's ...
Chapter 3.1.8 Targeting aggression in mice

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview on targeting aggression in mice. The chapter illustrates that gene targeting has the potential to yield new insights into the study of aggression, there are some shortcomings of this technique that must be recognized when interpreting behavioral data of knockout animals. One conceptual problem with behavioral studies of mice with targeted genetic deletions, which is shared with all ablation studies, is that behavioral tests study the effects of the missing gene not the effects of the gene directly. Disadvantage of using gene-targeting techniques in the study of aggression is that the products of many genes are essential to normal function, and inactivating the gene may prove lethal or induce gross morphological or physiological abnormalities that can complicate interpretation of discrete behavioral effects. Against those disadvantages are several important advantages to using knockout mice in behavioral research: (1) disabling a gene is often a very precise and “clean” ablation, (2) the effects of the gene product can be abolished without the side-effects of drugs, and (3) genetic manipulations may be the only way to determine the precise role of many endogenous factors on behavior.
Resilience in Overlay Multicast Protocols

One of the most important challenges of selforganized, overlay systems for large-scale group communication lies in these systems ability to handle the high degree of transiency inherent to their environment. While a number of resilient protocols and techniques have been recently proposed, achieving high delivery ratios without sacrificing end-to-end latencies or incurring significant additional costs has proven to be a difficult task. In this paper we review some of these approaches and experimentally evaluate their effectiveness by contrasting their performance and associated cost through simulation and widearea experimentation.
Death by Dragons

While lauding the men who kill dragons (some more superlatively than others), Icelandic sources also describe a variety of ways by which dragons kill men. The ur-Germanic dragon seems to be an overgrown snake. Ormar pose a threat by virtue of their intimidating size and undulating coils. Others spew venom or scatter it about, so their range of mortal destruction is broader than that of ordinary vipers. Met face to face, they are capable of swallowing a man or woman whole. Winged ormar or drekar can pick humans up and carry them off. When Old Norse dragons acquire the ability to breathe fire, they only rarely wreak devastation, and never on the scale of the Beowulf dragon.
Long-Term Variation in Small Mammal Abundance in Forest and Savanna of Bolivian Cerrado

Small mammals were trapped annually in two savanna and two forest plots in cerrado habitats of Noel Kempff Mercado National Park, Santa Cruz, Bolivia, for 5-10 yr. Eighteen species were captured in forest and seven species in savanna. Species numbers and total number of individuals captured were tightly correlated. In forest, species and abundance varied interannually by up to fourfold in one plot and to 100-fold in the other, and showed alternating highs and lows as is typical for small mammals. The largest faunal differences were due not to site differences, but to year differences, with markedly different patterns in forests and savannas. Abundance was not correlated with rainfall overall, but showed correlation in exceptional years of rainfall and ENSO drought. In savanna, species and overall abundance declined without recovery during 3 yr after reaching minimum numbers in 2004. One species, Cavia aperea, became extinct on both plots, and subsequently, apparently on the entire savanna. Both herbivorous and insectivorous species declined together. Rainfall, fire, and flooding do not seem to account for savanna rodent declines. I propose the novel hypothesis that smoke from anthropogenic burning raises nocturnal temperatures and prevents dew formation, and that a decrease in nightly dry season dewfall has been instrumental in rodent declines. Anecdotal and climatic data are consistent with this hypothesis, but it cannot yet be tested.
A programme to enrich undergraduate education through participation in clinical pharmacy research.

Summary Recent publications have emphasized the need to produce graduates who can think critically, solve problems, and communicate effectively. We have offered experience in clinical pharmacy research to undergraduates with the objective of developing these qualities. Over the last 10 years, 44 students have participated in the clinical research programme for 6 months to 2 years. Each student was assigned a specific project. The activities of participants included reviewing the literature, defining rationale and hypothesis, conducting laboratory and/or clinical research, analysing data, and interpreting and presenting results both verbally and in writing. Areas of research have included pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, safety, infusion methods, and the stability of drugs used in paediatric patients. The programme has been well received by students. The work led to 30 publications and the majority of the students entered advanced education or training following graduation. Our experience suggests that participation in clinical pharmacy research can enhance the education of undergraduate students by exposing them to various elements of critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills.
Magnetic Circuit Analysis of a Tubular Permanent Magnet Linear Alternator

ABSTRACT A simplified magnetic circuit analysis of a tubular permanent magnet linear alternator (PMLA) is presented. The analysis accounts for saturation, leakage and armature reaction. Under these conditions the fields in every portion of the linear alternator (LA) are determined. The field determination leads to the alternator induced voltage and inductances.
Developing Information Literacy and Research Skills in Introductory Psychology: A Case Study.

How do you engage faculty in the task of developing student information literacy? This case study offers a model for incorporating information retrieval into a social science research project so that literacy becomes an intrinsic part of the course assignment. Students showed significant gains in database search and assessment skills with minimal investment of classroom time.
The conformation dependent hydrolysis of DNA by micrococcal nuclease

1. The base composition of the acid-soluble nucleotides released during early stages of the attack of micrococcal nuclease on DNA depends on substrate conformation and temperature. The enzyme attacks native DNA initially in dA-dT rich regions, while attack on heat-denatured DNA is random, yielding acid-soluble material of average composition (approx. 58 mole % (dA+dT) for calf thymus DNA). The ‘preference’ of the enzyme for dA-dT rich sequences of native DNA increases as the reaction temperature is decreased, yielding an initial acid-soluble product containing 88 mole % (dA+dT) for calf thymus DNA when the enzymatic digestion is carried out at 10°. 2. Experiments with mixtures of native and denatured DNA show that the enzyme hydrolyzes the denatured material preferentially, taking up the sequence specificity pattern characteristic of native DNA hydrolysis only after the denatured substrate has been exhausted. 3. The results obtained support previous suggestions that the specificity of the attack of micrococcal nuclease on the native DNA structure depends on sequence-dependent differences in the conformational motility (‘breathing’ or ‘dynamic’ structure) of various regions of the DNA molecule.
Impaired posture-dependent modulation of disynaptic reciprocal Ia inhibition in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury

Posture influences the strength of spinal reflex circuits in healthy individuals. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which sitting and standing posture influences the strength of reciprocal Ia inhibition between ankle flexor and extensor muscles in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). Ten individuals with SCI and 15 healthy individuals participated in the study. Short-latency reciprocal inhibition was measured by conditioning the soleus H-reflex with stimulation of the common peroneal nerve. There was no significant difference in the strength of reciprocal Ia inhibition in sitting and standing positions in individuals with SCI. However, healthy individuals showed increased inhibition in a standing compared to a sitting position. The results suggest an impaired posture-dependent modulation of reciprocal Ia inhibition following SCI.
Campanian-Maastrichtian chalks of southwestern Arkansas: Petrology, paleoenvironments and comparison with other North American and European chalks

Abstract Chalk was deposited in southwestern Arkansas during the Campanian and Maastrichtian. The Saratoga Formation was deposited in a middle-shelf environment during a transgression, with deposition of a condensed facies during the initial transgressive pulse, followed by deposition of sandy chalk and marly chalk. The Annona Formation, which was deposited in a middle- to outer-shelf environment, was also deposited during a transgression, with initial deposition of a condensed facies followed by local accumulation of calcarenitic chalk and then deposition of a substantial thickness of chalk-marly chalk. The Saratoga and Annona, deposited in the western portion of the Late Cretaceous Mississippi embayment, are comparable in lithology to the Campanian-Maastrichtian Demopolis and Prairie Bluff Formations, found on the eastern side of the embayment. The sandy chalk facies is perhaps more conspicuous in the Mississippi embayment than in any other area of Late Cretaceous chalk deposition. In general, North American chalk is characterised by relatively greater input of terrigenous detritus than European chalk. Because of greater dilution by terrigeneous detritus, North American chalk generally was deposited in restricted areas only in periods of transgressive maxima during the worldwide Late Cretaceous transgression.
Abstract CN05-04: Opportunities for targeting homologous recombination in human cancers.

BRCA2 mediates homologous recombination (HR) via its direct interaction with Rad51. There is ample genetic and biological evidence that BRCA1 and BRCA2 are functioning in the same pathway of DNA repair, but the functional connection between the two proteins is poorly understood. Interestingly, a mutation of BRCA1 (S988A) localized normally to ionizing radiation induced nuclear foci (IRIF), but the BRCA2 protein could not be recruited to BRCA1 at the damage site. Phosphorylation of BRCA1 at the S988 site is carried out by Chk2, which was also required for BRCA2 to localize to sites of DNA damage and support homologous recombination. These observations suggest that CHK2-BRCA1-BRCA2-Rad51 function in a single pathway of homologous recombinational repair to prevent the development of breast cancer. Loss of function of BRCA1/BRCA2 is a tumor-specific finding, making the role of alternative repair pathways in these cells critical for their survival. We show that loss of Rad52 function is synthetic lethal with BRCA1, PALB2 or BRCA2 deficiency, whereas there is no impact on cell growth in wild-type cells. The frequency of both spontaneous and double-strand break-induced homologous recombination, plus ionizing radiation induced Rad51 foci, decreased when Rad52 was depleted in BRCA2-deficient cells, with no effect in BRCA2-complemented cells. The observation that Rad52-inactivation is synthetic lethal with BRCA2 makes Rad52 a target for therapy in these tumors. The BRCA1-BRCA2 pathway can be functionally inactivated in sporadic breast cancer, perhaps as frequently as 20% of cases, suggesting that the pool of patients with defects in homologous recombinational repair is larger than initially expected. The functional assessment of defects in homologous recombination was assessed by ionizing-radiation (ex-vivo exposure) induced Rad51 foci and confirmed by characteristic patterns of array comparative genomic hybridization. The inactivation of the BRCA1-BRCA2 pathway allows the use of specific therapies designed to exploit the defects in DNA repair. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2011 Nov 12-16; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2011;10(11 Suppl):Abstract nr CN05-04.
Automatic filter design for synthesis of haptic textures from recorded acceleration data

Sliding a probe over a textured surface generates a rich collection of vibrations that one can easily use to create a mental model of the surface. Haptic virtual environments attempt to mimic these real interactions, but common haptic rendering techniques typically fail to reproduce the sensations that are encountered during texture exploration. Past approaches have focused on building a representation of textures using a priori ideas about surface properties. Instead, this paper describes a process of synthesizing probe-surface interactions from data recorded from real interactions. We explain how to apply the mathematical principles of Linear Predictive Coding (LPC) to develop a discrete transfer function that represents the acceleration response under specific probe-surface interaction conditions. We then use this predictive transfer function to generate unique acceleration signals of arbitrary length. In order to move between transfer functions from different probe-surface interaction conditions, we develop a method for interpolating the variables involved in the texture synthesis process. Finally, we compare the results of this process with real recorded acceleration signals, and we show that the two correlate strongly in the frequency domain.
LEVINE'S GERMAN TRADITION: Consolations for the Sociologist

In Visions of the sociological tradition Donald N. Levine presents a view of the German sociological tradition that emphasizes its origins in philosophical idealism. This paper discusses the implications of this view for understanding the formation of sociology in Germany. The author suggests that Levine's account can be supplemented and strengthened by reconstructing the German tradition both as an effort to proceed without foundational philosophical systems and as an outgrowth of social economics and the historical school of political economy. Most importantly, Levine shares the call for sociology as the site of dialogue with that reconstructed German tradition
Application of the unified Parkinson's disease rating scale in progressive supranuclear palsy: Factor analysis of the motor scale

An important criterion in scale validation is the demonstration of a stable factor structure. The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) is widely used to assess Parkinson's disease (PD). The reliability and applicability of the motor subscale of the UPDRS (UPDRSm) when applied to patients diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is unknown. In a sample of 175 patients with PSP, factor analysis revealed five clinically distinct factors: two independent bradykinesia factors (axial/gait and extremities), one rigidity factor, and two independent tremor factors (rest and action). Two items (posture and rest head tremor) did not reach criteria for factor loadings. There was a high degree of internal consistency. These results suggest that UPDRSm is a reliable and applicable scale for assessing most aspects of PSP function as well as severity measures of five clinical disability domains.
A nonparametric segmentation method based on structural information using level sets

Segmentation plays an important role in medical imaging, a precise segmentation can significantly improve the accuracy of object detection and localization. Level set based model is robust in image segmentation, but the parameters of level set function are usually decided by empirical method, which discourages its application in medical area, because medical images are various and the users may not be familiar with parameters setting of level set method. In this paper, we present an automatic segmentation method based on variational level set formulation. This method is formulated by statistical measures and solved by using the Euler-Lagrange equation. The segmentation criteria of our method rely on structural similarities of the image, which are luminance, contrast, and correlation coefficients. These criteria are formulated into an energy function to maximize the structural difference between object and background in segmentation. The energy function is solved and implemented by using variational level set method. Unlike prevalent level set methods, the segmentation parameters of our approach are automatically decided by structural information of the image and updated during iteration, so our model is nonparametric. Moreover, our approach does not necessitate any training, nor any a priori assumption about probability density functions of statistical inference. Furthermore, our method is region-based without using gradients, and the parameters in our method are updated according to image information, so our method can significantly reduce computation costs in its numerical implementation. The segmentation results have shown that our method adequately captures the structural differences between object and background during segmentation.
Radiology residents’ experience with intussusception reduction

Background Residents should be exposed to adequate procedural volume to act independently upon completion of training. Informal inquiry led us to question whether residents encounter enough intussusception reductions to become comfortable with the procedure.
Glacial records of global climate: a 1500-year tropical ice core record of climate

A general discussion is given of climate variability over the last 1500 years as interpreted from two ice cores from the Quelccaya ice cap, Peru. The possible role of climatic variability in prehistory over this period is discussed with emphases on (1) relationships between climate and the rise and decline of coastal and highland cultures; (2) the possible causes of two major dust events recorded in the Quelccaya ice cores around AD 920 and AD 600; and (3) implications of climatic variation for the occupation and abandonment of the Gran Pajaten area. The remarkable similarity between changes in highland and coastal cultures and changes in accumulation as determined from the Quelccaya ice cores implies a strong connection between human activities and climate in this region of the globe. Two ice cores drilled to bedrock from the 6047 masl col of Huascaran in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru in 1993 offer the potential of an annual to decadal climatic and environmental record which should allow the study of human-climate and human-environmental relationships over 10,000+ years. The 1991 and 1993 evidence from the Quelccaya ice cap indicates that recent and rapid warming is currently underway in the tropical Andes. Thus many of the unique glacier archives are in imminent danger of being lost forever.
Autothermal reforming of JP8 on a Pt/Rh catalyst: Catalyst durability studies and effects of sulfur

Abstract Autothermal reforming (ATR) of commercial grade JP8 was performed on a Pt/Rh catalyst deposited on a monolith. This study investigated catalyst performance under three test conditions: (i) 120 startup and shutdown cycles, (ii) 80 h of continuous operation with sulfur-free fuel, and (iii) 370 h of testing with JP8 containing 125 ppm of sulfur. Axial reactor temperature profiles and gas composition data showed that startup and shutdown cycling had no impact on catalyst performance. When durability testing was done with fuel containing 125 ppm of sulfur, the catalyst deactivated initially, which was reflected by a decrease in H 2 concentration and decrease in fuel conversion. However, after 250 h of operation the activity stabilized at 66% fuel conversion and product concentrations were constant for the remaining 120 h of testing. The presence of sulfur resulted in higher CO selectivity, lower H 2 concentrations, and lower fuel conversions compared to data with sulfur-free fuel. The data suggests that the presence of sulfur primarily affects steam reforming reactions, and CO oxidation. Regeneration was attempted with air and with fuel-lean combustion but initial H 2 yields and carbon selectivity were not achieved.
Inequalities for estimative and predictive probabilities

Let μE be the estimative and μP the predictive measures for assessing Gaussian probabilities. It is shown for convex symmetric sets A that μE(A) μP(A) and that similar inequalities hold between members of a sequence of predictive measures. An application yields inequalities for generalized indices of atypicality associated with the two methods.
Leaf-targeted phytochelatin synthase in Arabidopsis thaliana

One of the key steps in developing transgenic plants for the phytoremediation of metal containing soils is to develop plants that accumulate metals in the aerial tissues. With the goal of changing the distribution of phytochelatin (PC)-dependent cadmium accumulation from roots to the leaves, the phytochelatin synthase (PCS) deficient cad1-3 mutant and wild type (Col-0) Arabidopsis plants were transformed with an Arabidopsis phytochelatin synthase (AtPCS1) under the control of a leaf-specific promoter. Three independent transformant lines from each genetic background were chosen for further analysis and designated cad-PCS and WT-PCS. PCS activity in the cadPCS lines was restored in the leaves, but not in the roots. Additionally, when whole plants were treated with cadmium, PCs were found only in the leaves of cad-PCS plants. Although the inserted AtPCS1 gene was leaf-specific, cad-PCS lines showed an overall decrease in cadmium toxicity evidenced by a partial amelioration of the "brown-root" phenotype and root growth was restored to wild type levels when treated with cadmium and arsenate. WT-PCS lines showed an increase in leaf PCS activity but had only wild type PC levels. In addition, cadmium uptake studies indicated that there was no difference in cadmium accumulation among all types tested. So, while we were able to protect the plants against cadmium by expressing PC synthase only in the leaves, we were not able to limit cadmium accumulation to aerial tissues.
New barriers to ventricular invasion in paraglottic laryngeal cancer

Background. Anatomic barriers to the spread of laryngeal cancer include the conus elasticus, the quadrangular membrane, and the thyroid cartilage. It has been speculated that an elastic barrier surrounds and protects the ventricle. Methods. The authors studied the microanatomic patterns of spread of 17 cases of patients who had laryngeal cancer with paraglottic disease and confirmed their findings by examining normal autopsy specimens. Results. Five patients of the seventeen cases showed no ventricular mucosal involvement despite extensive paraglottic disease. Both an inner, central, subepithelial periventricular elastic barrier, and a more peripheral periventricular elastic membrane barrier were identified; the latter was in continuity with the conus elasticus and quadrangular membrane
Complete optical spectrum of CeAl 3

We report on optical conductivity measurements performed on ${\mathrm{CeAl}}_{3}$ spanning the photon energy range between approximately zero and 12 eV. From the measurements at micrometer- and millimeter-wave frequencies we obtained the detailed temperature dependence of both components of the complex conductivity. These results as well as the Kramers-Kronig analysis performed on the absorptivity lead, at low temperatures, to a strongly frequency- and temperature-dependent dynamic conductivity. We analyze the optical conductivity in terms of frequency-dependent scattering rate and dynamical mass. The low-temperature effective mass is found to be ${\mathit{m}}^{\mathrm{*}}$/${\mathit{m}}_{\mathit{b}}$=325\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}50 in the zero-frequency limit and its temperature dependence is compared with that of the thermodynamic parameters.
"Molded" rods of macroporous polymer for preparative separations of biological products.

A continuous rod of porous poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) has been prepared by a free radical polymerization within the confines of a 16-mm-i.d. glass column. The epoxide groups of the rod have been modified in situ by their reaction with diethylamine to afford the ionizable weak base 1-N,N-diethylamino-2-hydroxypropyl functionalities that are required for the ion-exchange chromatographic mode. The bimodal pore size distribution curve typical for other molded separation media also prevail for the preparative-size rod. The column has been used successfully for the chromatographic separation of a mixture of standard proteins and yeast enzymes. The column exhibits a dynamic capacity that exceeds 420 mg of bovine serum albumin at a flow velocity of 60 cm/h.
Numerical Study of Nonlinear and Transient Behaviors of a Variable Electromotive-Force Generator With an Adjustable Overlap Between the Rotor and the Stator Using the Finite Element Method

A modified generator, referred to as the variable electromotive-force generator, is developed to enhance fuel efficiency of hybrid vehicles and expand operational range of wind turbines. Obtaining a numerical model that provides accurate estimates on the generator output power at different overlap ratios and rotor speeds, comparable with those from experimental results, would expand the use of the proposed modified generator in different applications. The general behavior of the generated electromotive forces at different overlaps and rotor speeds is in good agreement with those from experimental and analytical results at steady-state conditions. Employing generator losses due to hysteresis and eddy currents in a three-dimensional model would generate more realistic and comparable results with those from experiment. In this work, electromagnetic analysis of a modified two-pole DC generator with an adjustable overlap between the rotor and the stator at transient conditions is performed using finite element simulation in the ANSYS 3D Low Frequency Electromagnetics package. The model is meshed with tetrahedral or hexahedral elements, and the magnetic field at each element is approximated using a quadratic polynomial. For a fixed number of coils, two cases are studied; one with constant magnetic properties and the other with nonlinear demagnetization curves are studied.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Multivalley electron population dynamics on the Ge(111):As surface.

Electrons excited to energies well above the conduction band minimum of Ge are observed to populate valleys centered at the $\overline{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$ and $\overline{M}$ points of the Brillouin zone on the As-terminated Ge(111) surface. The valley centered at $\overline{M}$ is a surface resonance, located 0.3 eV above the Ge conduction band minimum. The subpicosecond population dynamics are followed directly with harmonic laser photoemission. The time evolution of the excited electron gas temperature was measured and a cooling rate was determined.
Blood groupings in Marshallese.

The absence of the Diego blood factor, the extremely low incidence of the M gene, and the unusually high R 1 gene frequency of the Marshallese more nearly resemble the blood groupings of the people of the western islands of Indonesia than the blood groupings of the Amerindians.
Infantile Spasms: Current Therapy and Progress

Infantile spasms represent an age-dependent epileptic syndrome that usually begins between 4 and 6 months of life; onset is before the age of 12 months in about 90% of cases. The spasms are characterized by symmetric, bilateral, brief, and sudden contractions of the flexor or extensor muscle groups. The seizures may be resistant to treatment, and the syndrome frequently is associated with mental retardation. In 14% to 38% of cases, infantile spasms are "cryptogenic," without identifiable underlying cause. However, the majority of patients have so-called "symptomatic" infantile spasms, with some identifiable pre-, peri-, or postnatal factor that underlies the syndrome: hypoxemiaischemia, intrauterine infection, a cerebral malformation or degenerative disorder, tuberous sclerosis, a genetic abnormality, an inborn error of metabolism, an intracranial hemorrhage, traumatic delivery, head injury, or a central nervous system infection.
An optimization design procedure for fiber reinforced polymer web-core sandwich bridge deck systems

Abstract The development of optimization design procedures has emerged as an essential component primarily to overcome the challenge of high initial construction costs associated with the fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bridge deck systems. This paper devises a genetic algorithm-based optimization procedure to minimize the weight of FRP web core sandwich bridge deck systems. A Ritz-based simplified analysis method is applied to couple with the proposed optimization procedure as the structural analysis engine. The design procedure involves the parallel optimal search of mixed continuous and discrete parameters––geometrical parameters, sandwich configuration and material architecture––for the whole sandwich structure. A novel data structure is proposed for the genetic representation in a one-gene-one-variable format. Consequently, specific genetic operators are tailored to accommodate the nonstandard data structure. A problem-independent scheme that does not require any penalty parameter is developed to handle the design constraints. The resulting design procedure provides an effective optimal design framework for the preliminary design stage before performing detailed finite element analysis.
Physical aspects of total body irradiation of bone marrow transplant patients using 18 MV X rays

The physical aspects of a total body irradiation (TBI) treatment are described. Patients seated in a special chair with their legs bent backwards are irradiated anteriorly and posteriorly (AP/PA). The chair reduces patient movement and facilitates positioning patients during 9 fractions of TBI over a 3-day period. The dose to lower extremities are monitored and raised to the total body dose. A conventional linear accelerator in a standard size treatment room is used to deliver 18 MV x-ray beams at a dose rate of approximately 20 cGy/min at a 350 cm treatment distance. Results of dose distribution, field flatness, dose uniformity, in vivo and in vitro dosimetry, and boost irradiation techniques are described.
Determination of frictional behavior in sheet metals using orthogonal arrays

Frictional behavior of two sheet materials, aluminum-killed drawing-quality steel (AKDQ) and electro-galvanized (zinc) drawing-quality steel (AKDQ-EG), is examined under conditions of varying die material, die radius, crosshead speed, and lubricant. Tests are conducted using a special apparatus designed to measure front and back tension on uniform tensile strip specimens pulling over a circular die, simulating both frictionless and frictional conditions under certain sheet-metal-forming conditions. Use of a specially designed test apparatus with four contact angles for the same test condition minimizes the error associated with the use of single measurements for the determination of friction coefficient. Lubricant and die material play important roles among different factors examined in determining the coefficient of friction. Die radius has the most pronounced effect on the coefficient of friction. Implication of these results on actual sheet forming processes are discussed.