cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 5414: Epigenetic age acceleration and chronic health conditions among adult survivors of childhood cancer: A report from the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort

Background: The epigenetic clock becomes an important biomarker in aging research, where epigenetic age (EA) approximates chronological age with high accuracy and epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) demonstrates superior performance in predicting health outcomes in the general population. The utility of EAA among adult survivors of childhood cancer is largely unknown. We aimed to compare EAA between childhood cancer survivors and non-cancer controls, and evaluate associations between EAA, treatment exposures, health behaviors, and chronic health conditions (CHCs) among survivors. Methods: Genome-wide methylation data were generated with Infinium EPIC BeadChip on blood derived DNA from 2139 survivors and 282 community controls with no prior history of cancer. EAA was estimated as the residual value from the fit of a simple linear regression of EA (using Levine9s clock) on chronological age (i.e., age at DNA sampling). Cumulative doses of chemotherapy and region-specific radiation exposures were abstracted from medical records. Health behaviors including physical activity, diet, tobacco smoking, and alcohol consumption were assessed from questionnaires and categorized as favorable, intermediate and unfavorable. Multivariable piecewise-exponential regression model was employed to evaluate associations of EAA with 59 clinically assessed CHCs. Results: EA was highly correlated with chronological age with the same Pearson coefficient (r = 0.88) in survivors and controls; however, EAA was significantly higher in survivors than controls, overall (adjusted least square mean [ALSM] = 0.63 vs. -3.61 years, P Conclusion: EAA is significantly higher in childhood cancer survivors than non-cancer controls and is associated with treatment exposures, health behaviors, and CHCs. Clinically, EAA may inform intervention strategies including health coaching to prevent or delay the onset of CHCs among survivors of childhood cancer. Citation Format: Na Qin, Zhenghong Li, Nan Song, John Easton, Heather Mulder, Emily Plyler, Geoffery Neale, Emily Walker, Carmen L. Wilson, Melissa M. Hudson, Yutaka Yasui, Leslie L. Robison, Jinghui Zhang, Kirsten K. Ness, Zhaoming Wang. Epigenetic age acceleration and chronic health conditions among adult survivors of childhood cancer: A report from the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 5414.
Cardiac Troponin for Assessment of Myocardial Injury in COVID-19: JACC Review Topic of the Week.

Increases in cardiac troponin indicative of myocardial injury are common in patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and are associated with adverse outcomes such as arrhythmias and death. These increases are more likely to occur in those with chronic cardiovascular conditions and in those with severe COVID-19 presentations. The increased inflammatory, prothrombotic, and procoagulant responses following severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection increase the risk for acute nonischemic myocardial injury and acute myocardial infarction, particularly type 2 myocardial infarction, because of respiratory failure with hypoxia and hemodynamic instability in critically ill patients. Myocarditis, stress cardiomyopathy, acute heart failure, and direct injury from SARS-CoV-2 are important etiologies, but primary noncardiac conditions, such as pulmonary embolism, critical illness, and sepsis, probably cause more of the myocardial injury. The structured use of serial cardiac troponin has the potential to facilitate risk stratification, help make decisions about when to use imaging, and inform stage categorization and disease phenotyping among hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
A statewide approach to inservice training for teachers of the mentally retarded.

The SECDC inservice training program for teachers of the mentally retarded uses experienced special class teachers as inservice educators. These “consulting teachers” are trained to conduct monthly...
The Decentralization of American Art Diplomacy in the Early and Mid-20th Century

During the Cold War period, the scope of the “culture” presented in public diplomacy was vastly broad, and not all genres of arts, culture, and education were valued with the same weight. For each ...
A review of the StimRouter® peripheral neuromodulation system for chronic pain management.

The StimRouter® peripheral nerve stimulation system created by Bioness, Inc., (CA, USA) is US FDA-approved for the treatment of peripheral mononeuropathy refractory to conservative medical management. StimRouter is a minimally invasive system that utilizes a subcutaneously implanted lead with integrated anchor and electrodes, and an external pulse generator to produce peripheral neuromodulation and achieve pain relief. Multiple published clinical trials reviewed here have shown the StimRouter system to have a high margin of safety, differentiating it from other existing peripheral neuromodulation systems requiring open surgical electrode placement and implantable pulse generators. These studies have also shown the StimRouter system to be efficacious in the treatment of multiple peripheral mononeuropathies; improving patient pain, activity levels and quality of life. StimRouter represents a feasible option for management of chronic peripheral mononeuropathy.
From Compassionate Use to Phase 3 Trial: The Impact of Germany’s PSMA-617 Literature (perspective on “German Multicenter Study Investigating 177Lu-PSMA-617 Radioligand Therapy in Advanced Prostate Cancer Patients” J Nucl Med. 2017;58:85–90)

Targeted radionuclide therapy has been progressing over decades, and although the approval of 177Lu-DOTATATE brought a new focus on targeted radionuclide therapies, it is the development of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)–targeted therapeutics that has brought the most attention to the
Passively Scattered Proton Therapy for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer with Clinical Perineural Invasion.

Purpose To report our experience with the delivery of passively scattered proton therapy in the management of nonmelanoma skin cancers with clinical perineural invasion. Materials and Methods We reviewed the medical records of patients who received definitive or postoperative proton therapy for nonmelanoma skin cancer with clinical perineural invasion at our institution and updated patient follow-up when possible. All patients were treated with curative intent with or without the delivery of concurrent systemic therapy. We report disease control rates and the rates of late toxicity among this cohort. Results Twenty-six patients treated between 2008 and 2017 were included in the analysis. Following proton therapy, the 3-year overall, cause-specific, and disease-free survival rates were 59%, 73%, and 60%, respectively. The 3-year local control, local regional control, and distant metastasis-free survival rates were 80%, 65%, and 96%, respectively. On univariate analysis, surgical resection before radiation therapy significantly improved local regional control rates at 3 years (55% versus 86%; P = .04). Grade 3+ late toxicities occurred in 13 patients (50%) and the most common toxicities included grade 3+ keratitis of the ipsilateral eye, which occurred in 4 patients (15%) and grade 3+ brain necrosis in 4 patients (15%). Conclusion Proton therapy is effective in the management of nonmelanoma skin cancer with clinical perineural invasion. Although disease control and complication rates compare favorably to those previously published for photon-based radiation therapy, the risk for late toxicity is significant and patients should be appropriately counseled.
Modal Decomposition of the Linear Swing Equation in Networks With Symmetries

Symmetries are widespread in physical, technological, biological, and social systems and networks, including power grids. The swing equation is a classic model for the dynamics of powergrid networks. The main goal of this paper is to explain how network symmetries affect the swing equation transient and steady state dynamics. We introduce a modal decomposition that allows us to study transient effects, such as the presence of overshoots in the system response. This modal decomposition provides insight into the peak flows within the network lines and allows a rigorous characterization of the effects of symmetries in the network topology on the dynamics. Our work applies to both cases of homogeneous and heterogeneous parameters. Further, the model is used to show how small perturbations propagate in networks with symmetries. Finally, we present an application of our approach to a large power grid network that displays symmetries.
The Effect of Product Market Competition on Corporate Voluntary Disclosure Decisions

This paper investigates empirically the effect of different types of product market competition on levels of voluntary disclosure of proprietary information in financial markets. Firms, considering a disclosure, trade off attaining financial market valuation-related benefits vs. protecting long-term product market advantage. Based on economic theory, I propose that there are two types of strategic interaction settings relevant to disclosure: Capacity competition drives firms to disclose more; price competition drives them to disclose less. When firms are competing on capacities, firms disclose more information to lower the cost of capital needed for capital investments. In contrast, when firms are competing on prices, they disclose less information because proprietary costs are high and the benefit from any decreased cost of capital is low due to less acute need for additional capital. By estimating the signs of the slope of reaction curves to identify the type of competition facing firms in oligopoly markets, I find that the type of product market competition affects the level of voluntary disclosure over and above what pervious literature has documented as the firm's external financing needs. That is, firms engaged in capacity competition disclose relatively more information than firms engaged in price competition. Further analysis after including as benchmarks firms with no strategic interaction, shows that capacity competition firms disclose more information than no-strategic-interaction firms but that price competition firms do not disclose less information than no-strategic-interaction firms.
The recovery of polymerization grade aconitic acid from sugarcane molasses

BACKGROUND Aconitic acid (propene-1, 2, 3- tricarboxylic acid) is the most prevalent organic acid found in sugar cane. It is used in the food processing industry as an acidulant and can be used in the synthesis of plasticizers. It can also be used to synthesize biodegradable polyesters for tissue engineering applications. In this study, aconitic acid was isolated from sugarcane molasses via liquid–liquid extraction with ethyl acetate. Six combinations of time and temperature (1–6 h at either 30 or 40°C) were tested. In order to conserve solvent, ethyl acetate was recovered and reused for subsequent extractions. The recovery of aconitic acid from vinasse was also evaluated. RESULTS Under the most efficient set of conditions, 69% of the aconitic acid was recovered as free acid. The purity (HPLC) of the extracted acid was found to be 99.9%. Ethanol was an additional stream that was generated by fermentation of molasses and yields of 12.4% (g per 100 g of molasses) were obtained. CONCLUSION The yield of aconitic acid from molasses varied from 34–69%, depending on the extraction conditions, with purity of the extracted acid being 99.9%. The aconitic acid is of a quality sufficient to synthesize polymers that could realize high-value in biomedical applications. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Diagnosis of Track Forecast Errors for Tropical Cyclone Rita (2005) Using GEFS Reforecasts

AbstractAnalysis and diagnosis of the track forecasts for Tropical Cyclone (TC) Rita (2005) from the Global Ensemble Forecast System (GEFS) reforecast dataset is presented. The operational numerical weather prediction guidance and GEFS reforecasts initialized at 0000 UTC 20–22 September 2005, 2–4 days prior to landfall, were all characterized by a persistent left-of-track error. The numerical guidance indicated a significant threat of landfall for the Houston, Texas, region on 24 September. The largest mass evacuation in U.S. history was ordered, with the evacuation resulting in more fatalities than TC Rita itself. TC Rita made landfall along the Texas–Louisiana coastal zone on 24 September. This study utilizes forecasts from the GEFS reforecast and a high-resolution regional reforecast. The regional reforecast was generated using the Advanced Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting Model (AHW) with the GEFS reforecasts providing the initial and boundary conditions. The results show that TC Rita’s trac...
CHANGES IN TERMINAL RESPIRATORY PATHWAYS OF INTACT CELLS OF BACILLUS CEREUS AT VARIOUS STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

Goldman, Manuel (The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor), and Harold J. Blumenthal. Changes in terminal respiratory pathways of intact cells of Bacillus cereus at various stages of development. J. Bacteriol. 87:387–390. 1964.—The conversion of glucose-6-C14 to C14O2 was used as the indicator of terminal respiration. Resting suspensions of cells that had completed their first division exhibited little terminal respiratory activity, whereas cells that had completed eight to nine divisions exhibited maximal activity. Intermediate values were obtained for resting-cell suspensions at developmental stages between the first and eighth divisions. Growing cells at all stages oxidized considerably less glucose-6-C14 to C14O2 than did comparable resting cells. Terminal respiration was demonstrable in resting cells harvested from a growth medium still containing relatively large amounts of glucose.
Beyond Boomer Meets NextGen: Examining Mentoring Practices among Pennsylvania Academic Librarians

Abstract A survey to assess mentoring experiences and attitudes towards work of Pennsylvania academic librarians was conducted in September 2006 with questions concerning mentoring experiences, work experiences, and attitudes towards work. Results of the survey are analyzed for differences among those librarians responding, especially generational differences, and implications for professional associations when developing mentoring programs are discussed.
Gas-phase reactions during CVD synthesis of carbon nanotubes: Insights via numerical experiments

A series of computational calculations to understand the gas-phase reactions of xylene, a typical feedstock for carbon nanotubes, were conducted. A xylene reaction model was combined with a soot formation model, allowing us to calculate the detailed xylene pyrolysis reactions as well as the growth of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and soot. The model was validated against soot formation experiments that were conducted by other researchers under the conditions similar to CVD nanotube synthesis; their experimental results confirmed the computed soot yield and soot surface area to be reasonable. Our calculations showed that xylene and toluene were the major gas-phase species at temperatures lower than 973 K, implying that nanotubes were formed through the interaction between catalyst and xylene and/or toluene at these temperatures. At higher temperatures, however, a considerable amount of acetylene was found which likely enhances the growth of PAHs and soot as evidenced at 1373 K.
Investigating public health emergency response information system initiatives in China.

Abstract Infectious diseases pose a great danger to public health internationally. The outbreak of SARS has exposed China’s fragile public health system and its limited ability to detect and respond to emergencies in a timely and effective manner. In order to strengthen its capability of responding to future public health emergencies, China is developing a public health emergency response information system (PHERIS) to facilitate disease surveillance, detection, reporting, and response. The purpose of this study is to investigate the ongoing development of China’s PHERIS. This paper analyzes the problems of China’s existing public health system and describes the design and functionalities of PHERIS from both technical and managerial aspects.
Communication and social growth: a developmental model of social behavior in deaf children.

ABSTRACT A cognitive developmental model for the social interaction and behavior of deaf children is proposed. This model takes into account reports of high-frequency behavioral and social problems manifested by deaf children. Emphasis is placed on the role of language in the development of social perceptions and interactions. Problems of social interaction are attributed to the delayed language development of some deaf children. Implications for intervention strategies are discussed (Ear Hear 12 5:320-327).
Workshop on the Sun as a variable star

The main objectives of International Astronomical Union Colloquium 143, “The Sun as a Variable Star: Solar and Stellar Irradiance Variations,” were to review recent observations, theoretical interpretations, and empirical and physical models of the variations observed in solar and stellar irradiances and Sun-climate connections. Held in Boulder, Colo., June 20–25, 1993, the colloquium was sponsored by IAU Commission 10, cosponsored by IAU Commissions 12, 27, 29, and 44, and hosted by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Environment Laboratory. The cosponsoring International Council of Scientific Unions organizations were the Committee on Space Research, the International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics, and the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy.
Le « loukachisme » ou le populisme autoritaire en Biélorussie

Le « loukachisme » est un terme utilise par les opposants au regime politique en Bielorussie pour condamner les origines personnelles du modele politique du president Loukachenko elu en 1994. Le concept de « populisme autoritaire » utilise dans l’article cherche a rompre avec une analyse centree sur la personnalite et avec une approche culturaliste qui cherche dans les fondements culturels du peuple bielorusse une explication a la particularite de son organisation sociale et politique. Les mecanismes de pouvoir en Bielorussie dans les annees 1990 reposent sur le populisme comme mode de legitimation de discours et de pratiques autoritaires. Le populisme autoritaire ainsi defini est analyse suivant trois axes : la domination charismatique dans son rapport au culte de la personnalite durant la periode sovietique ; la depreciation des formes de mediation institutionnelles et politiques ; et la personnalisation de l’activite politique par l’individualisation des postes de pouvoir et l’omnipotence des decrets.
Expressions of Intentions

A characterization of the distinctive features of expressions and confessions of intention is now in order. Two kinds of cases are prominent. First, there are those in which an agent expresses, avows or accepts a further intention in acting. Anscombe’s example remains useful: In operating a pump a man may be replenishing a water supply, and while it is true that the supply of water is being replenished, he is up to poisoning the inhabitants whose water it is, since he is pumping water with the further intention of poisoning the inhabitants. Or, another case of the same kind, in speaking to another person, one may be offending him, or although he was offended, the speaker only had in mind giving him some information. The man poisoning the inhabitants or giving some information may express, confess, avow, acknowledge or accept the attribution of such an intention; his language, if he uses any, will typically have a past reference, ‘I did it (was doing it) to poison them,’ or ‘I said it to inform him.’ Expressions of intention are used here to explain what was done, to put the agent’s truthful view of it in the right light. Truthfulness here depends on the fact that the agent intended to do what he now expresses as the intention with which he acted.
Isotope shifts in methane near 6000 cm−1

Isotope shifts for well resolved vibration‐rotation spectra of 12CH4 and 13CH4 in the 6000 cm−1 region are reported. (AIP).
Emergent Biogeography of Microbial Communities in a Model Ocean

A marine ecosystem model seeded with many phytoplankton types, whose physiological traits were randomly assigned from ranges defined by field and laboratory data, generated an emergent community structure and biogeography consistent with observed global phytoplankton distributions. The modeled organisms included types analogous to the marine cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus. Their emergent global distributions and physiological properties simultaneously correspond to observations. This flexible representation of community structure can be used to explore relations between ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles, and climate change.
An unfortunate resurgence of human chorionic gonadotropin use for weight loss

Some 55 years ago, English physician ATW Simeons1 proposed to treat obesity by administering human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Simeons’ protocol involves a combination of up to 6 weeks of a daily low-dose hCG injection and a very-low-calorie-diet (500 kcal per day). Early hCG clinical trials showed mixed results for weight loss; however, in recent decades several randomized controlled trials demonstrated that hCG was no better than placebo, and experts concluded that hCG has no merit for weight loss.2 Thus, the use of hCG for weight loss is discouraged by legitimate clinicians who treat obese patients.3
The cost of leg forces in bipedal locomotion: a simple optimization study

Simple optimization models show that bipedal locomotion may largely be governed by the mechanical work performed by the legs, minimization of which can automatically discover walking and running gaits. Work minimization can reproduce broad aspects of human ground reaction forces, such as a double-peaked profile for walking and a single peak for running, but the predicted peaks are unrealistically high and impulsive compared to the much smoother forces produced by humans. The smoothness might be explained better by a cost for the force rather than work produced by the legs, but it is unclear what features of force might be most relevant. We therefore tested a generalized force cost that can penalize force amplitude or its n-th time derivative, raised to the p-th power (or p-norm), across a variety of combinations for n and p. A simple model shows that this generalized force cost only produces smoother, human-like forces if it penalizes the rate rather than amplitude of force production, and only in combination with a work cost. Such a combined objective reproduces the characteristic profiles of human walking (R2 = 0.96) and running (R2 = 0.92), more so than minimization of either work or force amplitude alone (R2 = −0.79 and R2 = 0.22, respectively, for walking). Humans might find it preferable to avoid rapid force production, which may be mechanically and physiologically costly.
Antimicrobial properties of testosterone and its intermediates.

Testosterone, epiandrosterone, dehydroisoandrosterone and androsterone have been examinedin vitro for antibacterial activity againstStaphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Listeria monocytogenes, Streptococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Alcaligenes faecalis, andSalmonella paratyphy. Turbidimetric and manometric techniques were used to assay the antibacterial activity of the above androgens. Antibacterial action was shown by epiandrosterone and dehydroisoandrosterone only against the gram-positive microorganisms when they were grown in tryptic soy broth containing 10 to 20µg of hormone per ml. The oxidation of pyruvate in the presence of 20µg/ml of epiandrosterone and dehydroisoandrosterone gave lower Qo2 than in the absence of the hormones. In the presence of 20µg per ml of culture medium and under anaerobic conditions, testosterone and androsterone also possessed antistaphylococcal activity. In vivo tests indicate that a dose ofS. aureus twice as large was required to produce skin lesions in 50% of 6-month-old male rabbits given subcutaneously a total of 30µg of testosterone over a period of 2 weeks than in control animals. Furthermore, the size of erythema surrounding the site of injection of staphylococci or staphylococcal alpha toxin was significantly smaller in the testosterone-treated rabbits than in the control. Thus, androgens may influence resistance to furunculosis.
Afrocentric tokens: Afrocentric methodology in rhetorical analysis

Popular and academic debates on Afrocentricity have been prevalent for the past 16 years. What is significantly absent from the debates on Afrocentricity is the methodological aspect that should assist scholars in using Afrocentric approaches in the analysis of rhetorical communication. This article provides Afrocentric methodological tools for the rhetorical analysis of African American and diaspora discourse in the forms of Afrocentric tokens. Two schools of thought—nativistic and emigrationist—are introduced as the most suitable contexts for the analysis of African American and diaspora public address applying the tokens as yardstick. Concrete examples in both schools of thought on how the function of tokens in rhetorical discourses are provided.
Targeting notch pathway enhances rapamycin antitumor activity in pancreas cancers through PTEN phosphorylation

Background Pancreas cancer is one of most aggressive human cancers with the survival rate for patients with metastatic pancreas cancer at 5-6 months. The poor survival demonstrates a clear need for better target identification, drug development and new therapeutic strategies. Recent discoveries have shown that the role for Notch pathway is important in both development and cancer. Its contribution to oncogenesis also involves crosstalks with other growth factor pathways, such as Akt and its modulator, PTEN. The mounting evidence supporting a role for Notch in cancer promotion and survival suggests that targeting this pathway alone or in combination with other therapeutics represents a promising therapeutic strategy.
OR parallel execution of Prolog programs with side effects

With the growing availability of multiprocessors, a great deal of attention has been given to executing Prolog in parallel. A question that naturally arises is how to execute standard sequential Prolog programs with side effects in parallel. The problem of performing side effects in AND parallel systems has been considered elsewhere. This paper presents a method that generates sequential semantics of side effect predicates in an OR parallel system. First, a general method is given for performing data side effects such as read and write. This method is then extended to control side effects such as asserta, assertz, and retract. Finally, a constant-time algorithm for performing cut is presented.
The predictive power of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol for coronary calcification

Abstract Background: Chronic elevation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is a major risk factor for developing atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation and predictive power of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol for calcified atheromatous disease as measured by electron beam computed tomography. Methods: Six-thousand and ninety-three subjects underwent electron beam computed tomography of their coronary arteries, serum lipid testing, body fat determination and assessment of health status by questionnaire. Predictive power of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol for calcified atherosclerotic plaque was determined by correlations and multivariate logistic regression. Results: The correlation between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and calcified plaque score was very modest ( r =0.055, P P Conclusions: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is weakly correlated with and predictive of calcified atherosclerotic plaque burden as measured by electron beam computed tomography. Higher levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol are associated with increased risk for the presence of calcified atheromas.
Female sexual behavior in the absence of male‐male competition in captive Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata)

A captive group of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). consisting of one adult male and three adult females, was observed for 88 hr during the 1988 mating season. We focused on the group's sexual activities because understanding how social dynamics affect reproductive behavior may enhance our ability to establish self-sustaining captive populations. The adult male exhibited distinct preferences in copulation partners, although all females were receptive and cycled during the study period. The dominant female participated in the most copulations and successfully harassed and disrupted copulations between the male and the other females. The alpha female, therefore, actively constrained the formation of mating pairs. Further, the male did not consort with his year-round female grooming partner. This female, the least dominant member of the group, engaged in the most autosexual and homosexual behavior. Birth season data show that only the dominant female bore offspring. This study emphasizes the influence of social dynamics on a group's reproductive potential and suggests an alternative means by which females can influence consort formation.
An improved respiratory system for curarized rats

A respiratory system is described in which peak expired CO2 is continuously monitored from curarized rats. Another alteration from previous systems is that an endotracheal tube is used to minimize dead air space. The adequacy of the system was tested by maintaining curarized rats at one level of peak expired CO2 for varying periods of time and by keeping rats at different peak expired CO2 levels for a fixed period of time. Results of blood gas analyses indicated that values obtained with this system are similar to values in noncurarized rats, and that manipulation of expired CO2 is an effective means of altering blood gas values.
Are venous thromboembolic events associated with subsequent breast and colorectal carcinoma diagnoses in the elderly? A case-control study of Medicare beneficiaries.

BACKGROUND Multiple epidemiologic studies have reported associations between venous thromboembolic events and subsequent cancer diagnoses, but the published results have not suggested clear cancer screening approaches. METHODS Using data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare Program, the authors identified patients who were diagnosed with breast and colorectal carcinoma (n = 7166 patients) and compared them with a noncancer control group (n = 126,668 patients) according to their history of hospitalization for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) in Medicare claims files over the previous 24 months. Using logistic regression analysis, the authors calculated the odds of receiving a diagnosis of breast carcinoma or colorectal carcinoma in the 24 months after admission for DVT or PE. RESULTS Patients who were hospitalized for DVT or PE had nearly 3.0 times the odds of being diagnosed with colorectal carcinoma (odds ratio [OR], 2.83; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.92–4.17) and > 1.5 times the odds of being diagnosed with breast carcinoma (OR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.05–3.02) in the subsequent 24 months. CONCLUSIONS Because hospitalization for DVT or PE is associated with an increased risk of a breast or colorectal carcinoma diagnosis in the subsequent 2 years, physicians should be vigilant in assessing the cancer screening status of patients with new DVT and/or PE to be certain that they are up to date with recommended breast and colorectal screening guidelines. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.
Genomic insights into adaptation to high-altitude environments

Elucidating the molecular genetic basis of adaptive traits is a central goal of evolutionary genetics. The cold, hypoxic conditions of high-altitude habitats impose severe metabolic demands on endothermic vertebrates, and understanding how high-altitude endotherms cope with the combined effects of hypoxia and cold can provide important insights into the process of adaptive evolution. The physiological responses to high-altitude stress have been the subject of over a century of research, and recent advances in genomic technologies have opened up exciting opportunities to explore the molecular genetic basis of adaptive physiological traits. Here, we review recent literature on the use of genomic approaches to study adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia in terrestrial vertebrates, and explore opportunities provided by newly developed technologies to address unanswered questions in high-altitude adaptation at a genomic scale.
Antagonism of phencyclidine-induced stimulus control in the rat by other psychoactive drugs

It has been observed that agents with agonist activity at 5-HT2A receptors prevent neurotoxicity induced by the non-competitive NMDA antagonist, dizocilpine (MK-801). Subsequent behavioral studies reported complete antagonism by LSD and DOM of the stimulus effects of the related NMDA antagonist, phencyclidine [PCP]. The present study sought to extend those observations to include other psychoactive drugs. Male F-344 rats were trained in a 2-lever, fixed-ratio 10, food-reinforced task with PCP (3.0 mg/kg; IP; 30 min pretreatment) as a discriminative stimulus. Tests of generalization were then conducted using the training dose of PCP in combination with a range of doses of DOM, LSD, d-amphetamine, MDMA, psilocybin, buspirone, and GHB. All of the drugs tested in combination with PCP produced a statistically significant diminution of PCP-appropriate responding but for none was antagonism complete. These data, obtained using a stimulus control model of the hallucinogenic effects of PCP, fail to support the hypothesis that LSD and DOM completely antagonize stimulus control by PCP. Instead, the data suggest complex interactions between PCP-induced stimulus control and a variety of psychoactive drugs including GHB, an agent with no known affinity for serotonergic receptors.
Relations of intimal-medial thickness among sites within the carotid artery as evaluated by B-mode ultrasound. ARIC Investigators. Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities.

B-mode ultrasound is a widely used technique for the clinical and epidemiological assessment of carotid atherosclerosis. This article describes the relation between arterial intimal-medial thickness (IMT) at different sites within the extracranial carotid artery.IMT was measured by B-mode real-time ultrasound as an index of atherosclerotic involvement in the extracranial carotid arteries as part of the population-based Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. The relation between IMT at different sites was described by correlation coefficients and percentile regression techniques based on between 4034 and 9386 pairs of measurements (variation in sample size depending on the paired sites).Increased IMT at one site was associated with increased IMT at other sites. The correlation between right and left IMT at the same anatomic location in the carotid artery ranged from .34 to .49; the correlation at different anatomic locations in the carotid artery on the same side ranged from .25 to .43. The dist...
Fastener design for transversely loaded composite plates

The fastener design for the transfer of concentrated transverse (out-of-plane, pull-out) loads to random glass fiber reinforced thermoset polymers was investigated. The elastic material properties, void content, and glass content of the composite were determined and a finite element model was used to analyze and compare the performance of the various washer designs for reducing the stress and strain levels near the edge of the washer at a bolted joint. Experimental studies were conducted to verify the finite element model.
Simulations of High Latitude Ionospheric Climatology

Abstract Historically, the high latitude ionosphere has been viewed as the most complex of the ionospheric regions because it is driven by both magnetospheric and solar inputs. At lower latitudes the direct, and highly variable, magnetospheric input is relatively unimportant, which makes these other regions amenable to empirical modeling. To date, however, no empirical model of the high latitude ionosphere is available which includes these complex dependencies. On the other hand, numerical models that include the physics of this region have been developed and have proven to be successful at the climatology level. In this study we present the climatological results of one of these models, namely the Utah State University (USU) timedependent ionospheric model (TDIM). A total of 108 separate TDIM simulations for different ionospheric conditions were used to elucidate the high latitude ionospheric trends. These trends depend on solar cycle, season, universal time (UT), magnetic activity, interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) orientation, and hemisphere. The ionospheric climatology is not dominated by any one of these parameters. The solar cycle ( F 10.7 index), season (day), and magnetic activity ( K p index) compete on an even footing for control of the high latitude ionosphere. Mean variations of over an order of magnitude in N m F 2 , of over 150 km in h m F 2 , and of over 50 km in the transition height are present in the high latitude ionospheric climatology. The 108 simulations quantify the trends and show the UT dependence and spatial variability of the ionosphere. Some aspects of these UT trends are compared successfully with observations. Many of the simulation results are predictions that can be verified as more complete observational databases become available. The UT dependence, which at times can be a factor of two modulation of the F region densities, is a key reason for the failure of statistical models at high latitudes. At lower latitudes, statistical models based mainly on local time rather than UT have been very successful. At high latitudes, this is not so and, therefore, local time and UT (longitude) must be treated as independent variables. This fact alone explains why data sets based on a fixed ground location or satellite orbital plane cannot unravel the LT and UT dependencies at high latitudes. Also, the high latitude ionosphere is not spatially uniform; morphological features on latitudinal scales of 1–2 ° are present. These structures play a key role in identifying the ionospheric climatology.
A blood-free enrichment medium for growing Campylobacter spp. under aerobic conditions

Detection limits for Campylobacter jejuni strains JH93 and ATCC 29428 in a new blood-free enrichment broth (BFEB) were investigated under aerobic conditions. Cultures of Camp. jejuni were inoculated into 50 ml BFEB containing 10% food homogenate in 50 ml screw-cap tubes. After 24 h enrichment under aerobic conditions, Camp. jejuni were isolated on four selective agar media. The least squares means of the detection limit 50% endpoint (DL 50 ) values were 0.4 (plain BFEB), 0.9 (crabmeat), 1.7 (mushroom), 1.7 (raw milk) and 2.1 (oyster) colony forming units (cfu) 5 g -1 food. The efficiency of the BFEB was significantly affected (P < 0.05) by food type and bacterial strain. Overall, the BFEB enrichment compared favourably with the existing US Food and Drug Administration method under modified atmosphere. In addition, the BFEB method did not require the use of blood, special equipment or Oxyrase® to reduce oxygen tensions.
Cycloergodic properties of discrete- parameter nonstationary stochastic processes

It is shown that a large class of nonstationary discrete parameter stochastic processes possess novel ergodic properties, which are referred to as {\em cycloergodic} properties. Specifically, it is shown that periodic components of time-varying probabilistic parameters can be consistently estimated from time averages on one sample path. The cycloergodic theory developed herein extends and generalizes existing ergodic theory for asymptotically mean stationary and N -stationary (cyclostationary) processes, and is presented in both wide-sense and strict-sense contexts.
Optical study of amorphous MoS3: determination of the fundamental energy gap

The fundamental energy gap. Eg. of amorphous MoS3 (a-MoS3) has been evaluated from a study of the transmission and electrolyte electroreflectance (EER) spectra of thin films. These films were prepared by an electrodeposition technique from both non-aqueous (NA) and aqueous (A) solutions of ammonium tetrathiomolybdate. Raman scatterings and X-ray show that both type of thin films are indeed amorphous. We find from the transmission measurements that Eg = 1.22 ± 0.10 eV (NA) and 1.05 ± 0.10 eV (A) while the EER results yield Eg = 1.35 ±0.10 eV (NA) and 1.25 ± 0.10 eV (A).
Replacement of insulin receptor tyrosine residues 1162 and 1163 compromises insulin-stimulated kinase activity and uptake of 2-deoxyglucose

Insulin stimulates the autophosphorylation of tyrosine residues of the beta subunit of the insulin receptor (IR); this modified insulin-independent kinase has increased activity toward exogenous substrates in vitro. We show here that replacement of one or both of the twin tyrosines (residues 1162 and 1163) with phenylalanine results in a dramatic reduction in or loss of insulin-activated autophosphorylation and kinase activity in vitro. In vivo, these mutations not only result in a substantial decrease in insulin-stimulated IR autophosphorylation but also in a parallel decrease in the insulin-activated uptake of 2-deoxyglucose. Furthermore, a truncated IR protein (lacking the last 112 amino acids) has an unstable beta subunit; this mutant has no kinase activity in vitro or in vivo and does not mediate insulin-stimulated uptake of 2-deoxyglucose. IR autophosphorylation is thus implicated in the regulation of IR activities, with tyrosines 1162 and 1163 as major sites of this regulation.
An analytical expression for the H matrix relevant to Rayleigh scattering

Abstract The matrix Riemann-Hilbert problem relevant to the scattering of polarized light is solved up to the resolution of two existence questions. The solution obtained is used to establish an explicit expression for the related H matrix, and evidence that the mentioned existence questions can be answered in the affirmative is provided by a numerical evaluation of the final result.
Spatial analysis of limb bud myogenesis: a proximodistal gradient of muscle colony-forming cells in chick embryo leg buds.

Abstract The regional distribution of myogenic cells in developing chick leg buds has been investigated using an in vitro clonal assay. Leg buds were embedded in gelatin and sectioned at intervals of 100–300 μm utilizing a vibratome, and cells dissected from prospective myogenic areas were analyzed for their ability to form colonies containing multinucleated myotubes. The results show that muscle colony-forming (MCF) cells from stage 23 ( 3 1 2 - to 4-day incubation) are exclusively of the early morphological type, and are found in the proximal two-thirds of the bud. Late-type MCF cells are first obtained from the proximal sections of stage 24–25 (4- to 4 1 2 day) buds; in succeeding stages (26–29), late MCF cells supercede the early MCF cell type in the proximal regions, and extend into progressively more distal sections in a graded fashion. Results from sequential sections suggest that early and late MCF cells are located within the same muscle groups. The proportion of late MCF cells continues to increase throughout this period, until by stage 31 (7 days) only the most distal myogenic regions (the toe muscle regions) have an appreciable proportion of early MCF cells. Clonal plating efficiencies increase throughout the period of analysis, and by stage 31 precisely dissected myogenic regions yield plating efficiencies as high as 36% with greater than 95% of these colonies differentiating as muscle.
Micromechanics of spall and damage in tantalum

The authors conducted a series of plate impact experiments using an 80-mm launcher to study dynamic void initiation, linkup, and spall in tantalum. The tests ranged in peak shock pressures so that the effect of peak pressure on the transition from void initiation, incipient spall, and full spall could be studied. Wave profiles were measured using a velocity interferometry system (VISAR), and targets were recovered using {open_quotes}soft{close_quotes} recovery techniques. The authors utilized scanning electron microscopy, metallographic cross-sections, and plateau etching techniques to obtain quantitative information concerning damage evolution in tantalum under spall conditions. The data (wave profiles and micrographs) are analyzed in terms of a new theory and model of dynamic damage cluster growth.
Do Communities Act

We Westerners are inclined to consider the community a normal base for solidarity, a natural unit of collective action. Kinship groups, associations, firms, churches and a number of other groups in which we pass our lives all seem less natural, or less likely, or both. It isn't hard to find plausible justification. The European social life within which today's fundamental Western institutions grew up accented the community. A kinship system which singles out the nuclear family as its residential unit and builds relationships within a kindred (a kin group whose own boundaries shift from person to person), for example, seems an unreliable basis for solidarity or collective action. A matrilineage, one imagines, would do better. More important, the relatively homogeneous and predominantly peasant population of Europe did, indeed, organize a lot of its social life around village institutions. Yet today's communities appear to lack solidarity. They act together rarely, if at all. Sociologists have often dealt with this contrast between a presumably solidary past and a presumably unsolidary present by postulating a decay in the strength of communities. The decay is supposed to result from the rising scale, complexity and mobility of social life. The dominance of the city caps all these trends. The results of scale, complexity and mobility count as decay because solidarity is, of course, the natural, healthy state of mankind. So, at least, goes the doctrine.
Mining Shakespeare: Fred Wilson's Visual Translations of Othello

Shakespeare is a cultural institution whose racial structures Fred Wilson began mining in his exhibition, Speak of Me as I Am , at the Venice Biennale in 2003. As the quotation from Othello’s concluding speech signals, Wilson initially focused on the play’s black figure. Wilson’s next step, Iago’s Mirror (2009), shifts attention to Othello’s nemesis. The mirror’s silence corresponds to Iago’s refusal to talk announced in his final statement: “From this time forth I never will speak word.” How does Wilson’s mirror speak, and what critical perspective does it imply toward the racial dynamic of Shakespeare’s plot? By using visual art to intervene in a literary classic, Wilson’s work performs an excavation that disrupts the conventional response to Shakespeare’s tragic script and opens up new possibilities for revisionary interpretations capable of transforming our view of the racial drama Othello enacts.