cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Letter to the Editor: Response to Letter Concerning Our Pregnancy Manuscript

We agree that timely delivery is the first line of defense; however, as we pointed out, all patients had been delivered prior to enrollment in our study. Post-partum hepatology consultation is multifactorial: the emergent nature of the deliveries, life-threatening status of the patients, and the assumption of improvement leads to postponing Hepatology consultation until it is apparent that liver failure does not resolve.
Adaptive Robust Submodular Optimization and Beyond

Constrained submodular maximization has been extensively studied in the recent years. In this paper, we study adaptive robust optimization with nearly submodular structure (ARONSS). Our objective is to randomly select a subset of items that maximizes the worst case value of several reward functions simultaneously. Our work differs from existing studies in two ways: (1) we study the robust optimization problem under the adaptive setting, i.e., one needs to adaptively select items based on the feedback collected from picked items, and (2) our results apply to a broad range of reward functions characterized by \(\epsilon \)-nearly submodular function. We first analyze the adaptivity gap of ARONSS and show that the gap between the best adaptive solution and the best non-adaptive solution is bounded. Then we propose an approximate solution to this problem when all reward functions are submodular. In particular, our algorithm achieves approximation ratio \((1-1/e)\) when considering a single matroid constraint. At last, we present two heuristics for the general case with nearly submodular functions. All proposed solutions are non-adaptive which are easy to implement.
Well-posedness of a higher dispersion KdV equation on the half-line

The initial-boundary value problem (ibvp) for the mth order Korteweg–de Vries (KdVm) equation on the half-line is studied by extending a novel approach recently developed for the well-posedness of KdV on the half-line, which is based on the solution formula produced via the Fokas unified transform method for the associated forced linear ibvp. Replacing in this formula the forcing by the nonlinearity and using data in Sobolev spaces suggested by the space–time regularity of the Cauchy problem of the linear KdVm equation give an iteration map for the ibvp, which is shown to be a contraction in an appropriately chosen solution space. The proof relies on key linear estimates and a bilinear estimate similar to the one used for the KdV equation on the line by Kenig, Ponce, and Vega [J. Am. Math. Soc. 4, 323–347 (1991)].
Inclusion and agency in the undergraduate theory core

As the field continues to imagine ways to increase representation in the music theory curriculum, this article offers one possible solution: a modular curriculum based on musical and critical thinking skills rather than a particular repertoire. In this design, students share a common grounding in music theory rooted in common practice, which cultivates notational fluency, aural awareness, and writing skills, before choosing upper-division music theory electives. The electives have the same skill-based learning objectives, which are general enough to be applied to various repertoires. A skill-centered music theory curriculum, as opposed to one that is repertoire-centered, grants students agency to practice analytical and interpretive skills in repertoires of their choosing, while creating a common academic experience for all music majors. This modular approach to the music theory core opens the curriculum to greater musical representation, without relying on tokenistic nods to diverse repertoires, and empowers students to make decisions about their education.
Comparing Semi-quantitative and Qualitative Methods of Vascular FDG-PET Activity Measurement in Large-Vessel Vasculitis.

The study rationale was to assess the performance of qualitative and semi-quantitative scoring methods for 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) assessment in large-vessel vasculitis (LVV). Methods: Patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) or Takayasu's arteritis (TAK) underwent clinical and imaging assessment, blinded to each other, within a prospective observational cohort. FDG-PET-CT scans were interpreted for active vasculitis by central reader assessment. Arterial FDG uptake was scored by qualitative visual assessment using the PET vascular activity score (PETVAS) and by semi-quantitative assessment using standardized uptake values (SUV) and target-to-background ratios (TBR) relative to liver/blood activity. Performance of each scoring method was assessed by intra-rater reliability using the intra-class coefficient (ICC) and area under receiver-operator characteristic curves (AUC), using physician assessment of clinical disease activity and reader interpretation of vascular PET activity as independent reference standards. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to analyze change in arterial FDG uptake over time. Results: Ninety-five patients (GCA=52; TAK=43) contributed 212 FDG-PET studies. The ICC for semi-quantitative evaluation [0.99 (range 0.98-1.00)] was greater than the ICC for qualitative evaluation [0.82 (range 0.56-0.93)]. PETVAS and TBR metrics were more strongly associated with reader interpretation of PET activity than SUV metrics. All assessment methods were significantly associated with physician assessment of clinical disease activity, but the semi-quantitative metric TBRLiver¬ achieved the highest AUC (0.66). Significant but weak correlations with C-reactive protein were observed for SUV metrics (r = 0.19, p<0.01) and TBRLiver (r = 0.20, p<0.01) but not for PETVAS. In response to increased treatment in 56 patients, arterial FDG uptake was significantly reduced when measured by semi-quantitative (TBRLiver 1.31 to 1.23, 6.1% ∆, p<0.0001) or qualitative (PETVAS 22 to 18, p<0.0001) methods. Semi-quantitative metrics provided complementary information to qualitative evaluation in cases of severe vascular inflammation. Conclusion: Both qualitative and semi-quantitative methods to measure arterial FDG uptake are useful to assess and monitor vascular inflammation in LVV. Compared to qualitative metrics, semi-quantitative methods have superior reliability and better discriminate treatment response in cases of severe inflammation.
Review of Storytelling for Social Justice: Connecting Narrative and the Arts in Antiracist Teaching

The year 2020 invited educators to (re)examine how White supremacy and power are perpetuated in our classrooms, and how racism and racialization circulate through our work as art educators and in t...
Disruptions in global network segregation and integration in adolescents and young adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

BACKGROUND Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a significant public health problem that is associated with a broad range of physical, neurocognitive, and behavioral effects resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been an important tool for advancing our knowledge of abnormal brain structure and function in individuals with FASD. However, whereas only a small number of studies have applied graph theory-based network analysis to resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) data in individuals with FASD additional research in this area is needed. METHODS Resting-state fMRI data were collected from adolescent and young adult participants (ages 12-22) with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) or alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND) and neurotypically developing controls (CNTRL) from previous studies. Group independent components analysis (gICA) was applied to fMRI data to extract components representing functional brain networks. Functional network connectivity (FNC), measured by Pearson correlation of the average independent component (IC) time series, was analyzed under a graph theory framework to compare network modularity, the average clustering coefficient, characteristic path length, and global efficiency between groups. Cognitive intelligence, measured by the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI), was compared and correlated to global network measures. RESULTS Group comparisons revealed significant differences in the average clustering coefficient, characteristic path length, and global efficiency. Modularity was not significantly different between groups. The FAS and ARND groups scored significantly lower than the CNTRL group on Full Scale IQ (FS-IQ) and the Vocabulary subtest, but not the Matrix Reasoning subtest. No significant associations between intelligence and graph theory measures were detected. CONCLUSION Our results partially agree with previous studies examining global graph theory metrics in children and adolescents with FASD and suggest that the exposure to alcohol during prenatal development leads to disruptions in aspects of functional network segregation and integration.
Abstract MP26: Angiotensin-(1-7) Increases Vascular Beta-2 Adrenergic Receptor Expression In Aging Mice

Aging is associated with increased sympathetic tone, which desensitizes vascular beta-2 adrenergic receptors (B2AR) to impair vasodilation and promote hypertension. We recently demonstrated that ch...
Ergodic isospectral theory of the Lax pairs of Euler equations with harmonic analysis flavor

Isospectral theory of the Lax pairs of both 3D and 2D Euler equations of inviscid fluids is developed. Eigenfunctions are represented through an ergodic integral. The Koopman group and mean ergodic theorem are utilized. Further harmonic analysis results on the ergodic integral are introduced. The ergodic integral is a limit of the oscillatory integral of the first kind.
Simulation of Ammonia Stripping from Wastewater

A computer program that can be used for the design and simulation of ammonia stripping and film packed cooling towers is described. The ammonia stripping portion of the program is embedded in the cooling tower calculation in order that the variation of Henry's law constant with water temperature can be taken into account. Both crosscurrent and countercurrent tower configurations are calculated and compared. Regression equations relating the height of a transfer unit and gas and liquid flow rates were developed from pilot and full scale plant data. Detailed capital and operating cost data were taken from the literature. The computed results indicate that for a crossflow tower an optimum gas to liquid ratio is about 1.75, and for counterflow the optimum is at about 4. Relations between the height of the tower, percent removal, cost and influent flow are also examined.
United States colorectal cancer screening practices among American Indians/Alaska Natives, blacks, and non-Hispanic whites in the new millennium (2001 to 2010)

BACKGROUND The objectives of this study were to describe, examine, and compare prevalence estimates of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening practices and to determine whether disparities exist for American Indians/Alaska Natives (AIANs) and blacks compared with whites. METHODS Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2001-2010) data from respondents aged ≥50 years (n = 356,073) were used. The primary outcome was self-reported CRC screening according to US Preventive Services Task Force guidelines for endoscopy (colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy), fecal occult blood test (FOBT), or mixed screening (endoscopy or FOBT). RESULTS From 2001 to 2010, endoscopy screening increased in the AIAN population by 44.8% (P < .001) compared with black respondents (51.7%) and white respondents (26.5%). AIANs were less likely to report endoscopy screening (45%) compared with both blacks (56%) and whites (55%). For mixed CRC screenings, AIAN rates increased by 34.5%, compared with 29.7% for blacks and 15% for whites. In 2010, AIANs (51%) had the lowest prevalence of mixed CRC screening compared with blacks (61%) and whites (60%; P < .001). Factors that enabled health care attenuated the lowered likelihood of CRC screenings, but disparities remained for AIAN CRC screening. In contrast, once enabling factors were controlled, the odds ratios of CRC screening among blacks were higher compared with whites. CONCLUSIONS Between 2001 and 2010, AIANs had the lowest CRC screening rates in the United States compared with blacks and whites, presenting a CRC disparity, as rigorously defined. The current findings indicate that, although considerable progress has been made to increase CRC screening for blacks and whites, progress for AIANs continues to lag behind in the first decade of 21st century. Cancer 2014;120:3192–3299. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
A Latent Dirichlet Framework for Relevance Modeling

Relevance-based language models operate by estimating the probabilities of observing words in documents relevant (or pseudo relevant) to a topic. However, these models assume that if a document is relevant to a topic, then all tokens in the document are relevant to that topic. This could limit model robustness and effectiveness. In this study, we propose a Latent Dirichlet relevance model, which relaxes this assumption. Our approach derives from current research on Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic models. LDA has been extensively explored, especially for discovering a set of topics from a corpus. LDA itself, however, has a limitation that is also addressed in our work. Topics generated by LDA from a corpus are synthetic, i.e., they do not necessarily correspond to topics identified by humans for the same corpus. In contrast, our model explicitly considers the relevance relationships between documents and given topics (queries). Thus unlike standard LDA, our model is directly applicable to goals such as relevance feedback for query modification and text classification, where topics (classes and queries) are provided upfront. Thus although the focus of our paper is on improving relevance-based language models, in effect our approach bridges relevance-based language models and LDA addressing limitations of both.
Interquark potential calculation from Dirac brackets

Abstract We obtain the binding energy of an infinitely heavy quark–antiquark pair from Dirac brackets by computing the expectation value of the pure QCD Hamiltonian. This procedure exploits the rich structure of the dressing around static fermions. Some subtle points related to exhibing explicitly the interquark energy are considered.
Synthesizing Proteins In Vitro by Transcription and Translation of Cloned Genes

Immunoprecipitation is a technique in which an antigen is isolated by binding to a specific antibody attached to a sedimentable matrix. It is also used to analyze protein fractions separated by other biochemical techniques such as gel filtration or density gradient sedimentation. The source of antigen for immunoprecipitation can be unlabeled cells or tissues, metabolically or intrinsically labeled cells, or in vitro-translated proteins. This unit describes a wide range of immunoprecipitation techniques, using either suspension or adherent cells lysed by various means (e.g., with and without detergent, using glass beads, etc.). Flow charts and figures give the user a clear-cut explanation of the options for employing the technology.
Photonically-enabled microwave function generation via tailored distortion

We demonstrate a microwave function generator based on precisely engineering the distortion in a microwave photonic link. By distorting a 5-GHz sinusoid we are able to generate a 5-GHz triangle wave and square pulse train.
Phagocytosis by human eosinophils.

Eosinophils were isolated from the blood of patients with eosinophilia and tested for phagocytic ability. Eosinophils ingested inert polystyrene particles, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus 502A and Candida albicans , but did so less efficiently than neutrophils. They did not phagocytize antibody-coated red cells. Phagocytosis occurred over a broad pH range and in the presence of inhibitors of oxidative metabolism. Inhibitors of glycolysis, puromycin and colchicine inhibited particle ingestion to a variable extent. Metabolic concomitants of phagocytosis, including enhanced incorporation of uridine into RNA, stimulation of glucose oxidation and degranulation and loss of lysosomal enzymes were similar in neutrophils and eosinophils. Endotoxin had similar effects on glucose oxidation by eosinophils and neutrophils in vitro.
Dealing with Mentally Ill Domestic Violence Perpetrators: A New Judicial Model

People suffering from mental illness are increasingly referred to the domestic violence court. Yet the typical diversion programs available, including batterer’s intervention programs, are inappropriate for those with serious mental illness. As a result, the Miami-Dade Domestic Violence Court has developed a new approach for dealing with this population that applies mental health court techniques in domestic violence court. This Article will describe and discuss this pioneering model. It also will situate this model within the context of other problem-solving courts and discuss how the court uses principles and approaches of therapeutic jurisprudence. The paper presents some preliminary data that describe the social and legal characteristics of 20 defendants in the Domestic Violence Mental Health Court followed over a two year period.
Replication and persistence of simian immunodeficiency virus variants after passage in macaque lymphocytes and established human cell lines.

Abstract In lentivirus infections, there are typically few cells in the host that harbor the provirus. For this reason, molecular clones of human and simian immunodeficiency viruses (HIV and SIV) are generally derived after passage and amplification of the virus in cell culture. To determine whether SIV variants that persist in culture are similar to the variants that predominate in the host, we examined the proviral sequence of the SIV envelope (env) gene before and after cocultivation of lymphocytes from a macaque with AIDS with naive macaque lymphocytes or human cell lines. Many of the predominant variants in the monkey replicated and persisted in macaque lymphocytes and CEMx174 cells in culture, but a more limited population of variants replicated in C8166 cells. Passage of virus, harvested after 4 weeks of coculture, onto naive cells further demonstrated that the majority of proviruses detected by polymerase chain reaction were also viral variants that were expressed and packaged into infectious virions.
Effect of Azasterols on Sterol Metabolism in the Laying Hen

Abstract Two azasterol compounds, 20,25-diazacholesterol and U-22,593A (Upjohn Co.) were fed to laying hens and were found to increase egg cholesterol concentration when measured with Pearson’s method at 550 mμ., but reduced cholesterol concentrations were found with this method when measurements were made at 625 mμ. This discrepancy was found to be due to the reaction of sterols other than cholesterol with the reagent used for spectrophotometric analysis in the method. Thin layer chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography revealed that blood and egg yolk from the drug treated hens contained desmosterol, cholesterol, and traces of unidentified sterols while blood and egg yolk from untreated controls contain only cholesterol. Additional experiments with these drugs has shown that desmosterol accumulates in blood and egg yolk at the expense of cholesterol, hence true cholesterol content of eggs from drug treated hens is reduced but it is replaced by another sterol. Levels of 20,25-diazacholestetol and U-22,593A of 1.0 mg./kg. diet or more also reduce egg production and egg size, perhaps by interference with estrogen synthesis from cholesterol. At low levels of drug feeding, egg production is normal but a shift in sterol pattern of the egg yolk is noted. The results indicate that sterol composition of eggs can be altered without interference with reproductive performance.
A forecast of new test capabilities using Magnetic Suspension and Balance Systems

This paper outlines the potential of Magnetic Suspension and Balance System (MSBS) technology to solve existing problems related to support interference in wind tunnels. Improvement of existing test techniques and exciting new techniques are envisioned as a result of applying MSBS. These include improved data accuracy, dynamic stability testing, two-body/stores release testing, and pilot/designer-in-the-loop tests. It also discusses the use of MSBS for testing exotic configurations such as hybrid hypersonic vehicles. A new facility concept that combines features of ballistic tubes, magnetic suspension, and cryogenic tunnels is described.
New clinical method for distinguishing D-IBS from other gastrointestinal conditions causing diarrhea: the LA/IBS diagnostic strategy.

Modern methods of diagnosing diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS) require a “diagnosis of exclusion” approach. In this study we aim to test the diagnostic ability of using the fluctuation of frequency and consistency of bowel patterns in IBS to discriminate it from other causes of diarrhea. Eligible subjects were asked to complete a questionnaire on the changes in form and frequency of bowel habits by time. The primary endpoint was to evaluate the diagnostic effectiveness of having irregularly irregular bowel function and form as more characteristic of IBS versus non-IBS causes. Patients were prospectively recruited from a tertiary care GI clinic. Subjects had to have diarrhea as their primary complaint. In the case of IBS, D-IBS subjects were recruited. Subjects with celiac disease, Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis were recruited for comparison and were categorically called “non-IBS.” Non-IBS subjects could not have a recent history of blood in stool or a history of bowel surgery, fistulae or narcotic use. Sixty-two IBS and 37 non-IBS subjects were recruited. Among the 62 IBS subjects, 49 (79%) stated that their bowel habits varied in form and frequency on a daily basis compared to 35% in non-IBS subjects (OR = 8.9,CI = 3.5–22.5, P < 0.00001). When subjects were compared by the number of different stool forms they had witnessed in the prior week, IBS subjects noted 3.58 ± 0.19 types and non-IBS reported 2.35 ± 0.16 (P < 0.00001). Using ≥3 stool forms per week as a method of discriminating IBS from non-IBS, 50 out of 62 subjects with IBS (81%) reported this greater number of forms compared to 15 out of 37 (41%) non-IBS subjects (sensitivity = 0.81; specificity = 0.60). The use of this simple tool that identifies an irregularly irregular bowel form and function is successful in separating D-IBS from non-IBS subjects.
The cost of hydrogen from coal

Isolation of the hydrogen and oxygen plants from the rest of the liquefaction complex, combined with appropriate transfer costs for all utilities and raw materials has been used to estimate the value of hydrogen. For the five alternatives, minimum cost hydrogen is produced by gasification of coal at 1000 psia. 500 psia gasification of coal yielded slightly more expensive hydrogen; however, on an equivalent mole basis of hydrogen, they were virtually the same. As would be expected, the cost of coal, discount cash flow rate and method of costing supplemental fuel needs were the primary variables affecting the cost of hydrogen. Hydrogen cost ranged from $0·847/1000 standard cubic feet to $2·986/1000 standard cubic feet.
Protein kinases in human breast cancer.

The family of protein kinases includes many oncogenes and growth factor receptors, many of which have been linked to the pathogenesis and progression of cancer. Protein tyrosine kinases such as HER-2/c-erbB-2 and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have been linked specifically to breast cancer, and perturbations of HER-2 affect response to chemotherapy. We have reviewed the biology of protein kinases in human breast cancer, as well as their translational applications to breast cancer patients. We have studied the spectrum of protein kinases expressed in human breast cancer cells and have identified four protein kinases with potentially important functions in breast cancer:rak (src-related), TK5 (which we now designate JAK3), the focal adhesion kinase (FAK), and STK1 (human M015/CAK). We describe the potential significance of these genes in breast cancer, as well as our methodology for identifying and characterizing novel genes in breast cancer.
Hydraulic ram consisting of collapsible vessels.

SummaryA new type of hydraulic ram is described. The apparatus operates without a discharge valve or air chamber, and the fluid providing the energy is completely separated from the fluid being pumped. Factors affecting the efficiency of the system are discussed. The possibility that similar mechanisms in the body may operate to provide a pressure higher than the source is suggested.
Asthmatic Granulomatosis: A New Disease?

A new twist on an old disease? This may be the case with adult severe asthma. Asthma is common, affecting 25 million American adults and children. Despite a reduction in overall mortality over the past decade, asthma still claims the lives of nine patients each day in the United States. Severe asthma represents ~10% of all asthma, yet it incurs the greatest healthcare costs in asthma. In a new study of patients with severe asthma, Wenzel and colleagues attempt to better understand the pathobiology that so dramatically lowers the quality of life in these patients. Wenzel et al. took open-lung biopsies from 19 patients with severe asthma. They found that 10 of these patients had pathology consistent with asthma (goblet cell hyperplasia and eosinophilia) in addition to a new pathologic finding: interstitial inflammation with airway-centric, nonnecrotizing granulomas . Consistent with these subtle lung interstitial abnormalities, at least 5 of the 10 cases had reduced diffusion capacity on lung function testing. The authors were careful to exclude confounding diseases such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis, sarcoidosis, aspiration, and pneumonia, but a majority of the patients had a family or personal history of autoimmune-like diseases. The 10 cases with granulomatous inflammation were then treated with immunosuppressant drugs, including methotrexate, mycophenolic acid, azathioprine, and/or infliximab. Interestingly, 9 of the 10 patients improved or maintained their lung function, with less reliance on systemic corticosteroid treatment. The authors concluded that a subset of severe asthma may manifest this granulomatous pathology and could, therefore, potentially benefit from immunosuppressant medications. This study by Wenzel and colleagues opens doors for further research on the potential autoimmune mechanisms underlying a subset of severe asthma. Moreover, this is an example of “reverse translation,” in which a clinical observation may directly lead to efforts at the bench to better characterize underlying immunologic pathways and to identify biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of severe asthma. If we are lucky, finding this new “twist” may improve the lives of patients who suffer from severe asthma but are not being effectively treated. S. E. Wenzel et al ., Asthmatic granulomatosis: A novel disease with asthmatic and granulomatous features. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med ., 5 July 2012 (10.1164/rccm.201203-0476OC). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/content/early/2012/07/05/rccm.201203-0476OC.long
Phonon dispersion and polar-optical scattering in 2H PbI 2

Theoretical studies of phonon-dispersion curves and the polar-optical scattering process for 2H ${\mathrm{PbI}}_{2}$ are presented. A rigid-ion model with anisotropic effective charges is used to calculate the phonon-dispersion curves. The carrier mobility and its anisotropy due to polar-optical scattering as a function of temperature are calculated. Results are in good agreement with the experimental data.
Do synchronizing temperature shifts inhibit RNA synthesis in Tetrahymena pyriformis

SYNOPSIS The effects of synchronizing temperatures on RNA metabolism in 2 strains of Tetrahymena pyriformis have been studied. High temperature shifts cause degradation of unstable RNA fractions, including whole cell RNA and nuclear RNA. The evidence indicates that this hydrolysis results in a net loss of unstable RNA during each temperature shift and, indirectly, to an inhibition of uptake2 of extra-cellular RNA precursors. The destruction of unstable RNA appears random; no evidence for stable template pools was found. In addition, both indirect in vivo and direct in vitro assays of RNA polymerase activity failed to reveal any inhibition by synchronizing heat shifts. The inhibition of precursor incorporation in vivo apparently stems from a lag in the uptake of label into the intracellular nucleotide pools. The temperature values required to induce net hydrolysis of unstable RNA correlate well with those required for synchronization for each strain.
Donor sex and age influence the chondrogenic potential of human femoral bone marrow stem cells.

Summary Objective Damaged articular cartilage does not heal well and can progress to osteoarthritis (OA). Human bone marrow stem cells (BMC) are promising cells for articular cartilage repair, yet age- and sex-related differences in their chondrogenesis have not been clearly identified. The purpose of this study is to test whether the chondrogenic potential of human femoral BMC varies based on the sex and/or age of the donor. Design BMC were isolated from 21 males (16–82years old (y.o.)) and 20 females (20–77y.o.) during orthopaedic procedures. Cumulative population doubling (CPD) was measured and chondrogenesis was evaluated by standard pellet culture assay in the presence or absence of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1). Pellet area was measured, and chondrogenic differentiation was determined by Toluidine blue and Safranin O-Fast green histological grading using the Bern score and by glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content. Results No difference in CPD was observed due to donor sex or age. The increase in pellet area with addition of TGFβ1 and the Bern score significantly decreased with increasing donor age in male BMC, but not in female BMC. A significant reduction in GAG content per pellet was also observed with increasing donor age in male BMC. This was not observed in female BMC. Conclusions This study showed an age-related decline in chondroid differentiation with TGFβ1 stimulation in male BMC, but not in female BMC. Understanding the mechanisms for these differences will contribute to improved clinical use of autologous BMC for articular cartilage repair, and may lead to the development of customized age- or sex-based treatments to delay or prevent the onset of OA.
Impact of Surface Modification on Binding Affinity Distributions of Datura innoxia Biomass to Metal Ions

Datura innoxia biomass has previously been targeted as a promising sorbent for heavy metal reclamation and remediation. Although the metal sequestering capabilities of biomaterials have been known, a general inability to accurately predict their binding characteristics has been a barrier to their implementation in remediation schemes. Of interest in our laboratory are the binding mechanisms as well as basic chemistry involved in the metal uptake of the material derived from fragments of cell walls from cultured cells from the plant D. innoxia. Previous studies have suggested the dependency of lead-ion affinity distributions of the biomaterial upon solution variables (i.e., ionic strength, pH) to be the result of two classes of binding sites: low-affinity sites involving sulfonates and carboxylates in an ion-exchange process and high-affinity sites resulting from the coordination of carboxylates to the metal. This hypothesis has been further investigated by the removal of the dominant functionality on the...
A demand-driven analyzer for data flow testing at the integration level

Data-flow testing relies on static analysis for computing the definition-use pairs that serve as the test case requirements for a program. When testing large programs, the individual procedures are first tested in isolation during unit testing. Integration testing is performed to specifically test the procedure interfaces. The procedures in a program are integrated and tested in several steps. Since each integration step requires data-flow analysis to determine the new test requirements, the accumulated cost of repeatedly analyzing a program can contribute considerably to the overhead of testing. Data-flow analysis is typically computed using an exhaustive approach or by using incremental data-flow updates. This paper presents a new and more efficient approach to data-flow integration testing that is based on demand-driven analysis. We developed and implemented a demand-driven analyzer and experimentally compared its performance during integration testing with the performance of (i) a traditional exhaustive analyzer, and (ii) an incremental analyzer. Our experiments show that demand-driven analysis is faster than exhaustive analysis by up to a factor of 25. The demand-driven analyzer also outperforms the incremental analyzer in 80% of the test programs by up to a factor of 5.
Ogilvie's syndrome in the surgical patient: a new therapeutic modality.

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction, Ogilvie’s syndrome, most often appears as a complication of other clinical conditions. It is characterized by massive colonic dilation in the absence of a mechanical cause. Therapy for this condition has traditionally been colonoscopic decompression via a flexible colonoscope. We performed a retrospective study to assess the efficacy of Cystografin enema for colonic decompression in Ogilvie’s syndrome. We present a series of 18 patients who developed Ogilvie’s syndrome while hospitalized for trauma (n = 10), burn (n = 1), gastrointestinal surgery (n = 4), and hip replacement (n = 3). The mean pre-enema cecal size was 13 cm (range 10 to 15 cm). The mean postenema cecal size was 8.5 cm (range 6 to 15 cm). Fifteen of the 18 patients underwent Cystografin enema as the primary mode of decompression. Three had undergone prior colonoscopy, which had failed. One of the 18 patients required repeat enema for inadequate decompression after the first enema and one underwent colonoscopy for recurrence. Two patients underwent operative intervention after the enema. There were no complications related to the enema. In all patients we were able to rule out a mechanical cause of large bowel obstruction. We believe the safety, efficacy, and ease of this procedure make Cystografin enema optimal firstline treatment for acute colonic pseudo-obstruction.
STUDY OF (p,xn) REACTIONS AT 400 MeV.

Cross sections for a number of ($p,xn$) reactions ($1\ensuremath{\le}x\ensuremath{\le}4$) at 400 MeV are reported. The excitation function for the ${\mathrm{Ge}}^{72}(p,xn){\mathrm{As}}^{73\ensuremath{-}x}$ system was measured between 100 and 400 MeV. The data are compared with the results of Monte Carlo cascade (Vegas) calculations and evaporation calculations. The experimental dependence of the ${\mathrm{As}}^{75}(p,xn){\mathrm{Se}}^{76\ensuremath{-}x}$ cross sections on $x$ did not agree well with the results of these calculations, although the Vegas step calculations reproduced the shape of this dependence. The cross-section data are consistent with a mechanism involving charge-exchange $p\ensuremath{-}n$ scatterings, within the target nucleus, followed by the evaporation of $x\ensuremath{-}1$ neutrons. The ratio of $\ensuremath{\sigma}(p,2n)$ to $\ensuremath{\sigma}(p,n)$ was found to be approximately linear with the quantity $\frac{E_{{T}_{z}}^{}{}_{}{}^{*}}{{S}_{n}}$. This quantity is the ratio of the excitation energy obtained if the isobaric analog state of the target is populated via the ($p,n$) reaction, to the neutron separation energy. On the basis of the postulated mechanism, the propability for charge-exchange scattering as a function of excitation energy was obtained for ${\mathrm{Y}}^{89}$ and ${\mathrm{Te}}^{126}$.
Empirical Bayes Approach for Estimating Urban Deer-Vehicle Crashes Using Police and Maintenance Records

Deer-vehicle crashes are a growing problem in Iowa where deer-vehicle crashes represent 13% of all crashes reported. In 2009, these crashes resulted in nine fatalities and 451 injuries in the state. Deer-vehicle crashes are a problem even in urban areas of Iowa. It is known that deer-vehicle crashes are typically underreported. To address this underreporting, deer carcass salvage reports may be used to augment deer-vehicle crash reports. The objective of this paper is to exploit two sources of deer-vehicle crash data using a statistically reliable assessment methodology, empirical Bayes, to assess the potential for safety improvement of 150 urban highway sections in Iowa. Reconciliation of records to reduce double counting is discussed and a negative binomial regression model of deer-vehicle crash frequency as a function of roadway and environmental factors is estimated. The 25 most promising segments for deer-vehicle crash countermeasures are identified, mostly located on high-speed roadways, roadway segments with gravel right shoulders, and segments adjacent to grasslands. The methodology facilitates the identification of locations for countermeasure implementation as well as monitoring deer-vehicle crash trends.
A top-down approach to the analysis of behavioural organization*

Douglas & Tweed (1979) stated that although the best method for analysing behavioural organization would be to use a top-down approach such an approach was unrealistic. This paper defines and describes a realistic top-down approach. A top-down approach is one in which the whole system is described first, subunits of the system are identified empirically and then are analysed in turn. Top-down analysis of the organization of a behavioural system involves the use of a complete record ( Slater, 1978 ), and three complementary types of analysis: sequence analysis, serial correlation analysis, and spectral analysis. Examples of the latter two types of analysis applied to jellyfish swimming behaviour are given. The top-down approach, while labourious in the case of complex systems, is workable and thorough.
Polyglucosan body axonal enlargement increases myelin spiral length but not lamellar number

Abstract The area of the unrolled myelin sheet of internodes of myelinated fibers (MF) of peripheral nerve is thought to be determined by axonal caliber and internodal length. We studied the effect of a focal increase of axonal caliber due to the deposition of polyglucosan bodies (PGB), amylopectin-like glucose polymers, on number of myelin lamellae (NL), interlamellar distance (periodicity), and myelin spiral length (MSL) from a sural nerve biopsy specimen of a patient with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. Axonal area, NL, periodicity, and MSL were estimated within internodes of MF above, at, and below PGB. The axon caliber at the level of the PGB was significantly ( P ) increased when the PGB was included. At the PGB, NL and their periodicity were not significantly different from those above or below the PGB. The MSL was significantly longer overlying the PGB than it was in the same internode above or below the PGB. Because slippage or stretching of the myelin sheath as well as movement of molecular constituents of myelin is not likely over large distances, localized biosynthesis and assembly of new myelin may explain this increase of MSL.
Multi-waveform STAP

A new form of Space-Time Adaptive Processing (STAP) is introduced that is amenable to the simultaneous transmission of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) emissions from an airborne/space-based platform. Denoted as Multi-Waveform STAP (MuW-STAP or simply μ-STAP), this receive scheme incorporates new sources of training data for the STAP sample covariance matrix through the use of “orthogonal” waveforms optimized for use on a physical system. This additional training data improves robustness to both heterogeneous clutter and target contamination of training data, and also reduces the false alarms that would otherwise occur due to residual clutter.
Replies and reflections on theology and business ethics

In presenting business ethics as a field of philo sophical research and in characterizing four theological approaches to moral issues in busi ness, I attempted to solicit from theologians their views of business ethics and their ideas of the unique contribution theologians might make to the field. The responses show that contemporary theology is broader, richer, more diverse, and less traditional than my characterization indi cates. But if theology is taken so broadly that it includes all commitments to values, then it includes much that has been traditionally con sidered philosophy. Such a broad view of theology erases the distinction between much of philosophy and theology. It thus dissolves the question of whether theology has any unique contribution to make to business ethics. Philosophers will generally deny the extension of the theological domain to include philosophy. Nor do most of the papers in this symposium accept this assimilation of philosophy by theology. A few of the papers also reject any attempt to equate all rational approaches to ethics with philosophy, leaving for theology only revelation and perhaps a-rational approaches to ethics. They correctly insist that reason has a role in theology ? a claim that I do not deny. None of the papers asserts that there is a separate field of theological business ethics. All implicitly deny that there is a separate field of philosophical business ethics. Whether or not the individual authors believe there is a field of business ethics at all is difficult to determine. Professor Camenish mounts the clearest attack on my claims about the field of business ethics and about the role of philosophers in that field. His paper helps point up some of the differences as well as some of the similarities between our positions. Hence it is to his paper that I turn first.
Follicular Thyroglobulin Suppresses Iodide Uptake by Suppressing Expression of the Sodium/Iodide Symporter Gene

A major function of the thyrocyte is to take up and concentrate iodide. This is needed for thyroid hormone synthesis and is accomplished by the sodium iodide symporter (NIS), whose expression and activity are up-regulated by TSH. Recently, we reported that follicular thyroglobulin (TG) is a potent suppressor of thyroid-specific gene expression and can overcome TSH-increased gene expression. We suggested this might be a negative feedback, autoregulatory mechanism that counterbalanced TSH stimulation of follicular function. In this report, we support this hypothesis by coordinately evaluating TG regulation of NIS gene expression and iodide transport. We show that physiological concentrations of TG similarly and significantly suppress TSH-increased NIS promoter activity, NIS protein, and NIS-dependent iodide uptake as well as RNA levels. We show, in vivo, that TG accumulation at the apical membrane of a thyrocyte facing the follicular lumen is associated with decreased uptake of radioiodide. It is likely, th...
Surficial Faults Along the Missouri River: ABSTRACT

A fault system is described that is located in Armstrong County in central South Dakota. Superficially it is similar to the system described by Hollinger in the Ironstone district in England. The fault spacing is fairly close, the displacement usually small and the individual faults are commonly upthrown toward the Missouri River. The Ironstone faults were ascribed to the tilting of vertically jointed blocks toward the valleys under the influence of gravity. As some of the faults in the South Dakota area are fifteen miles from the major stream valley the force developed by gravity would not seem adequate. If these faults are surficial the writer suggests that a tangential stress may have been stored in the rocks since the folding of the Lemmon syncline and that the cuttin of the rivers relieved these stresses permitting the adjacent rocks to move toward the valleys. Because relief would be easier near the surface there would be a tilting of joint blocks toward the river with a small fault displacement at each joint. A weak point in this mechanism is that there is some evidence suggesting that the faults extend below the bed of the Missouri River. End_of_Article - Last_Page 965------------
Conflict Resolution Perspectives on Civil Wars in the Horn of Africa

In conclusion, in order to find resolutions to the conflicts of the Horn of Africa, one needs to pay as much attention to the process as one does to content and substance. A paradoxical situation exists in civil wars, where there are no courts to declare who is right and wrong or where force cannot be the final arbiter. The paradox is that conflict parties need the cooperation of their adversaries in order to win. This means that refined argumentation to prove the rightness of a position (this is what I mean by content or substance) is not enough to get what one wants. People must be equally concerned about how to present their positions in a way that their adversaries can hear them, and become motivated to act in the manner they want. This is what I call process and this is what determines the success of negotiations, or for that matter, even discussions between various scholars who represent different sides of the conflict in the Horn. And this is where I feel the position versus interest distinction is helpful. Therefore, the challenge that this article poses to all conflict parties, citizens, nationals, and/or concerned participants is to focus on the common interests and overarching mutual goals that bind them, and allow such a focus to guide the route they take to handle the civil wars in the Horn of Africa.
Detector Depth Dependence of the High Energy Neutrino Flux

Detector depth can influence the decay path length available for the primary and secondary particles that are the source of atmospheric neutrinos. As a consequence there is a location dependent modulation to the neutrino flux, which could be as large as 5-10% in some directions.
On an interval-arithmetic matrix method

Hansen and Smith have proposed a method for solving linear algebraic systems with interval coefficients which produces good results if the intervals are narrow. In this paper we show that the error of their method isO(W 2), whereW is the width of the set of coefficients. The effects of round-off errors are not considered.
Differences in Na and Ca Spikes As Examined by Application of Tetrodotoxin, Procaine, and Manganese Ions

The effects of tetrodotoxin, procaine, and manganese ions were examined on the Ca spike of the barnacle muscle fiber injected with Ca-binding agent as well as on the action potential of the ventricular muscle fiber of the frog heart. Although tetrodotoxin and procaine very effectively suppress the "Na spike" of other tissues, no suppressing effects are found on "Ca spike" of the barnacle fiber, while the initiation of the Ca spike is competitively inhibited by manganese ions. The initial rate of rise of the ventricular action potential is suppressed by tetrodotoxin and procaine but the plateau phase of the action potential is little affected. In contrast the suppressing effect of manganese ions is mainly on the plateau phase. The results suggest that the plateau phase of the ventricular action potential is related to the conductance increase in the membrane to Ca ions even though Na conductance change may also contribute to the plateau.
The Probability That a Randomly Generated Quadratic Is Factorable

(2004). The Probability That a Randomly Generated Quadratic Is Factorable. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 77, No. 5, pp. 390-392.