cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact on patient outcomes of experience in the performance of endoscopic pancreatic fluid collection drainage.

Background: Much attention has been focused on the competence to perform endoscopic procedures. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of procedure experience on patient outcomes after endoscopic pancreatic fluid collection drainage. Methods: Outcomes for consecutive patients with symptoms from pancreatic fluid collections who were referred for endoscopic transmural and/or transpapillary drainage were analyzed retrospectively. Collections were classified as acute pseudocyst, chronic pseudocyst, and pancreatic necrosis. To assess the impact of endoscopist experience, outcomes for patients who underwent the first 20 procedures were compared with those for patients who had subsequent procedures. Results: In total, 175 patients underwent pancreatic fluid collection drainage; 40 (23%) acute pseudocyst, 78 (44%) chronic pseudocyst, and 57 (33%) pancreatic necrosis. Procedure complication rates, collection recurrence rates, and patient outcomes after acute pseudocyst drainage were independent of endoscopist experience. There was a dramatic improvement in chronic pseudocyst resolution rates after the first 20 procedures versus subsequent procedures (45% vs. 93%; p =0.0002) and a reduction in days to resolution (50 days, initial 20 procedures vs. 33.5 days, subsequent procedures; p =0.05). In patients with pancreatic necrosis, there was a decrease in median hospital stay with greater experience (23 days to 15 days; p =0.04). Conclusions: Resolution of chronic pseudocyst after endoscopic drainage improves markedly with increasing endoscopist experience. Future prospective studies assessing skill acquisition are required to define the minimum number of collection drainage procedures at which competence can be achieved.
Fabrication of Quantum Dot/Polymer Composites: Phosphine-Functionalized Block Copolymers as Passivating Hosts for Cadmium Selenide Nanoclusters

Nearly monodisperse CdSe nanoclusters, surface-passivated with a layer of trioctylphosphine and trioctylphosphine oxide, have been sequestered within phosphine-containing domains in a diblock copolymer. A convergent approach to fabrication of these composites was adopted via independent synthesis of nanoclusters and polymer. Diblock copolymers of phosphine- or phosphine oxide-functionalized monomers and methyltetracyclododecene (MTD) were prepared by ring opening metathesis polymerization using Mo alkylidene initiators. Nanoclusters were prepared by pyrolysis of CdMe2 and SeP(octyl)3 in the presence of P(octyl)3 and OP(octyl)3. An immediate and sustained increase in electronic passivation is found for nanoclusters incorporated into octylphosphine-containing polymers. In contrast, nanoclusters in pure hydrocarbon or phosphine oxide-containing polymers rapidly lose passivation. Films of nanoclusters in a phosphine-containing polymer matrix were static cast from dilute solution. Under suitable conditions, th...
Detecting binding interactions using microarrays of natural product extracts.

Small-molecule microarrays have been used to discover biologically active small molecules in collections of synthetic compounds. Here we utilize a versatile isocyanate chemistry to immobilize extracts from microorganisms in a microarray format. Specific bioactive small molecules are detected in crude extracts of Streptomyces hygroscopicus, and the amount of specific to nonspecific binding of a protein to an immobilized compound on a microarray can be estimated. These natural product-extract microarrays (NPEMs) provide new tools for characterizing the metabolic products of organisms and for discovering biologically active small molecules from nature.
Spin-lattice relaxation times of imidazole protons and their relevance to NMR studies of proteins.

THE spin lattice relaxation time (T1) is the exponential time constant for re-equilibration of nuclear spins with their surroundings (the lattice) following resonance excitation, and is consequently related to the correlation time of the nuclei in solution. Thus, the determination of T1 values would be of interest in many biological systems. Measurement of the relative motility of different portions of a protein molecule, for example, could shed light on conformational and functional properties.
Trends and outcomes of modern staging of solitary plasmacytoma of bone

Over the years, the definition of solitary plasmacytoma of bone (SPB) has shifted in part due to more modern testing capabilities. We hypothesized that outcomes data based on antiquated testing would not reflect outcomes using modern staging. To address both how widely applied adequate diagnostic staging is and what the progression rates of SPB as defined with state-of-the-art staging are, we performed a retrospective chart review of those patients with a diagnosis of SPB seen at our institution over the past decade. Two groups were studied: all patients with SPB (n = 127); and those patients referred to our institution for an indication other than progression (n = 91). The median PFS for those two groups were 26 months and 42 months, respectively. At baseline, only a minority of patients had state-of-the-art staging. The 5 patients with both modern imaging and a negative bone marrow had a 21 month PFS of 100%. Patients with plasmacytoma plus, one plasmacytoma but bone marrow consistent with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, fare worse than true SPB. The use of modern testing is imperative to characterize a patient's risk for progression. PET/CT plays an important role in the diagnostic work-up.
Response of two lacewing species to biorational and broad-spectrum insecticides.

Green lacewings, includingChrysoperla rufilabris (Burmeister) andCeraeochrysa cubana (Hagen), are predators of small, soft-bodied insects including whiteflies. The silverleaf whitefly,Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring [formerlyB. tabaci (Gennadius) strain B], is an important pest of agronomic, vegetable and ornamental crops. Practical use of these lacewings as biological control agents would be facilitated by better understanding of their responses to both biorational (selective) and broad-spectrum insecticides. The topical and residual toxicity of azadirachtin (Azatin-ECTM), insecticidal soap (M-PedeTM), paraffinic oil (Sunspray Ultra-Fine Spray OilTM) and the pyrethroid bifenthrin (BrigadeTM) to eggs, larvae and adults of the lacewings were studied in the laboratory. Larvae ofC. cubana were much more tolerant to residues of bifenthrin than wasC. rufilabris and were somewhat more tolerant to topically applied soap. At normal field concentrations, azadirachtin (0.005%, by wt a.i.), paraffinic oil (1.0% by volume) and soap (1.0% by volume) were not toxic to larvae or adults of either species either topically or residually. Oil was toxic topically to eggs but azadirachtin and soap were not. Bifenthrin was toxic topically and residually to larvae and adults but was not so toxic to eggs as was oil. Thus, selectivity of all materials tested was relative to lacewing species and lifestage. The relative tolerance to insecticide residues exhibited byC. cubana larvae may be related to its trash-carrying habit, suggesting that use of trash-carrying chrysopids in place of non-trash carriers for augmentative biological control would increase options for non-disruptive chemical intervention when necessary.
Factors in the Mortality and Morbidity Associated with Surgical Treatment of Cerebrovascular Insufficiency

The mortality and morbidity associated with 267 surgical procedures for cerebrovascular insufficiency carried out over a 5-year period are reviewed. Patients with marked intracranial arterial disease on angiogram, with completed strokes, over 70 years old or who required continuous nursing care are identified as the highest surgical risks. The introduction of monitoring of the oxygen saturation of lateral sinus venous blood has reduced the incidence of intra-operative new neurological deficit during general anesthesia from 9.1 to 4.4%. Episodes of hypotension occurred in 27% of patients but were associated with 48% of grave complications. The occurrence of hypotension is related to diabetes, preoperative hypertension, and to the extent of the operative procedure. Evidence is presented that hypotension is due to abnormal circulatory reflexes and may best be prevented by careful maintenance of intravascular volume.
Lingulichnites, a new trace fossil genus for lingulid brachiopod burrows

Holocene lingulid brachiopods are well-known burrowing organisms. Fossil lingulid burrows have been reported from rocks in Europe and North America that range from Ordovician and Devonian through Pennsylvanian. However, the latest authoritative compendium on trace fossils, The Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology (1975). makes no mention of lingulid burrows. The obvious reason for this omission is that the burrows, although important paleontologically and ichnologically, have never been named formally thereby making it awkward to include them in faunal lists. The monotypic genus Lingulichnites is proposed to remedy this problem. The type specimens are from Upper Devonian rocks in northeastern Ohio.
Top quark production and decay at next-to-leading order in e+e- annihilation.

We study the effects of QCD corrections to the process {ital e}{sup +}{ital e}{sup {minus}}{r_arrow}{ital t{bar t}}+{ital X}{r_arrow}{ital bW{sup +}{bar b}W{sup {minus}}}+{ital X} above threshold. We show how to treat consistently to {ital O}({alpha}{sub {ital s}}) the gluon radiation in both the production and the decay of the top quarks, while maintaining all angular correlations in the event. At this order there is an ambiguity in the event reconstruction whenever a real gluon occurs in the final state. We study the effects of this ambiguity on the top quark mass and helicity angle distributions. For a top quark mass of 175 GeV and collider energy of 400 GeV the gluon radiation is emitted predominantly in the decay of the top quarks. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
The Concept of Fate in Chinese Folk Ideology

Fate was an important concept in traditional Chinese folk culture, and in the culture of the elite. This much is uncontroversial. But what the concept was about, what it meant and how it related to class hegemony, is a matter open to dispute. The relationship of any folk ideology to the hegemonic ideology of the society is a complex one. We can perhaps best conceive this relationship as a compound of two ideal types. In the first the folk ideology is an earthy version of an elite myth, a kind of Marxian people's opiate that disguises the real nature of hegemonic relations. If the peasants believe that suffering in this world is but a prelude to glory in the next, that the Tsar really loves them but corrupt officials prevent his devotion from being realized, that landlords have a right to rents because, after all, they are supplying the land in fair exchange for the peasants' labor, folk ideology is acting in this way: It is reinforcing the hegemonic effect of the elite ideology, even when it does not actually duplicate that ideology.
Urinary C-Peptide: An Indicator of ²-Cell Secretion under Different Metabolic Conditions

The relative advantages of assessing ²-cell secretory function by measuring plasma or urinary insulin or Cpeptidewas studied in five athletes during timed periods:1 period, baseline fasting (3 h); period 2, exercise (1.5 h) at 75% maximum heart rate; period 3, rest (2.5 h); period 4, eating (3 h); and period 5, rest (2 h). Blood (collected using a constant withdrawal pump) and urine samples from each period were evaluated for insulin and C-peptide immunoreactivity. Plasma insulin decreased from 0.10 ± 0.01 pmol/ml (13.6 ± 2 μU/ml) in period 1 to 0.06 ± 0.02 pmol/ml (8.7 ±2.1 μU/ml; P < 0.005) in period 2, and increased in period 4 to 0.42 ± 0.08 pmol/ml (58 ± 10.9 μU/ml). Plasma C-peptide declined from 0.55 ±0.11 pmol/ml in period 1 to 0.33 ± 0.07 pmol/ml in period 2 (P < 0.005), and rose in period 4 to 1.9 ± 0.34 pmol/ml (P < 0.005). Urinary insulin decreased from a baseline of 0.05 ± 0.02 pmol/min (7.2 ± 2.1 μU/min) to 0.03 ± 0.01 pmol/min (3.7 ± 0.9 n) in period 2 (P < 0.05), while urinary C-peptide de...
Methodology of interpreting thermal analysis of polymers

The goal of the thermal analysis experiments is to extract scientifically and technological important information from measurements of “heat.” Unfortunately, there exists no direct heat meter. In fact, the assessment of the quantity heat has a colorful past and, as is a common human trait, the back-integration of successively gained knowledge into the basic teaching is lax, as in all stages of education. Thermal analysis can be taken as a prime example of this problem. A “Methodology of Interpreting Thermal Analysis of Polymers” is described in this report on the example of recent data on poly(butylene terephthalate), PBT, crystallized by slow cooling from the melt. It is shown how the simple temperature-difference or heat-flow rate as a function of sample temperature is converted to calorimetric information. Once calorimetric data are available, the results can be interpreted using modern descriptions of phases, making use of a scheme of phase structures as well as considering molecular motion arguments and phase sizes. Using the three classical types of strong chemical bonding leads to 57 possible condensed phases and two types of transitions (glass and order/disorder transitions) necessary for the description.
Management of Severe Osteoporosis in Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty

Severe osteoporosis is becoming a common problem faced by surgeons performing primary hip arthroplasty. As the population ages, osteoporosis is increasing, especially as the population aged more than 80 years increases. Patients may need a total hip replacement to treat osteoarthritis or an acute femoral neck fracture. Recent data have shown an advantage to hip replacement in this population. Although uncemented and cemented designs of femoral prostheses have been used successfully, there is a high rate of periprosthetic fracture associated with the use of uncemented stems in patients with osteoporosis. Successful replacement requires knowledge of the particular stem type used in the weakened proximal femur. Total hip replacement for fracture also has a higher rate of dislocation. Additional study is required to determine if a particular uncemented stem design is better than others in this scenario or whether more use of cemented stems would help to limit periprosthetic fracture.
Fluorescence microscopy observations of domain structures in Langmuir monolayers of N-stearoylserine methyl ester and N-stearoylvaline at intermediate enantiomeric compositions

Abstract Langmuir monolayers of N-stearoylvaline and N-stearoylserine methyl ester were studied at compositions intermediate between the racemic and the purely enantiomeric using surface pressure isotherm measurements and fluorescence microscopy observations. The transition pressure was found to vary smoothly with composition for both compounds. Curved dendritic forms were observed at intermediate compositions, indicating an anisotropy in the line tension. A novel crossover from dendritic to curved domain morphology at slower domain growth rate is reported for the films of enantiomeric N-stearoylserine methyl ester.
Women in science: a top-down approach.

April 28 marked a decade since the European Union Women and Science Conference in Brussels, which generated several initiatives that have been serving EU women in science well. One initiative ([1][1]) set a goal to seek at least 40% representation (on average) for women in Marie Curie scholarships,
Social Interactions and Instructional Artifacts: Emergent Socio-Technical Affordances and Constraints for Children's Geometric Thinking

The reported exploratory study consisted primarily of classroom visits, videotaped sessions, and post-treatment interviews whereby second graders (n = 12) worked on problems in planar geometry, individually and in triads, using physical and virtual manipulatives. The goal of the study was to: 1) characterize the nature of geometric thinking found within the interrelationships of social interactions and instructional artifacts; and 2) describe this nature of thinking in terms of instructional artifact transparency. Juxtaposing collective and individual views of mediated inquiry, we analyze interrelationships to reveal qualitatively different influences on geometric thinking for three conceptually related tasks using manipulatives. Our examination of interrelationships between social interactions and instructional artifacts leads to insights for designing and evaluating instructional technologies for early elementary mathematics, including emerging multi-touch, multi-user systems.
Remarks on Taylor series expansions and conditional expectations for Stratonovich SDEs with complete V-commutativity

Abstract It may happen that there is not a finite maximum order bound for numerical approximations of stochastic processes X = (X t : 0 ≤ t ≤ T) satisfying Stratonovich stochastic differential equations (SDEs) with some commutative structure along an appropriate functional V(t, X t ). This statement can be proven with respect to the concept of mean square convergence under the assumption of “infinite smoothness” of drift a(t, x) and diffusion coefficients b j (t, x) and with finite initial second moments. As a result, we obtain an infinite series expansion of the conditional expectation &#x1d53c;[V(t, X t )|ℱ t N ] on any fixed finite time interval [0, T], provided that the information is collected by discretized σ‐field ℱ T N = σ{W t 0 , W t 1 , …, W t N−1 , W T } at N + 1 given time instants t i ∈ [0, T] with t 0 ≤ t 1 ≤ ··· ≤ t N−1 ≤ t N = T.
Selective immunoproteasome inhibitors with non-peptide scaffolds identified from structure-based virtual screening.

As a major component of the crucial nonlysosomal protein degradation pathway in the cells, the proteasome has been implicated in many diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, autoimmune diseases, multiple myeloma (MM) and other cancers. There are two main proteasome subtypes: the constitutive proteasome which is expressed in all eukaryotic cells and the immunoproteasome which is expressed in immune cells and can be induced in other cell types. Majority of currently available proteasome inhibitors are peptide backbone-based, having short half-lives in the body. It is highly desirable to identify novel, immunoproteasome-selective inhibitors with non-peptide scaffolds for development of novel therapeutics. Through combined virtual screening and experimental studies targeting the immunoproteasome, we have identified a set of novel immunoproteasome inhibitors with diverse non-peptide scaffolds. Some of the identified inhibitors have significant selectivity for the immunoproteasome over the constitutive proteasome. Unlike most of the currently available proteasome inhibitors, these new inhibitors lacking electrophilic pharmacophores are not expected to form a covalent bond with proteasome after the binding. These non-peptide scaffolds may provide a new platform for future rational drug design and discovery targeting the immunoproteasome.
Discussion of “Progressive Collapse of the World Trade Center: A Simple Analysis” by K. A. Seffen

Seen’s paper presents what it calls a simple analysis for the dynamics of the World Trade Center (WTC, implicitly just the South and North Towers) collapses. He claims the "factors responsible for the onset of collapse are now well established", that: (1) intense res created by the aircraft compromised the remaining intact columns near the impact [those undamaged by the plane collision] to sustain the weight of the building above them. (2) The subsequent "near free fall" of these upper parts over just 1 story resulted in dynamical overloading of the undamaged columns below by a "factor of over 30". Seen then goes on to develop a propagating instability model for how the re brought the Towers down. But these claimed factors are factually inaccurate. Furthermore, in analyzing the model built on these factors, ideal assumptions are made that are in disagreement with physical principles inherent in the collapses of the Towers, and yield solutions that cannot provide answers or much insight into how the Towers fell.
Statin Islands and PPAR Ligands in Platelets

Platelets are formed from megakaryocytes, where they are released into the blood stream via proplatelet extensions into the blood vessel lumen.1 Being the most numerous “white blood cell” and despite lacking a nucleus, they are highly complex cells containing a surface connected canalicular and tubular system, mitochondria, granules, and bioactive mediators. Platelets are well-known for their seminal role in hemostasis and thrombosis.2 Aside from these physiological functions, new roles for platelets are being identified in unwanted thrombosis that occurs in diabetes and cancer. See accompanying article on page 706 Platelets have been thought of as a kind of “cellular island” owing to their traditional role as mere hemostatic plugs. However, recent studies show that platelets are much more than simple cellular elements involved in sealing wounds. They are now recognized as highly interactive cells that influence both bone marrow–derived and nonbone marrow–derived cells.2 They accomplish this by their ability to release and synthesize a host of mediators that influence other cell types. For example, platelets produce a variety of important cytokines such as TGFβ and lipid mediators such as prostaglandins that stimulate many types of cells. Platelets also express and release CD40 ligand (CD154), which can quickly activate CD40-bearing cells such as …
Epigenetics and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

The roles of epigenetic modulation of gene expression and protein functions in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) have recently become the focus of scientific investigation. Evidence generated to date indicates that one of the epigenetic modifiers, histone deacetylases (HDACs), are important regulators of ADPKD. HDACs are involved in regulating the expression of the Pkd1 gene and are the target of fluid flow-induced calcium signal in kidney epithelial cells. Pharmacological inhibition of HDAC activity has been found to reduce the progression of cyst formation and slow the decline of kidney function in Pkd1 conditional knockout mice and Pkd2 knockout mice, respectively, implicating the potential clinical application of HDAC inhibitors on ADPKD. Since the expression of HDAC6 is upregulated in cystic epithelial cells, the potential roles of HDAC6 in regulating cilia resorption and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) trafficking through deacetylating α-tubulin and regulating Wnt signaling through deacetylating β-catenin are also discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Polycystic Kidney Disease.
On the theory of transverse bending of elastic plates

Abstract Departing from a self-contained two-dimensional formulation of the linear-theory problem of transverse bending of plates, three distinct topics are considered. The first of these concerns the integration problem for the case of orthotropy, specifically in regard to the factorization of a certain sixth-order master-equation. The second topic concerns the boundary layer aspects of contracted or reduced boundary conditions for the interior solution contribution for the case of isotropic plates. The analysis of this is based on a new form of the well-known general solution in terms of a deflection and a stress function variable, with this new form making it possible to distinguish between first- and second-order transverse shear deformation effects; the former being associated with the edge zone and the latter with the interior domain of the plate, with the shear correction terms for the interior being generalizations of the Timoshenko shear correction terms for beams. The third topic is a new system of contracted boundary conditions, both for the stress and for the displacement boundary value problem, in such a way that first-order transverse shear deformation effects are explicitly incorporated in the interior-domain solution contribution.
Self-Ambivalence and Resistance to Subtle Self-Change Attempts

Recent research has demonstrated the malleability of self-views to subtle situational influence but has not uncovered features of the self-concept representation that make it susceptible to such change. Using research on attitude ambivalence as a foundation, the current article predicted that the self would be most likely to respond to a subtle change induction when the targeted self-beliefs were objectively ambivalent (e.g., possessed both positive and negative features). Using self-esteem conditioning (Experiment 1) and outgroup stereotype priming (Experiment 2), it was found that people were more susceptible to subtle change inductions as objective self-ambivalence increased. Notably, the consistency between dominant self-views (positive or negative) and the change induction did not influence these results. These effects held for objective ambivalence, but not subjective ambivalence, and only when the objective ambivalence measure was relevant to the change induction. Mechanisms of the observed moderation and the implications of self-ambivalence for understanding self-change are discussed.
Brightness Temperature Map Reconstruction from Dual-Polarimetric Visibilities in Synthetic Aperture Imaging Radiometry

Synthetic aperture imaging radiometers are powerful sensors for high-resolution observations of the Earth at low microwave frequencies. Within this context, the European Space Agency is currently developing the soil moisture and ocean salinity (SMOS) mission devoted to the monitoring of SMOS at global scale from L-band spaceborne radiometric observations obtained with a 2-D interferometer. This paper is concerned with the reconstruction of radiometric brightness temperature maps from interferometric measurements. More exactly, it extends the concept of ldquoband-limited resolving matrixrdquo to the case of the processing of dual-polarimetric data.
Mocvd of Cu on Teflon-AF and Alumina-Modified Teflon-AF

XPS studies of Cu(I)hfac(COD)adsorbed on clean and alumina-modified Teflon-AF surfaces show that on the clean polymer surface, Cu(0) formation occurs between 300 K and 600 K in UHV. The corresponding reduction is hindered by the presence of an alumina adlayer. In addition, the Cu Auger kinetic energies indicate the formation of nanoparticles on the alumina surface at both 300 K and 600 K. Annealing from 300 K to 600 K results in a ≈4 eV shift of the Cu(2p) transitions to higher binding energies. These facts indicate that the Cu precursor reacts with the alumina surface and results in limited mobility and hindered Cu(I) to Cu(0) reduction on the modified polymer surface.
Going beyond the Book: Towards Critical Reading in Statistics Teaching.

We can improve our teaching of statistical examples from books by collecting further data, reading cited articles, and performing further data analysis. This should not come as a surprise, but what might be new is the realization of how close to the surface these research opportunities are: even influential and celebrated books can have examples where more can be learned with a small amount of additional effort. We discuss three examples that have arisen in our own teaching: an introductory textbook that motivated us to think more carefully about categorical and continuous variables; a book for the lay reader that misreported a study of menstruation and accidents; and a monograph on the foundations of probability that overinterpreted statistically insignificant fluctuations in sex ratios.
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Treatment of Primary and Metastatic Pulmonary Malignancies

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has become the preferred treatment approach for patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer who are medically inoperable or refuse surgery. SBRT consists of 3 to 5 radiation treatments delivered over a 10- to 14-day period. Local control is achieved in approximately 90% of patients, and the risk of toxicity is relatively low. Ongoing studies are examining whether SBRT can replace surgery for certain patients, the optimal dose-fractionation scheme, and how best to treat patients having central tumors near the primary tracheobronchial tree.
Mentoring Affirmations and Interventions: A Bridge to Graduate School for Latina/o Students.

Using individual interviews, this study examined how a group of Latina/o undergraduate students in Texas considered graduate studies. Findings reveal that familial support, perceived community responsibility, and their participation in a men- toring program all played a considerable role in demystifying graduate studies. Implications support the notion that mentoring relationships can effectively create a bridge towards graduate education for underrepresented student populations. Resumen: Usando entrevistas individuales este estudio examino como un grupo de estudiantes latinos de pregrado en Texas consideraba estudios graduados. Los hallazgos revelan que apoyo familiar, responsabilidad comunitaria percibida, y su participacion en un programa de guia jugaron un papel considerable para quitar mitos sobre estudios graduados. Implicaciones apoyan la nocion de que las relaciones de consejeria pueden efectivamente crear un puente hacia la educacion graduada de poblaciones de estudian- tes de poca representacion.
Understanding the Relationship Between PTSD and Social Support: The Role of Negative Network Orientation

Network orientation is conceptualized as an individual's attitudes and expectations regarding the usefulness of support networks in coping with stress. The present research examined the potential for network orientation to explicate the well documented association between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and attenuated social support. Data collected from survivors of serious motor vehicle trauma (N = 458) were used to test the hypothesis that severity of PTSD would hold a significant indirect relationship with social support through negative network orientation. Childhood victimization and elapsed time from the accident were examined as potential moderators of this indirect relationship. Consistent with hypotheses, path analyses demonstrated a significant indirect relationship between PTSD and social support through negative network orientation. Specifically, this indirect effect was the result of a direct association between PTSD severity and negative network orientation and an inverse association between negative network orientation and social support. This pattern of relationships was invariant across mode of PTSD assessment (interview vs. self-report). No moderation effects were noted. These data suggest that network orientation may be an important factor in understanding interface of interpersonal processes and post-trauma pathology.
A Histochemical Analysis of the Proteins in the Larval Fat Body of Sarcophaga Bullata

A comparison has been made between the basic proteins of the nucleus and the cytoplasm in the larval fat body cell of Sarcophaga bullata. Basic protein was found in four regions of the cell: in the nucleolus, in association with the DNA of the nucleus, as a diffuse reticulum extending throughout the cytoplasm, and as a complement of granules distributed throughout the cytoplasm. Of these four regions only the nucleolar basic protein was apparently unaffected by the blocking reactions of deamination and acetylation when stained with alkaline fast green. The proteins of the other regions were seen to be arginine-rich, but contained a sufficient amount of lysine to be slightly affected by control procedures. The cytoplasmic granular basic protein, lysosomal in nature, and the diffuse basic protein of the cytoplasm, RNA-associated, stained in exactly the same manner as did the nuclear histone with the three techniques used for histone demonstration and with the Sakaguchi reaction. Control procedures had no effect on the intensity of the Sakaguchi reaction in any region of the cell where arginine was demonstrable. It is suggested that the term histone be reserved for DNA-associated basic protein, and that some of the non-specificity of histone staining may be resolved by applying auxiliary methods for the demonstration of acid hydrolases or associated nucleic acids.
Structural investigation of the Cu(II) chelate of N-phosphonomethylglycine. X-ray crystal structure of Cu(II) [O2CCH2NHCH2PO3]·Na(H2O)3.5

Abstract The structure of the metal chelate formed between Cu(II) and N -phosphonomethylglycine (PMG) has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The Cu(II) cation is five-coordinate with donor atoms in a distorted square pyramidal geometry for which the basal plane involves a tridentate combination of the carboxylate oxygen, one of the phosphonate oxygen atoms and the monoprotonated secondary amine nitrogen atom to form two adjacent chelate rings, together with a second phosphonate oxygen atom from an adjacent ligand. The complex is capped and further extended by coordination to one of the basal phosphonate oxygen atoms of yet another adjacent ligand. The phosphonate group of the ligand bridges between three Cu(II) centers through a monodentate O2 and a bidentate O1. Each Cu(II) cation is coordinated by all ligand donor atoms, carboxylate oxygen, nitrogen and phosphonate oxygen, in addition to the two bridging phosphonate oxygens of ligands which are primarily associated with adjacent chelate molecules. The Cu(II) complex is monoclinic, space group C 2, with cell parameters a = 21.980(2), b = 4.779(2), c = 10.017(2) A, β = 93.86(1)°, V = 1049.9(4) A 3 and Z = 4. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined by a modification of direct difference and least-squares techniques to R = 0.072 with 715 independent reflections, I >3σ( I ), and 62 variables.
The intelligent use of space

Abstract The objective of this essay is to provide the beginning of a principled classification of some of the ways space is intelligently used. Studies of planning have typically focused on the temporal ordering of action, leaving as unaddressed, questions of where to lay down instruments, ingredients, work-in-progress, and the like. But, in having a body, we are spatially located creatures: we must always be facing some direction, have only certain objects in view, be within reach of certain others. How we manage the spatial arrangement of items around us, is not an afterthought; it is an integral part of the way we think, plan and behave. The proposed classification has three main categories: spatial arrangements that simplify choice; spatial arrangements that simplify perception; and spatial dynamics that simplify internal computation. The data for such a classification is drawn from videos of cooking, assembly and packing, everyday observations in supermarkets, workshops and playrooms, and experimental studies of subjects playing Tetris, the computer game. This study, therefore, focusses on interactive processes in the medium and short term: on how agents set up their workplace for particular tasks, and how they continuously manage that workplace.
Minority carrier lifetime and defect structure in silicon after cesium implantation

It is shown that the minority carrier lifetime τ in silicon can be reduced effectively by doping with cesium. A lifetime value of 2.2 × 10−10 s can be achieved by implantation of 1013 Cs+/cm2 at 200 keV and subsequent anneal in nitrogen followed by an oxidation of 47 min at 1000 °C. The reduction of τ in silicon is caused by the cesium distribution which is stable at this temperature. In comparison to gold the efficiency of the cesium recombination center is about 6%. Due to its low diffusion rate at high temperature cesium is proposed as a useful alternative for device applications which require gold as a dopant. Es wird gezeigt, das die Lebensdauer τ der Minoritatsladungstrager in Silizium durch Casiumdotierung effektiv reduziert werden kann. Ein Lebensdauerwert von 2.2 × 10−10 s last sich durch Implantation von 1013 Cs+/cm2 bei 200 keV und nachfolgender Temperung in Stickstoff gefolgt von einer Oxidation von 47 min bei 1000 °C erreichen. Die Reduktion von τ in Silizium wird durch die Casiumverteilung verursacht, die bei dieser Temperatur stabil ist. Im Vergleich zu Gold ist die Effizienz der Casiumrekombinationszentren etwa 6%. Aufgrund seiner niedrigen Diffusionsgeschwindigkeit bei hohen Temperaturen wird Casium als nutzliche Alternative fur Bauelementeanwendungen vorgeschlagen, die Gold als Dotierungssubstanz erfordern.
Promiscuous mating produces offspring with higher lifetime fitness

In many species, each female pairs with a single male for the purpose of rearing offspring, but may also engage in extra-pair copulations. Despite the prevalence of such promiscuity, whether and how multiple mating benefits females remains an open question. Multiple mating is typically thought to be favoured primarily through indirect benefits (i.e. heritable effects on the fitness of offspring). This prediction has been repeatedly tested in a variety of species, but the evidence has been equivocal, perhaps because such studies have focused on pre-reproductive survival rather than lifetime fitness of offspring. Here, we show that in a songbird, the dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis), both male and female offspring produced by extra-pair fertilizations have higher lifetime reproductive success than do offspring sired within the social pair. Furthermore, adult male offspring sired via extra-pair matings are more likely to sire extrapair offspring (EPO) themselves, suggesting that fitness benefits to males accrue primarily through enhanced mating success. By contrast, female EPO benefited primarily through enhanced fecundity. Our results provide strong support for the hypothesis that the evolution of extra-pair mating by females is favoured by indirect benefits and shows that such benefits accrue much later in the offspring’s life than previously documented.
The limiting behavior of LMS

A realization-oriented analysis is given of the gradient noise misadjustment and lag misadjustment performance of the LMS (least-mean-square) algorithm. New formulas are given for both of these components of excess mean-square error. It is shown that the traditional formula for lag misadjustment needs to be modified by adding further terms due to gradient noise and noise variance. To perform the analysis, it is necessary to study the convergence (with probability one) of the noise-free, fixed-parameter LMS algorithm. Convergence is found under simple conditions that improve on those previously obtained. >
Effect of Late Promoter Activity on Bacteriophage λ Fitness

For many bacteriophages (phages), the proteins responsible for host lysis and virion morphogenesis are expressed from the same polycistronic transcript. Such an expression pattern can potentially have a pleiotropic effect on the assembly rate and lysis time, thus affecting phage fitness. To study the effects of late promoter activity on phage life history traits and fitness, we constructed a series of isogenic phage lambda strains that differ only in their late promoter pR' sequences. The resulting late promoter activities ranged from 6 to 100% of the wild type's. The lysis times, burst sizes, and relative fitness were empirically determined for these strains. Our results showed that the lysis time is more sensitive than the assembly rate to variation in pR' activity. However, except for the strain with the lowest activity, the relative fitnesses of all the other strains are not significantly different from each other. Ad hoc models describing the effects of the late promoter activity on lysis time and assembly rate were constructed. The expected phage burst size and fitness curve were predicted from these models. Evolution of the late promoter activity was discussed in the context of phage life history trait evolution.
Automated configuration of TCP/IP with DHCP

The TCP/IP suite has various protocols that must be carefully configured so that networked devices operate efficiently. Setting values by hand is time-consuming and error-prone; moreover, several trends are adding to the need for automated parameter configuration and administration. The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, accepted as a proposed standard by the Internet Engineering Task Force, offers a way to automatically configure network devices that use TCP/IP. These devices use DHCP to locate and contact servers, which return the appropriate configuration information as data. The DHCP servers act as agents for network administrators and automate the process of network address allocation and parameter configuration. Addresses can be assigned and individual addresses can be reassigned to new DHCP clients without explicit intervention by a network administrator. The IETF's Dynamic Host Configuration (DHC) working group is now at work adding new features to DHCP. The author describes the group's work on DHCP in detail, outlines the management of a DHCP service, and discusses new DHCP features, including the version being developed for IPv6.
Detecting co-seismic displacements in glaciated regions: An example from the great November 2002 Denali earthquake using SPOT horizontal offsets

We use SPOT image pairs to determine horizontal offsets associated with the Mw 7.9 November 2002 Denali earthquake in the vicinity of Slate Creek, AK. Field measurements and aerial photographs are used to further characterize the geometry of the surface rupture. Aerial photographs show that shear localization occurs where the rupture trace is linear, and distributed off-fault deformation is common at fault bends and step-overs, or at geologic contacts between rock, glacial sediments, and ice. The displacement field is generated using a sub-pixel cross correlation technique between SPOT images taken before and after the earthquake. We identify the effects of glacier motion in order to isolate the tectonic displacements associated with the Denali earthquake. The resulting horizontal displacement field shows an along-strike variation in dextral shear, with a maximum of approximately 7.5 m in the east near 144° 52′W, which decreases to about 5 m to the west near 145° 45′W. If the November 2002 earthquake represents the long-term behavior of the Denali fault, it implies a westward decrease in the long-term dextral slip rate. A possible mechanism to accommodate the westward decreasing slip on the Denali fault is to transfer fault slip to adjacent east-trending contractional structures in the western region of the central Alaskan Range.
Comparing quantitative values of two generations of laser-assisted indocyanine green dye angiography systems: can we predict necrosis?

More than 93,000 breast reconstructions were performed in 2011, with overall complication rates reported to be as high as 60%.1,2 All inclusive mastectomy skin flap (MSF) necrosis can complicate more than 40% of implant-based breast reconstructions following simple mastectomy.3,4 Mastectomy skin flap necrosis can result in infection, delayed oncologic therapy, and reconstructive failure. The intraoperative gold standard approach to diagnosis of viable MSFs includes surgeon assessment of skin flap color, capillary refill, temperature, turgor, and skin edge bleeding. Two widely studied methods that can aid in the determination of flap viability include fluorescein dye angiography (FDA) and laser-assisted indocyanine green dye angiography (LAICGA).5-7 Both methods involve intraoperative injection of dye followed by illumination with a Wood's Lamp or Near Infrared Light, respectively. These adjunctive techniques have been shown to determine areas of ischemia that may ultimately result in skin necrosis.3-8 A recent study performed by our institution compared these 3 methods of clinical assessment, FDA and LAICGA in predicting MSF necrosis in breast reconstruction.3 This prospective study concluded that LAICGA was a better predictor of mastectomy skin flap necrosis when compared to either FDA or clinical assessment. Laser-assisted indocyanine green dye angiography was even more predictive and accurate when employing the quantitative values provided by the LAICGA SPY Q software. The predictive values determined by this previous study were determined using an earlier model LAICGA system (SPY 2001) that does not directly translate to the latest device (SPY Elite). The options for effectively translating quantitative values from one system to another included repeating the previous study or completing a direct comparison of both machines. In order to avoid repeating our work, the goal of this study was to simultaneously compare quantitative values determined by both SPY 2001 and SPY Elite on the same breast reconstruction patient.
Comparison of Multilocus Sequence Typing and the Xpert C. difficile/Epi Assay for Identification of Clostridium difficile 027/NAP1/BI

Clostridium difficile 027/NAP1/BI is the most common C. difficile strain in the United States. The Xpert C. difficile/Epi assay allows rapid, presumptive identification of C. difficile NAP1. We compared Xpert C. difficile/Epi to multilocus sequence typing for identification of C. difficile NAP1 and found "very good" agreement at 97.9% (κ = 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.80 to 0.91).
Whole-Body and Microenvironmental Localization of Radium-223 in Naïve and Mouse Models of Prostate Cancer Metastasis

Bone-metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (bmCRPC) represents a lethal stage of the most common noncutaneous cancer in men. The recent introduction of Radium-223 dichloride, a bone-seeking alpha particle (α)-emitting radiopharmaceutical, demonstrates statistically significant survival benefit and palliative effect for bmCRPC patients. Clinical results have established safety and efficacy, yet questions remain regarding pharmacodynamics and dosing for optimized patient benefit.
Thermal modeling of a vertical dry storage cask for used nuclear fuel

Abstract Thermal modeling of temperature profiles of dry casks has been identified as a high-priority item in a U.S. Department of Energy gap analysis. In this work, a three-dimensional model of a vertical dry cask has been constructed for computer simulation by using the ANSYS/FLUENT code. The vertical storage cask contains a welded canister for 32 Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) used-fuel assemblies with a total decay heat load of 34 kW. To simplify thermal calculations, an effective thermal conductivity model for a 17 × 17 PWR used (or spent)-fuel assembly was developed and used in the simulation of thermal performance. The effects of canister fill gas (helium or nitrogen), internal pressure (1–6 atm), and basket material (stainless steel or aluminum alloy) were studied to determine the peak cladding temperature (PCT) and the canister surface temperatures (CSTs). The results showed that high thermal conductivity of the basket material greatly enhances heat transfer and reduces the PCT. The results also showed that natural convection affects both PCT and the CST profile, while the latter depends strongly on the type of fill gas and canister internal pressure. Of particular interest to condition and performance monitoring is the identification of canister locations where significant temperature change occurs after a canister is breached and the fill gas changes from high-pressure helium to ambient air. This study provided insight on the thermal performance of a vertical storage cask containing high-burnup fuel, and helped advance the concept of monitoring CSTs as a means to detect helium leakage from a welded canister. The effects of blockage of air inlet vents on the cask's thermal performance were studied. The simulation were validated by comparing the results against data obtained from the temperature measurements of a commercial cask.