cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of non-vascular mediastinal masses in infants and children: an evidence-based practical approach.

The mediastinum is the most common location of nonvascular chest masses in infants and children. For evaluation of non-vascular mediastinal masses in infants and children, imaging plays an important role in early, correct diagnosis and optimal patient management. Therefore, a practical imaging approach based on the most sensitive and least invasive imaging modality in an efficient and cost-effective way is paramount. The objective of this presentation is to review the use of currently available imaging modalities (chest radiographs, ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography) in evaluating non-vascular mediastinal masses in infants and children. The emphasis is on an evidence-based practical diagnostic imaging approach.
Incidence of bubbles on samples cast in a phosphate-bonded investment

P hosphate-bonded investments are widely used to produce castings of high-fusing alloys for both ceramometal and all-metal dental restorations. These investments are generally stronger, more refractory, and can be manipulated for a greater degree of mold expansion than gypsum-bonded investments. The investments are primarily composed of 75% to 90% silica refractory in the form of quartz or cristobalite, which is initially bound together by magnesium and ammonium magnesium phosphate formed by reaction of magnesium oxide with monoammonium phosphate in water. High temperature burnout results in loss of water, crystallization, recrystallization of magnesium phosphates and formation of silicophosphate glasses, which give the mold high strength at casting temperatures.“’ An unfortunate sideeffect of the initial setting reaction is the liberation of gas (presumably ammonia) bubbles, which often adhere to the surface of the wax pattern and result in positively cast nodules on the surface of the casting (Fig. 1). Such nodules interfere with the fit of the casting and must be removed before the casting is clinically serviceable. This is time-consuming and troublesome for the dental technician and may compromise the fit of the casting if excessive internal grinding is required. It was the purpose of this study to examine the effect of a number of investing variables on the incidence of bubbles cast to wax patterns invested in a phosphatebonded investment. The following investing variables were examined. 1. Liquid/powder ratios 2. Mixing time under vacuum 3. Low speed (hand) vs. high speed (machine) mixing 4. Special liquid/water ratios for a fixed total L/P ratio 5. Use of a debubblizer
Olfactory discrimination training up-regulates and reorganizes expression of microRNAs in adult mouse hippocampus

Adult male mice (strain C57Bl/6J) were trained to execute nose-poke responses for water reinforcement; then they were randomly assigned to either of two groups: olfactory discrimination training (exposed to two odours with reward contingent upon correctly responding to one odour) or pseudo-training (exposed to two odours with reward not contingent upon response). These were run in yoked fashion and killed when the discrimination-trained mouse reached a learning criterion of 70% correct responses in 20 trials, occurring after three sessions (a total of approximately 40 min of training). The hippocampus was dissected bilaterally from each mouse (N = 7 in each group) and profiling of 585 miRNAs (microRNAs) was carried out using multiplex RT-PCR (reverse transcription-PCR) plates. A significant global up-regulation of miRNA expression was observed in the discrimination training versus pseudo-training comparison; when tested individually, 29 miRNAs achieved significance at P = 0.05. miR-10a showed a 2.7-fold increase with training, and is predicted to target several learning-related mRNAs including BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), CAMK2b (calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIβ), CREB1 (cAMP-response-element-binding protein 1) and ELAVL2 [ELAV (embryonic lethal, abnormal vision, Drosophila)-like; Hu B]. Analysis of miRNA pairwise correlations revealed the existence of several miRNA co-expression modules that were specific to the training group. These in vivo results indicate that significant, dynamic and co-ordinated changes in miRNA expression accompany early stages of learning.
Second trimester abortion with intramuscular injections of 15-methyl prostaglandin F2a.

Abstract An intramuscular injection of 15-methyl-PGF 2a was given to fifty patients with an initial dose of 200 ug ana repeated every three hours with 300 ug until the fetus was expelled or for a maximum of eleven injections. Within 30 hours, 84% aborted with a mean injection-abortion time of 14.6 hours. All patients received prophylactic antiemetic and antidiarrheal medication. The side effects consisted of vomiting in 28 patients, diarrhea in 26 patients, flushing in 13 patients, wheezing in 2 patients, and 1 patient complained of chills. One patient had a blood loss of 300 ml and another developed endometritis. This dosage schedule is satisfactory for abortion but not as effective as one given every two hours. This investigation was performed in The World Health Organization Clinical Research Centre, Women's Hospital, Los Angeles County/university of Southern California Medical Center.
Applications using a Picosecond 14.7 nm X-Ray Laser

We report recent application experiments on the LLNL COMET tabletop facility using the picosecond, 14.7 nm Ni-like Pd x-ray laser. This work includes measurements of a laser-produced plasma density profile with a diffraction grating interferometer.
Developmental influences on adult ovarian hormonal function

The hypothesis is advanced that levels of ovarian hormonal function in adult women are associated with the tempo of growth and maturation in childhood and adolescence. Empirical data are presented documenting a correlation between menarcheal age and adult ovarian hormonal function both within and between populations. It is noted that this relationship is compatible with current understanding of the mechanisms underlying pubertal maturation of ovarian hormonal function. Functionally, such a relationship could serve the purpose of modulating adult fecundity to chronic environmental conditions. Alternative hypotheses include the possibility that the relationship is not causal but rather reflects either confounded effects of some common cause or the persistence of acute environmental effects through time. Proper testing of such alternative hypotheses will require longitudinal data on migrant populations, changing environments, or secular trends within populations. The importance of establishing the relationship between development and adult ovarian hormonal function is not limited to issues of fecundity and fertility, but includes other areas of female general and reproductive health. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Gene Expression Profiles of Soybeans with Mid-Oleic Acid Seed Phenotype

Seeds of the mid-oleic acid soybean mutant M23 accumulate higher levels of oleic acid (50–60% oleate) by virtue of a deletion of GmFAD2-1A, an allele of the microsomal omega-6 oleate desaturase gene. In other less well characterized soybean varieties that are phenotypically mid-oleic, little is known about the expression levels of omega-6 desaturase GmFAD2 genes and other candidate genes that determine seed oleic acid content. We compared the steady-state transcript abundance during seed development of the oleate-ACP thioesterase (GmFATB1a), delta-9 stearoyl acyl carrier protein desaturase (GmSACPD) and the omega-6 fatty acid desaturase (GmFAD2) genes in five natural mid-oleic varieties and mutant M23 to gene expression data for the conventional non mid-oleic cultivar Dare. We found that, relative to Dare, there were instances where lower expression of GmFATB1a, GmFAD2-1A, GmFAD2-1B, GmFAD2-2, and GmFAD2-3 and higher expression of the GmSACPD-C might be associated with the mid-oleic seed phenotype. This finding suggests that of the several soybean genomic loci known or suspected to be involved in oleic acid phenotype, some are likely to encode genes involved in regulation of transcription of the oleate biosynthetic genes.
Inflation and Financial Statement Analysis in the International Accounting Classroom

This article provides an exercise for students to contemplate the effects of inflation during financial statement analysis. Even small amounts of inflation accumulating over time can grow to distor...
Plane-sweep solves the closest pair problem elegantly

Abstract Optimal algorithms for the closest pair problem are often complex because they are derived from algorithms that solve more general problems, such as all-nearest-neighbors or computing the Voronoi diagram. The only known direct algorithm with optimal worst-case time complexity (in the algebraic decision tree model of computation) uses divide-and-conquer and involves a complicated merge step. We show how the two-dimensional closest pair problem is solved elegantly in asymptotically optimal time using a plane-sweep algorithm which is easier to understand and implement. We explain why sweeping generalizes easily, but not efficiently, to multi-dimensional closest pair problems.
High-resolution mapping and recombination interval analysis of mouse Chromosome 17

Analysis of homologous recombination in eukaryotes has shown that some meiotic crossing-over occurs preferentially at specific genomic sites of limited physical distance called recombinational hotspots. In the mouse, recombinational hotspots have only been defined in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on chromosome (Chr) 17. In an attempt to examine whether hotspots are unique to the MHC or are present throughout the genome, high-resolution linkage maps of Chr 17 based on five backcrosses involving different inbred strains have been generated. These maps separate many markers that were previously shown at the same map position and allow a detailed analysis of recombination patterns across Chr 17. Corresponding recombination intervals in these maps have been compared for the identification of intervals with very little or no recombination in certain genetic crosses and considerable recombination in other genetic crosses. This approach has been termed Recombination Interval Analysis. Possible haplotype-dependent non-MHC hotspots, as well as previously identified MHC hotspots, have been detected by interval analysis.
Ionization potentials and conditional amplitudes

A procedure for deriving ionization potentials is presented based upon the factorization of a wave function into the product of a conditional amplitude and a one-electron marginal amplitude. In the asymptotic limit as one electron is removed, the conditional amplitude becomes the wave function of the residual positive ion, so that successive ionization potentials can be generated in sequence by the same procedure. (auth)
Relative abundance of the helium isotopes He-3 and He-4 in the cosmic radiation

The geomagnetic field near the equator is used to measure the He-3/He-4 abundance ratio near 6 GeV/nucleon. This ratio is found to be 0.24 + or - 0.05, under the assumption that the helium rigidity spectrum has the form dI/dR = about R exp(-2.65). If all He-3 is of secondary origin, this implies an interstellar mean escape-path length of about 15 g/sq cm, a value considerably larger than that determined from observations of heavier elements but compatible with measurements of the helium isotopic ratio at lower energies.
Hepatitis C for Primary Care Physicians

Hepatitis C is a common cause of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver transplant. Although it is usually asymptomatic, new screening recommendations will lead to increased recognition by primary care physicians. Rapidly evolving treatment recommendations are making this a treatable infection for many patients. Recognition of the infection and initiation of treatment for appropriate patients will decrease the likelihood of progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Primary care physicians have the difficult task of managing comorbid conditions, such as chronic pain and hyperlipidemia, in patients with hepatitis C, as well as a potential for treating hepatitis C.
Disability in Everyday Life

The authors explored how persons with disabilities perceived the experience of disability in their everyday lives. The findings suggest that the current models in the literature do not address disability adequately. Instead, disability was described as a multifaceted, complex experience that is integrated into the lives of persons with disabilities. The degree to which integration was possible was influenced by three disability-related factors: (a) the fundamental effects of the disabling condition, (b) others' perceptions of disability, and (c) the need for and use of resources. Important contextual conditions included the environment, time, and experience. Ultimately, it was the match between how these persons perceived themselves and what was important in their lives, and the influence of the three factors that determined how well they were able to integrate disability into their lives. The findings suggest the need for a conceptual model that reflects the personal experience of disability.
Probiotic Prophylaxis in Predicted Severe Acute Pancreatitis: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background: Infectious complications and associated mortality are a major concern in acute pancreatitis. Enteral administration of probiotics could prevent infectious complications, but convincing evidence is scarce. Our aim was to assess the effects of probiotic prophylaxis in patients with predicted severe acute pancreatitis. Methods: In this multicenter randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 298 patients with predicted severe acute pancreatitis (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation [APACHE II] score ≥8, Imrie score ≥3, or C-reactive protein> 150 mg/L) were randomly assigned within 72 h of onset of symptoms to receive a multispecies probiotic preparation (n = 153) or placebo (n = 145), administered enterally twice daily for 28 days. The primary endpoint was the composite of infectious complications—i.e., infected pancreatic necrosis, bacteremia, pneumonia, urosepsis, or infected ascites—during admission and 90-day follow-up. Analyses were by intention to treat. This study is regis...
Joint tactical radio systems-a solution to avionics modernization

The goal of Avionics Modernization Programs (AMP) is to provide a flexible platform that is maintainable and expandable to meet mission requirements of today with defined growth paths to future requirements while maintaining low acquisition and ownership costs. The open architecture and modular construction of the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) provides this path and capability to meet both current radio communications requirements and growth capability needs. The JTRS is defined in terms of its hardware and software architecture. This paper addresses the hardware architecture.
The intraoperative management of the thyroid gland during laryngectomy.

The standard of care of laryngeal cancer surgery is wide field excision of the larynx combined with ipsilateral thyroid lobectomy. A retrospective review of 247 laryngectomies performed between 1979 and 1989 was undertaken to determine specific intraoperative indications for thyroid gland removal. The incidence of thyroid disease in our patients with laryngeal cancer was compared to the normal population. Eight percent of thyroid specimens removed during laryngeal cancer surgery demonstrated invasion by squamous cell carcinoma. All patients having thyroid invasion had T3 or T4 laryngeal lesions that were stage IV at the time of surgery. All these lesions were found to have transglottic growth and laryngeal cartilage invasion by the pathologist. All of these patients also had abnormal thyroid glands intra-operatively and laryngeal cartilage destruction that was evident intraoperatively. Total thyroidectomy with bilateral paratracheal and pretracheal lymph node dissection is indicated when squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx involves the thyroid gland. Prophylactic ipsilateral thyroid lobectomy and isth-musectomy is warranted for large laryngeal cancers (T3, T4) that involve the anterior commissure, the subglottic area, or extend transglottically. Routine thyroid gland removal is not indicated for the majority of laryngeal cancers that do not meet the aforementioned criteria. Finally, abnormal thyroid histopathology was diagnosed in 37% of the surgical thyroid gland specimens removed during laryngectomy.
Leisure and Cultural Complexity

In the early 1980s, the first author (Chick) was the University of Illinois representative to the Human Relations Area Files (HRAF), Inc. At an HRAF meeting in New Haven, Mel Ember recommended the examination of leisure, or aspects of leisure, against a backdrop of cultural complexity because “it correlates with everything.” For its part, leisure has been understudied in time allocation research, since, by definition, it is not devoted to productive ends. In this article, we examine the relationship between leisure and cultural complexity, first, with data from the HRAF and, second, in 12 societies in the Cross-Cultural Studies in Time Allocation series. Specifically, we test Chick’s (1986) hypothesis that simple and complex societies have more free time than those in between. In addition, we examine hypotheses related to cultural complexity and the economic value of children.
What Does More Time Buy You? AnotherLook at the Effects of Long-Term Residence on Production Accuracy of English / / and / l / by Japanese Speakers:

This study tested the issue of whether extended length of residence (LOR) in adulthood can provide sufficient input to overcome age effects. The study replicates Flege, Takagi, and Mann (1995), which found that 10 out of 12 Japanese learners of English with extensive residence (12 years or more) produced liquids as accurately as native speakers of English (NS). Further, for both accuracy and native-like accentedness, the Japanese with extensive residence performed statistically better as a group than inexperienced Japanese (less than 3 years of residence). Results with a new sample of Japanese learners in this study found no statistical difference between the Japanese groups with extended versus short LOR although both reported equal levels of daily input in English. Additionally, both groups received statistically lower scores than NS. Moreover, LOR affected the two groups differently: The accuracy and native-like accentedness of words and sentences by Japanese with extensive residence declined with LOR (and chronological age when age of arrival was partialled out), while for Japanese with short residence accent improved with increased LOR (but not age). This study is the first to document a decline in second language production ability with LOR and age in older second language learners. However, this finding deserves to be addressed with further research, as the study was not designed to investigate this question and thus not all relevant factors, such as motivation or attitude, were controlled for. The results from the short-residence learners indicate that the initial one to two years of immersion may be the most important for improving phonological ability.
Synthesis of 6-substituted benzo[a]pyrene-α-14C derivatives

6-Lithiobenzo[a]pyrene was carbonated to produce benzo[a]pyrene-6-carboxylic-14C acid, which was in turn used in the preparation of several derivatives. Methylation to the ester was followed by LiAlH4 reduction to 6-hydroxymethyl-14C-benzo[a]pyrene. An efficient oxidation using DDQ produced the corresponding aldehyde. Direct reduction of the ester using LiAlH4 and AlCl3 produced 6-methyl-14C-benzo[a]-pyrene.
PROPOSALS FOR A SECURITIES MARKET LAW FOR CANADA: A REVIEW

Securities regulation in the Canadian federation is presently largely a matter of provincial law. Federal corporations legislation, while containing provisions concerning insider trading and takeover bid controls, proxy solicitation rules, and public filing of financial statement requirements, applies only to federally chartered corporations. These include some of the most important "public" (in the English sense) or "widely held" (in the American sense) corporations in the country; however, the majority of corporations in Canada are not federally, but provincially chartered. Furthermore, there are a number of securities regulation areas that are not covered by the federal provisions. Pre-eminent among these is "new issue" and
Characteristics of the double inlet pulse tube

The performance of the double inlet pulse tube (DIPT) is analyzed using a linearized model that takes account of the void volume of the regenerator. The maximum rate of refrigeration obtainable with the regenerator is determined as a function of frequency and void volume. This rate can be achieved by a DIPT with infinitely large reservoir volume. Corrections resulting from a finite reservoir volume are important only at low frequency. The coefficient of performance of a DIPT with optimized rate of refrigeration is less than half of the thermodynamic maximum. The results obtained for the DIPT are compared with corresponding results for the optimized orifice pulse tube refrigerator (OPTR). The large improvements in performance obtained with the DIPT over the OPTR are due primarily to an increase in the pulse tube pressure. The maximum rate of refrigeration decreases as the temperature at the cold side decreases. This is caused primarily from the resulting decrease in cold side flow rate. At given temperature ratio, addition of the second inlet reduces the flow rate through the regenerator over a range of intermediate frequencies.
Evaluation of calf milk pasteurization systems on 6 Pennsylvania dairy farms

Waste milk has been fed to calves for many years, but concerns with bacterial contamination as well as possible transmission of diseases have discouraged widespread use of this feed. Pasteurization of waste milk is one option to reduce management risk while utilizing a valuable, low-cost, liquid feed source for calves. However, many farms currently pasteurizing waste milk lack a system to adequately monitor the efficiency of the process. A study was carried out to evaluate 6 on-farm pasteurization systems, including high-temperature, short-time pasteurizers and low-temperature, batch pasteurizers. Milk samples were taken pre- and postpasteurization as well as from the calf buckets and immediately frozen for later bacterial culture. Samples were collected twice daily for 15 d. Milk samples were examined for standard plate count (SPC), coagulase-negative staphylococci count, environmental streptococci count, coliform count, gram-negative noncoliform count, Streptococcus agalactiae count, and Staphylococcus aureus count. Before pasteurization, 68% of the samples had SPC 90% of samples. These results indicate that pasteurization can be very effective in lowering bacterial contamination of milk. However, bacteria numbers significantly increased after pasteurization and, in some cases, bacteria counts in milk fed to calves were similar to prepasteurization levels. Milk handling after pasteurization was identified as an important issue on the farms studied.
Effects of cortisone and of caloric restriction on skeletogenesis in immature rats

Abstract From weaning to age 41 days, 2 groups of fifteen male rats consumed ( ad lib .) CAdiet (0.2 mg cortisone acetate per g of food) and Rdiet (control food), respectively. Fifteen other rats were given daily food rations (Rdiet) in amounts equal to the food intake of the rats on the CAdiet. Results: Caloric restriction: all antero-posterior skull and mandibular dimensions, ramus height, tibial and fibular lengths were significantly smaller than in control rats. Compared with the effects of reduced food intake per se , CAdiet significantly augmented the suppression of the same skeletal dimensions. Neurocranial width was not suppressed by cortisone or by semi-starvation, on the contrary, the most posterior skull width was significantly wider in the cortisone-treated rats.
Nicholas of Cusa’s De pace fidei and the meta-exclusivism of religious pluralism

In response to the fall of Constantinople in 1453, Nicholas of Cusa wrote De pace fidei defending a commitment to religious tolerance on the basis of the notion that all diverse rites are but manifestations of one true religion. Drawing on a discussion of why Nicholas of Cusa is unable to square the two objectives of arguing for pluralistic tolerance and explaining the contents of the one true faith, we outline why theological pluralism is compromised by its own meta-exclusivism.
Errors-and-erasures decoding of binary majority-logic-decodable codes

The decoder of a binary majority-logic decodable code can be modified to enable the correction of erasures as well as errors. The changes required in both type-I and type-II decoders are described and compared in terms of increases in decoder complexity and internal clock rates.
In Vitro Production of Haploid Germ Cells from Fresh or Frozen-Thawed Testicular Cells of Neonatal Bulls

Improved methods for culturing spermatogenic cells will facilitate the study of spermatogenesis, treatment of male factor infertility, and genetic modification of the male germ line. The objective of this study was to develop a procedure for achieving male germ cell progression through meiosis in vitro. Testes from 3-day-old bulls were decapsulated and seminiferous tubules were dissociated enzymatically to recover Sertoli and germ cells. Dissociated cells were reaggregated by phytohemagglutinin and encapsulated by calcium alginate, then cultured for up to 14 wk in modified Dulbecco modified Eagle medium/F12 (32 degrees C, 5% CO(2) in air). At 2, 5, and 10 wk, cultured cells were examined and evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Northern blot analysis for protamine-2 (PRM-2) and transition protein-1 (TP-1) mRNA, expressed specifically in round spermatids. Ploidy was characterized by flow cytometric analysis of DNA content of cultured cells. Only Sertoli cells and gonocytes were observed in seminiferous tubules of 3-day-old testes. By 10 wk of culture, small spherical cells (7-10 microm) were apparent at the margin of cell associations in culture. Following RT-PCR and Northern blot analysis, specific bands corresponding to PRM-2 and TP-1 were detected only in adult testis RNA or after 10 wk of culture. Based on flow cytometry, a haploid population of cells appeared in vitro that was not in 3-day-old bull testis. The novel culture system developed in this study is the first to promote differentiation of gonocytes to presumptive spermatids in vitro based on the expression of spermatid-specific genes.
Individual differences in striatum activity to food commercials predict weight gain in adolescents.

Objective Adolescents view thousands of food commercials annually, but little is known about how individual differences in neural response to food commercials relate to weight gain. To add to our understanding of individual risk factors for unhealthy weight gain and environmental contributions to the obesity epidemic, we tested the associations between reward region (striatum and orbitofrontal cortex [OFC]) responsivity to food commercials and future change in Body Mass Index (BMI).
Analysis and Optimization

The preceding chapters introduced the analysis of inventory systems from a comprehensive perspective. In Chap. 2 we described the general forms of single-level inventory systems along with the basic concepts for describing the state of an inventory system, and the elementary figures for evaluating its performance. We then gave a broad literature overview in Chap. 3, and introduced some basic analytical methods in Chap. 4 with a focus on the application to periodic review models operating on a discrete time axis. In Chap. 5, we – also from a broad perspective – indicated different possibilities for incorporating lead time stochasticity into inventory models.
Performance Evaluation of a Commercial Application, Trade, in Scale-out Environments

Scale-out approach, in contrast to scale-up approach (exploring increasing performance by utilizing more powerful shared-memory servers), refers to deployment of applications on a large number of small, inexpensive, but tightly packaged and tightly interconnected servers. The purpose of this study is to understand the performance of scale-out architectures with a typical enterprise workload, IBM Trade Performance Benchmark Sample for WebSphere Application Server (a.k.a. Trade). We describe a performance evaluation methodology that gives accurate predictions of application performance and system utilization by utilizing experimental data driven model development. Through experiments and extrapolation from the derived model, we show that for such workload, WebSphere Application Server packages for distributed environments scale well while the possible bottleneck of the application deployment is the database tier.
Automating the implementation of Kalman filter algorithms

autofilter is a tool that generates implementations that solve state estimation problems using Kalman filters. From a high-level, mathematics-based description of a state estimation problem, autofilter automatically generates code that computes a statistically optimal estimate using one or more of a number of well-known variants of the Kalman filter algorithm. The problem description may be given in terms of continuous or discrete, linear or nonlinear process and measurement dynamics. From this description, autofilter automates many common solution methods (e.g., linearization, discretization) and generates C or Matlab code fully automatically. autofilter surpasses toolkit-based programming approaches for Kalman filters because it requires no low-level programming skills (e.g., to "glue" together library function calls). autofilter raises the level of discourse to the mathematics of the problem at hand rather than the details of what algorithms, data structures, optimizations and so on are required to implement it. An overview of autofilter is given along with an example of its practical application to deep space attitude estimation.
Modelling Probabilistic Agent Opinion

SUMMARY A single agent (an individual, expert or model) provides a decision maker with probabilistic information partially or completely describing the agent's opinion about a collection of uncertain quantities or events. This paper discusses ways in which the decision maker may model the agent's opinion to provide rules for updating his own probability for a related event or random quantity of particular interest. Concepts discussed include the relevance of the agent's information and experience, the accord between the agent and decision maker in terms of common or conflicting information and calibration of probability assessments. New theory develops and extends that of Genest and Schervish, requiring only a partial specification of the decision maker's prior over the agent's opinion. Several illustrative examples are developed.
A command for significance and power to test for the existence of a unique most probable category

The analysis of multinomial data often includes the following question of interest: Is a particular category the most populous (that is, does it have the largest probability)? Berry (2001, Journal of Statistical Planning and Inference 99: 175�182) developed a likelihood-ratio test for assessing the evidence for the existence of a unique most probable category. Nettleton (2009, Journal of the American Statistical Association 104: 1052�1059) developed a likelihood-ratio test for testing whether a particular category was most probable, showed that the test was an example of an intersection-union test, and proposed other intersection-union tests for testing whether a particular category was most probable. He extended his likelihood-ratio test to the existence of a unique most probable category and showed that his test was equivalent to the test developed by Berry (2001, Journal of Statistical Planning and Inference 99: 175�182). Nettleton (2009, Journal of the American Statistical Association 104: 1052�1059) showed that the likelihood ratio for identifying a unique most probable cell could be viewed as a union-intersection test. The purpose of this article is to survey different methods and present a command, cellsupremacy, for the analysis of multinomial data as it pertains to identifying the significantly most probable category; the article also presents a command for sample-size calculations and power analyses, power_cellsupremacy, that is useful for planning multinomial data studies.
High temperature characterization of GaAs single junction solar cells

We report temperature-dependent characterization of the electrical and optical properties of GaAs single junction solar cells up to 450 °C. An external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 75% was maintained at temperatures up to 300 °C, with a corresponding increase in the absorption edge as a function of wavelength due to the decrease in band gap with temperature, in agreement with theory. Above 300 °C, the EQE decreased strongly as the temperature was further increased. This drop in EQE resulted in a corresponding decrease in short-circuit current, also observed in the I–V characteristics as a function of temperature. When cooled back to room temperature the short-circuit current nearly fully recovers whereas the open-circuit voltage is found to be irreversibly degraded. The origin of the degradation is discussed. Modeling is used to support the experimental results.
Reproductive Aging Drives Protein Accumulation in the Uterus and Limits Lifespan in C. elegans

Aging in Caenorhabditis elegans is characterized by widespread physiological and molecular changes, but the mechanisms that determine the rate at which these changes occur are not well understood. In this study, we identify a novel link between reproductive aging and somatic aging in C. elegans. By measuring global age-related changes in the proteome, we identify a previously uncharacterized group of secreted proteins in the adult uterus that dramatically increase in abundance with age. This accumulation is blunted in animals with an extended reproductive period and accelerated in sterile animals lacking a germline. Uterine proteins are not removed in old post-reproductive animals or in young vulvaless worms, indicating that egg-laying is necessary for their rapid removal in wild-type young animals. Together, these results suggest that age-induced infertility contributes to extracellular protein accumulation in the uterus with age. Finally, we show that knocking down multiple age-increased proteins simultaneously extends lifespan. These results provide a mechanistic example of how the cessation of reproduction contributes to detrimental changes in the soma, and demonstrate how the timing of reproductive decline can influence the rate of aging.
The architecture of apophasis: exploring options for a cognitive scientific interpretation of the via negativa

This article charts possibilities for discerning cognitive mechanisms that mediate apophatic cognition (and its purportedly self-transforming effects) in negative streams of Christian thought and practice. First, it tests the extent to which (1) Schjoedt’s et al. “cognitive depletion” model (Schjoedt et al., 2013) and (2) McNamara’s “decentering” model (McNamara, 2009) can explain, biologically and psychologically, why epistemic and existential loss is often said to precede and attend illumination in the via negativa – or negative way. While McNamara’s theory proves more convincing than Schjoedt’s et al. for shedding light on cognitive underpinnings of the negative way, neither theory is fully satisfactory because neither adequately accounts for the constitutive role of social and emotional dynamics at each step in the Christian apophatic journey. The final section introduces a cognitively informed account of the apophatic path consisting of four moments: Resonance, Rupture, Reappraisal, and Repair. This ...
Imaging Diagnostic and Therapeutic Targets: Steroid Receptors in Breast Cancer

Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and progesterone receptor (PR) are important steroid hormone receptor biomarkers used to determine prognosis and to predict benefit from endocrine therapies for breast cancer patients. Receptor expression is routinely measured in biopsy specimens using immunohistochemistry, although such testing can be challenging, particularly in the setting of metastatic disease. ERα and PR can be quantitatively assayed noninvasively with PET. This approach provides the opportunity to assess receptor expression and function in real time, within the entire tumor, and across distant sites of metastatic disease. This article reviews the current evidence of ERα and PR PET imaging as predictive and early-response biomarkers for endocrine therapy.
Differential sleep, sleepiness, and neurophysiology in the insomnia phenotypes of shift work disorder.

Study objectives To characterize and compare insomnia symptoms within two common phenotypes of Shift Work Disorder. Design Observational laboratory and field study. Setting Hospital sleep center. Participants 34 permanent night workers. Subjects were classified by Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Insomnia Severity Index into 3 subgroups: asymptomatic controls, alert insomniacs (AI), and sleepy insomniacs (SI). Measurements Sleep parameters were assessed by sleep diary. Circadian phase was evaluated by dim-light salivary melatonin onset (DLMO). Objective sleepiness was measured using the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT). Brain activity was measured using the N1 event-related potential (ERP). A tandem repeat in PER3 was genotyped from saliva DNA. Results (1) AI group showed normal MSLT scores but elevated N1 amplitudes indicating cortical hyperarousal. (2) SI group showed pathologically low MSLT scores but normal N1 amplitudes. (3) AI and SI groups were not significantly different from one another in circadian phase, while controls were significantly phase-delayed relative to both SWD groups. (4) AI showed significantly longer sleep latencies and lower sleep efficiency than controls during both nocturnal and diurnal sleep. SI significantly differed from controls in nocturnal sleep parameters, but differences during diurnal sleep periods were smaller and not statistically significant. (5) Genotype × phenotype χ² analysis showed significant differences in the PER3 VNTR: 9 of 10 shift workers reporting sleepiness in a post hoc genetic substudy were found to carry the long tandem repeat on PER3, while 4 of 14 shift workers without excessive sleepiness carried the long allele. Conclusions Our results suggest that the sleepy insomnia phenotype is comprehensively explained by circadian misalignment, while the alert insomnia phenotype resembles an insomnia disorder precipitated by shift work.
Myocardial Hypertrophy Resulting from Low Dosage Isoproterenol Administration in Rats

SummaryIsoproterenol, in lower doses than previously reported, was administered to rats for 13 and 31 days. This dose of isoproterenol (0.02 mg/kg once daily) was sufficient to cause a brief tachycardia and yielded significant myocardial weight gain.
In situ electrochemical lithiation/delithiation observation of individual amorphous Si nanorods

In situ electrochemical lithiation and delithiation processes inside a nanobattery consisting of an individual amorphous Si nanorod and ionic liquid were explored. Direct formation of the crystalline Li22Si5 phase due to the intercalation of Li ions was observed. In addition, the role of the electrolyte–nanorod interface was examined. It was observed that the lithiation of Si nanorods is dominated by surface diffusion. Upon the delithiation process, partial decomposition of Li22Si5 particles was observed which can explain the irreversible capacity loss that is generally seen in Si anodes. This study shows that the radial straining due to lithiation does not cause cracking in nanorods as small in diameter as 26 nm, whereas cracks were observed during the lithiation of 55 nm Si nanorods.
The diagnosis and treatment of prepyloric membrane

Objective To study the diagnosis and treatment of prepyloric membrane. Methods Clinical records of 7 patients from 1993 to 2003 were analyzed, the age ranged from 1 year and 4 months to 9 years and 2 months old.Results All the 7 patients were cured by membrane resection and pyloroplasty. Conclusion The diagnosis of prepyloric membrane is diffcult before operation, and it is valuable to diagnosis of prepyloric membrane by barium meal combined with ultrosonography. Membrane resection and pyloroplasty are effective therapeutic methods for this disease.
Thrombus of inferior vena cava presenting as right atrial tumor: Roentgenographic, phonoechocardiographic, angiographic, and surgical findings

A large tumor of the right atrium was found to be only the precimal end of a bland thrombus of the inferior vena cava. Of special interest were certain echocardiographic findings, including persistent delay in closure of the tricuspid valve after successful removal of the thrombus.
Cathodic Prevention of New Seawater Concrete Structures in Petrochemical Plants

Cathodic prevention is now widely recommended for new reinforced concrete structures that are to be exposed to seawater. In several new petrochemical plants, reinforced concrete seawater structures were constructed with cathodic prevention to prevent corrosion of the steel reinforcement from the outset. This article describes the concept, design, installation, and commissioning of cathodic prevention and discusses the different polarization behavior observed in the atmospherically exposed, splash, tidal, buried, and immersed zones.
The Preschool Learning Assessment Device: An approach to the dynamic assessment of young children

This paper describes the Preschool Learning Assessment Device, a dynamic assessment approach appropriate for use with children between the ages of three through five years. The approach is related to Feuerstein’s Learning Potential Assessment Device and to a general dynamic assessment paradigm.
Abstract B36: Methionine modulates p53 and induces cell cycle arrest G1 in breast and prostate cancer cell lines

After being treated with methionine, the cell cycle progression of breast and prostate cancer cells were evaluated by flow cytometry. The following results were obtained: There is a clear cell cycle arrest at G1 phase in breast and prostate cancer cells, showing a specific characteristic: MCF-7 (breast cancer cells) and LNCaP (prostate cancer cells) which contain wild-type p53 show arrest at G1 phase. MCF-7 cells are more sensitive to methionine, there are more MCF-7 cells than LNCaP cells that were arrested in G1 phase. However, DU-145 cells, which contain mutated p53, were arrested at S phase. For comparison, we evaluated the effects of methionine on cell cycle progression of MCF-10A (immortal non-tumorigenic human breast epithelial cells) and BPH-1 (normal human prostate cells). Interestingly, treating of MCF-10A and BPH-1 cells with the same dose of methionine caused no changes in cell cycle progression as compared to those cells without being treated with methionine. We also investigated the effects of methionine on several colon-derived cell lines. Treating of LS174 containing wild p53, SW480 containing mutated p53 and NCM460 (normal colon cell) with methionine caused no modifications in cell cycle progression as compared those without being treated with methionine. The effects of methionine on the apoptotic rate of all above-mentioned cells were determined. The percentage of apoptotic cells of all these cells after being treated with methionine is less than 3%, suggesting that there is no significant effect of methionine on apoptosis in both normal and cancer cells. These observations indicate that: a) methionine has a clear predisposition with breast and prostate cancer cell lines that contain a wild p53; b) its effects are selective only for breast and prostate but not for colon-derived cells and c) it only causes a clear cell cycle arrest in G1 and no apoptotic mechanism is involved Therefore, we reasoned that in addition to acting via its modulation of p53 as indicated by our previous results , there may be other mechanism (s) involved in its effects on cell cycle progression. Its effects on hormone-sensitive breast and prostate cancer cells but not on hormone-sensitive colon cells suggest that a hormone-dependent pathway may be involved. Further work is needed to fully explore this potential pathway.
Team Task Switching: A Conceptual Framework for Understanding Functional Work Shifts

Modern work environments are technologically and socially rich, requiring individuals to manage multiple tasks that involve different technologies and varying degrees of interdependence. Individual and team performance hinge on functional work shifts that can involve changing tasks (multi-tasking), technologies (multi-tooling), and/or teammates (multi-teaming). We extend research on task switching to explain how the social and technological dimensions of tasks affect switch costs. The task switching literature identifies lateral shifts that occur when individuals change tasks. We also consider vertical switches that occur when individuals change from independent (i.e., working alone) to interdependent work (i.e., as part of a team) or from interdependent to independent work. We then integrate personological, social, task, and technological factors into one conceptual framework. Our framework lays the groundwork for understanding the effect of functional work shifts on task and team performance in modern-d...
Corporate Environmental Strategies in Transition Economies: Survey of the Literature

Twenty-five years ago, an unprecedented economic-political transition began in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Since then, a meaningful literature has examined businesses’ environmental-management efforts during the transition. Over the same period as the transition, many firms in developed countries were integrating environmental components into their business strategies and finding this integration profitable. A growing body of research explores the topic of corporate environmental strategy. Given the rising importance of this topic in developed economies, its seems highly important to reassess the literature on businesses’ environmental-protection efforts during the transition in order to explore corporate environmental strategies in transition economies where the business benefits may be less clear and domestic consumer pressure for better corporate environmental stewardship is limited. Given the lack of clarity, exploration of corporate environmental strategies in transition e...
Investigating the Phylogenetic Range of Gibberellin Biosynthesis in Bacteria

Certain plant-associated microbes can produce gibberellin (GA) phytohormones, as first described for the rice fungal pathogen Gibberella fujikuroi and, more recently, for bacteria, including several rhizobia and the rice bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola. The relevant enzymes are encoded by a biosynthetic operon that exhibits both a greater phylogenetic range and scattered distribution among plant-associated bacteria. Here, the phylogenetic distribution of this operon was investigated. To demonstrate conserved functionality, the enzymes encoded by the disparate operon from X. translucens pv. translucens, along with those from the most divergent example, found in Erwinia tracheiphila, were biochemically characterized. In both of these phytopathogens, the operon leads to production of the bioactive GA4. Based on these results, it seems that this operon is widely dedicated to GA biosynthesis. However, there is intriguing variation in the exact product. In particular, although all plant path...