cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Model for Caffeine Disposition in Pregnancy

Caffeine is the most consumed active stimulant. About 80% of pregnant women consume caffeine orally on a daily basis. Many reports indicated consumption of >200 mg caffeine during pregnancy could increase the likelihood of miscarriage. In this article, we developed a pregnancy physiological-based pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PBPK/PD) model for caffeine to examine association between maternal caffeine consumption during pregnancy and caffeine plasma levels at doses lower and higher than 200 mg to predict changes in caffeine concentrations across the 3 trimesters, and to predict associated changes in caffeine PD parameters. Two models were successfully developed using GastroPlus software, a nonpregnant model for validation purposes and a pregnant model for validation and prediction of maternal caffeine plasma concentrations following single and multiple dosing. Using observed and predicted data, we were able to validate and simulate PK changes of caffeine in nonpregnant women and the PD effect of caffeine on certain enzymes and catecholamines associated with caffeine intake. Furthermore, the pregnancy PBPK model successfully predicted changes in caffeine PK across the three trimesters. Caffeine increased exposure during pregnancy was related to reduced activity of caffeine metabolizing enzyme CYP1A2. The model also predicted increased levels of caffeine in the fetoplacental compartment (FPC) due to increased maternal caffeine plasma concentrations. Increased caffeine levels in maternal blood was accompanied by greater inhibition of the phosphodiesterase enzyme, higher cyclic adenosine monophosphate, and greater increase of epinephrine levels, which could increase the risk of pregnancy loss. The application of the developed PBPK model to predict the PD effect could provide a useful tool to help define potential cut-offs for caffeine intake in various stages of pregnancy.
New asymmetric halo aldol reaction provides a novel approach to biologically important chiral cyclothers and cycloamines.

A new asymmetric halo aldol reaction has been developed by reacting cyclopropyl carbonyl derived enolates with aldehydes. The absolute structure was unambiguously confirmed by X-ray structural analysis. Eight examples were reported with good yields and up to complete control of diastereomeric excesses. These halo aldol products have been readily cyclized in the presence of weak bases to produce chiral 2,3-disubstituted tetrahydrofuran derivatives in good yield without any observed epimerization.
The Sequelae of Sexual Assault

Though research indicates that the most frequent outcome following sexual assault is recovery, individuals who experience sexual assault are also at increased risk for a variety of negative mental and physical health consequences. This chapter provides the reader with a broad overview of the literature on the sequelae of sexual assault. In particular, we review research examining the effects of sexual assault on psychological, physiological, physical health, and functional outcomes. Emphasis is placed on seminal papers, as well as recent research in a given topic area. The chapter concludes with a summary of findings and notes areas for future inquiry.
Tell me your dreams and goals: Structuring communication exchanges to improve patient-centered care with chronic pain patients.

Abstract Background Communicating pain is a difficult endeavor due to the lack of observable pathology, the immeasurable nature of pain, and the presence of comorbid symptoms. While research has shown the value of cure-centered and care-centered communication, it is unclear how chronic pain patients would like to structure pain communication with their providers so that it produces pain disclosure and emotional support. Aim This study examines communication preferences of chronic pain patients including types of questions asked and information received to allow a holistic portrayal of the experience of living with chronic pain. Design The research used a quantitative survey that was disseminated via online chronic pain devoted support groups. Participants 192 respondents took the survey, with women respondents outnumbering men at a 4:1 ratio. Respondents came from 38 states and represented eight countries. Results For providers to better understand patients' chronic pain, results indicate they would like providers to inquire about how pain impacts their daily activities, relationships, work responsibilities, and goals and dreams using open-ended questions. These low-stake questions can facilitate emotional disclosure, increase feelings of support, and allow for co-morbid linkages. Conclusion These inquiries prioritize patients' own subjective knowledge, can deepen the communication exchange between provider and patient, and facilitate pain disclosure. The findings help to deliver patient-centered care, promote rapport, and foster trust between providers and their patients.
Two complementary ways of linking math and art

I am a very visually oriented person. Geometry has been in my blood since high-school when I was given a copy of Hermann Weyl’s book Symmetry (Weyl, 1983). Formal mathematical proofs do not appeal ...
Giant magnetic anisotropy energy and long coherence time of uranium substitution on defected Al 2 O 3 ( 0001 )

Nanomagnets with giant magnetic anisotropy energy and long coherence time are desired for various technological innovations such as quantum information procession and storage. Based on the first-principles calculations and model analyses, we demonstrate that a single uranium atom substituting Al on the ${\mathrm{Al}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}(0001)$ surface may have high structural stability and large magnetic anisotropy energy up to 48 meV per uranium atom. As the magnetization resides in the localized $f$ shell and is not much involved in chemical bonding with neighbors, long coherence time up to $\ensuremath{\sim}1.6\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{mS}$ can be achieved for the quantum spin states. These results suggest a different strategy for the search of ultrasmall magnetic units for diverse applications in the quantum information era.
Child (Un)Awareness of Parental Incarceration as a Risk Factor: Evidence from South Korea

A large body of research has been devoted to the relationship between parental incarceration and adverse outcomes for children, but such studies often compare children of incarcerated parents to those whose parents have never been imprisoned. Research is lacking regarding the effects of parental incarceration on children aware of their parent’s imprisonment compared to those who are unaware of their parent’s incarceration. In the current study we use propensity score weighting with a sample of 219 incarcerated Korean parents to examine differences in developmental outcomes between children cognizant of their parent’s incarceration and those who are unaware of parental imprisonment. We found that, compared to a control group of children not aware of their parent’s imprisonment, children aware of their parent’s incarceration demonstrate decreases in educational attainment and increases in depressive symptoms, victimization, and criminal justice system involvement. We also reveal that maternal incarceration has a larger impact on children’s developmental consequences than paternal incarceration. We discuss implications from our research, which may inform how children of incarcerated parents are treated in schools and their communities, so they do not face the stigmatization that their parent faces. Additionally, we recommend that children receive more contact with their incarcerated parent as well as acknowledgement that awareness of a parent’s imprisonment may present as a risk for children regarding their education, depressive symptoms, victimization, and criminal justice system involvement in South Korea.
The effect of robust growth on poverty: a nonlinear analysis

Previous research has shown that economic growth should help to reduce the rate of poverty. However, a number of recent studies have found that the economic expansion of the 1980s had no statistically significant effect on aggregate poverty. It is shown that both a Threshold regression and a Fourier approximation provide a better empirical model of poverty than the standard linear model. It is noteworthy that the nonlinear specifications show a large and significant effect on poverty of the 1980s expansion.
Middle meningeal artery with multiple pseudoaneurysms and their management

Abstract Pseudoaneurysms of the middle meningeal artery (MMA) are a rare pathology. Here we present a case of a patient with a non-surgical traumatic subdural hemorrhage, whom was found to have three unruptured aneurysmal lesions along the middle meningeal artery. The patient underwent successful endovascular embolization of his MMA and its aneurysmal lesions. This case presents a unique morphology of a rare disease treated safely and effectively using endovascular embolization.
A Topological Approach to Compare Document Semantics Based on a New Variant of Syntactic N-grams.

This paper delivers a new perspective of thinking and utilizing syntactic n-grams (sn-grams). Sn-grams are a type of non-linear n-grams which have been playing a critical role in many NLP tasks. Introducing sn-grams to comparing document semantics thus is an appealing application, and few studies have reported progress at this. However, when proceeding on this application, we found three major issues of sn-grams: lack of significance, being sensitive to word orders and failing on capture indirect syntactic relations. To address these issues, we propose a new variant of sn-grams named generalized phrases (GPs). Then based on GPs we propose a topological approach, named DSCoH, to compute document semantic similarities. DSCoH has been extensively tested on the document semantics comparison and the document clustering tasks. The experimental results show that DSCoH can outperform state-of-the-art embedding-based methods.
On skin substitutes for wound healing: Current products, limitations, and future perspectives

Cutaneous wound healing is a highly coordinated process involving numerous molecular pathways that regulate the function of specific skin cell types. One of the key decisions in acute and/or chroni...
Foreword to the Symposium on Brunei’s New Islamic Criminal Code: The Codification of Islamic Criminal Law

In this inaugural issue of Harvard Law School’s Journal in Islamic Law, we use the new Forum, designed for scholarly debate on recent developments and scholarship in the field, to feature a Symposium on the passage of a new 'Islamic Criminal Code' in Brunei. This new criminal code has generated extensive international media attention but little close analysis. In this Forum, four scholars offer scholarly essays that examine the contours of this new legislation and the extent to which it intersects with antecedents in Islamic history and with precedents in modern criminal law and procedure, comparatively. With a foreword by Intisar A. Rabb, Mansurah Izzul Mohamed, Dominik M. Muller, and Adnan A. Zulfiqar assess the history, workings, and critiques surrounding Brunei’s new code. Accompanying their essays is the SHARIAsource Online Companion to the Forum on Islamic Criminal Law in Brunei, which provides the text of each law, and of its antecedents.
Long-term assessment of bilirubin and transaminase trends in pediatric intestinal failure patients during the era of hepatoprotective parenteral nutrition.

PURPOSE This study aimed to characterize the relationship between hepatoprotective parenteral nutrition (PN) dependence and long-term serum liver tests in children with intestinal failure (IF). METHODS A retrospective review was performed of children with severe IF (> 90 consecutive days of PN) who were followed from 2012 to 2019 at a multidisciplinary intestinal rehabilitation program. Patients were stratified into three groups based on level of PN dependence at most recent follow up: EN (achieved enteral autonomy), mixed (parenteral and enteral nutrition), and PN (> 75% of caloric intake from PN). PN at any point for this cohort was hepatoprotective, defined as soy-based lipids < 1.5 g/kg/day, combination (soy, medium chain fatty acid, olive and fish oil) lipid emulsion, or fish oil-based lipid emulsion. Kaplan-Meier analysis and a generalized estimating equation (GEE) model were utilized to estimate time to normalization and trends, respectively, of two serum markers of liver health: direct bilirubin (DB) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). RESULTS The study included 123 patients (67 EN, 32 mixed, 24 PN). Median follow up time was 4 years. Based on the Kaplan Meier curve, 100% of EN and mixed group patients achieved normal DB levels by 3 years, while 32% of the PN group had elevated DB levels (Fig. 1). At 5 years, 16% of EN patients had elevated ALT levels compared to 73% of PN patients (p < 0.001, Fig. 2). The PN group's ALT levels were 1.76-fold above normal at 3 years (95%CI 1.48-2.03) and 1.65-fold above normal at 5 years (95%CI 1.33-1.97, Fig. 3). CONCLUSIONS While serum bilirubin levels tend to normalize, long-term PN dependence in the era of hepatoprotective PN is associated with a persistent transaminase elevation in an overwhelming majority of patients. These data support continued vigilant monitoring of liver health in children with intestinal failure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III.
Laser Direct Writing Applications

In this article, we survey research carried out at Lincoln Laboratory on the application of laser-microchemical direct-write processes. Practical refinement of these processes is still at an early stage, although a variety of techniques has already been demonstrated for specific applications and recent experiments have shown that a spatial resolution of ~ 0.2 μm is feasible for a range of direct-write processes. It is clear that a significant effort, comparable to that required for practical acceptance of any new microfabrication technology, will be required to bring instrumentation, material characterization and control, and process tolerances to a stage necessary for regular use. At this early stage, we can only guess at first areas of major technological importance. We can, however, give a reasonable picture of the range of processing possibilities and illustrate possible generic areas of application. For the purpose of this review it is convenient to divide laser direct-writing applications into two categories. First, those in which the laser process is a mask-less substitute for a conventional planar fabrication step. Second, those in which the laser process has no planar fabrication equivalent, and therefore addresses a unique set of nonplanar fabrication difficulties. Many of the specific examples cited are from previously described, but recent, studies [1,2].
Abstract 17756: Do Biventricular Mechanics in Transient Constrictive Pericarditis Improve After Medical Therapy?

Introduction: Reversible constrictive pericarditis (CP) has been described with resolution of constriction after treatment with anti-inflammatory medications. In our study, we assessed the improvement of biventricular myocardial strain in CP patients treated medically compared to CP patients who underwent pericardiectomy. Methods and Results: We compared myocardial mechanics by 2-dimensional speckle tracking in 16 CP patients (age: 56±13; 75% males) who received anti-inflammatory medications to an age and sex matched CP group (age: 57±12; 75% males) who underwent pericardiectomy. At baseline, both treatment groups had depressed left ventricular (LV) anterolateral wall strain (LWS) and right ventricular (RV) free wall longitudinal systolic strain (FWS) but preserved LV septal wall systolic strain (SWS). In a median follow-up of 150 days the medically treated patients showed improvement of the depressed LVLWS/LVSWS (Pre: 0.61±0.17, Post: 0.89±0.21;P Conclusions: Biventricular myocardial strain imaging is a robust technique for assessment of response to anti-inflammatory therapy in CP patients. Medical treatment of CP leads to systolic strain improvement that is more pronounced in the LV and RV free walls, hence having similar impact on the biventricular myocardial mechanics as pericardiectomy.
A Review of “Prevention of Treatment Failure: The Use of Measuring, Monitoring, and Feedback in Clinical Practice”

A great deal of attention has been given within marriage and family therapy (MFT) to showing the effectiveness of its models and interventions. Additional work has sought to identify elements of th...
InAs-Based Single-Mode Distributed Feedback Interband Cascade Lasers

InAs-based single-mode distributed feedback (DFB) interband cascade (IC) lasers were investigated. The DFB grating was patterned using interference lithography to etch the cladding-free upper separate confinement layer of the IC laser structure. Single-mode emission with a side mode suppression ratio of $\sim 30$ dB was obtained in continuous wave operation at temperatures up to 180 K near 4.5 $\mu \text{m}$ . A total tuning range of 16 nm could be achieved for a single device, with typical temperature- and current-tuning rates of 0.4 nm/K and 0.016 nm/mA, respectively. The impact of the DFB grating on device performance was evaluated and discussed in comparison with Fabry–Perot lasers.
Performance of multi-path routing in manet with long-tailed traffic

The dynamic source routing (DSR) method has received much attention in the studies and practice of mobile ad hoc networking. Efforts toward mitigating the overhead have been made by using the multi-path routing strategy. Conventional performance evaluations were conducted with the exponential distribution of the link life. In this paper, we evaluate the performance through a long-tailed distribution called the compound log-normal distribution. The reliability archetypes of the series and parallel connections have been used in developing the concerned models. The overall system reliability of ad hoc networks with multi-path routing is also investigated
Cape Verdean Kriolu as an Epistemology of Contact

Kriolu as language and sentiment represents a “contact perspective”, an outlook on life and medium of identification historically structured by the encounter. Cape Verde was born out of an early creole formation and movement is an essential part of Cape Verdean practices of language and identity. Most recently, the Portuguese state and third-party real estate developers have provided another scenario in the long series of (dis)emplacement dramas for Cape Verdeans as Lisbon administrations have pushed to demolish “improvised” housing and regroup people into “social” neighborhoods. I argue that neighborhoods such as Casal da Boba are not simply “contact zones” where differences are made manifest and subaltern agency is potentially given a stage. In the case of Cape Verdean Kriolu in Lisbon, the concept of “contact” is an epistemological one. This essay connects the empirical realities of Lisbon neighborhoods to the historically structured experiences of contact vis-a-vis colonialism, migration and language.
Scales of Justice: Assessing Italian Criminal Procedure Through the Amanda Knox Trial

The Italian criminal procedure code of 1989 reformed Italy’s criminal procedure system from an inquisitorial model into a hybrid scheme that draws inspiration from the United States’ adversarial system. However, despite including adversarial processes into its criminal procedure code, Italy’s inquisitorial foundations have continued to exert considerable influence over trial procedures. In the wake of the Amanda Knox case Italian criminal procedure has increasingly come under fire. The purpose of this note is to explore the changes made to the Italian criminal procedure code, to assess the current state of Italian criminal proceedings and to consider whether proper comparative methodologies have been used in assessing how Italian criminal procedure relates to traditional adversarial systems. In the United States, Italian criminal procedure had not received much consideration until the details of the Amanda Knox trial became a national sensation. Using the Knox case as a foundation, this note will explore whether the vehement American critique of the Italian system has merit. The analysis suggests that the criticism may stem from a misunderstanding of how the system works, from a basic disconnect between concepts of 'truth' in common law and civil law systems, and from an imperfect comparison of fundamentally different systems of criminal procedure.
Group Treatment for Trauma-Related Psychological Disorders

The technique of organized group therapy began around 1905 with J. H. Pratt. Pratt led instructional groups with tuberculosis patients designed to provide information about their illness, when he realized the emotional support that patients were experiencing in the group format (Barlow et al. 2000). Other early pioneers included the social worker Jane Addams, who organized immigrant support groups in Chicago, as well as the psychoanalyst Trigant Burrow, who began experimenting with group psychoanalysis techniques in 1925 (Ward 2010). Group therapy for trauma-related difficulties appears to first be documented after World War II, when large numbers of veterans struggled with “battle fatigue” and the resources of support and treatment were deficient (Grotjahn 1947). Group treatment of trauma-related problems was further popularized with the introduction of “rap groups” for combat veterans in the 1960s (Foy et al. 2000). Since this era, substantial advances have been made in individual psychosocial treatment approaches for trauma-related disorders, including the development and testing of several empirically supported treatments (see Beck and Sloan 2012). Unfortunately, group treatments for trauma-related disorders have lagged behind these efforts, owing to considerable methodological issues that are intrinsic to the study of group therapy (see Beck and Sloan 2014; Sloan et al. 2012). This gap in our knowledge of effective group treatments is problematic as the group approach is frequently used in clinical settings (e.g., Rosen et al. 2004). In this chapter, we will briefly review what is known about group treatment for trauma-related psychological disorders and describe the advantages of group treatment relative to individual-format therapies. Also, clinical aspects of group treatment for trauma survivors will be discussed, including various facets of clinical lore about treating trauma-related symptoms in a group setting. Finally, we will summarize key directions for clinical applications of group treatments for trauma-related disorders, as well as needed research directions.
Seasonal variation in sesquiterpene lactone concentration and composition of forage chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) cultivars

Palatability and anthelmintic activity of chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) forage are influenced by the sesquiterpene lactones lactucin (LAC), 8-deoxylactucin (DOL) and lactucopicrin. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine how sesquiterpene lactone concentration and composition vary during the growing season. Three forage chicory cultivars (Puna, Forage Feast and Lacerta) grown in West Virginia and Pennsylvania (USA) were managed during two consecutive years to maintain plants in the vegetative stage, and sesquiterpene lactones in leaves were quantified after each growth interval. Cultivars differed in the total concentration of sesquiterpene lactones and in the proportions of LAC and DOL. Total sesquiterpene lactone concentration generally decreased or remained constant during the season, but the specific response depended on the cultivar. Differences in seasonal patterns between years corresponded with unusual climatic conditions. The three cultivars had similar concentrations of DOL in the spring. Forage Feast provided a dramatically lower concentration of DOL during the summer. Uniformly high concentrations of DOL across the growing season in Puna and Lacerta make these cultivars attractive for use in bioactive pastures for control of Haemonchus contortus. Changes in both sesquiterpene lactone concentration and composition during the season result in large variations in forage bitterness.
It’s Not You, It’s Me: Self-Perceptions, Antifat Attitudes, and Stereotyping of Obese Individuals

Much research focuses on the formation of antifat attitudes, but an understanding of antifat bias is incomplete without incorporating self-perceptions. We tested a model in which self-perceptions influenced stereotyping of the same target shown as obese versus thin via antifat attitudes. Participants rated six targets, two of which were the same individual before and after weight loss. Questionnaires assessed participants’ self-perceptions and antifat bias. Multiple group path analysis indicated participants’ body mass index positively predicted greater perceived body size in men and women, though the relationship was stronger for women. Greater perceived body size predicted decreased antifat attitudes, while greater body shame and beliefs about personal control predicted increased antifat attitudes. Antifat attitudes predicted greater negative stereotyping of the target when shown as obese relative to thin. These findings point toward the importance of self-perception in the stigmatization of others and ...
Enhanced but delayed axonal sprouting of the commissural/associational pathway following a combined entorhinal cortex/fimbria fornix lesion.

From previous lesion studies of the hippocampus it has been reported that axons of the commissural/associational pathway expand their termination zone in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus by 20–25% in response to loss of input from the entorhinal cortex. However, although much is known about the response of the commissural/associational pathway with regard to extent, latency, and speed of the reinnervation response following an entorhinal cortex lesion, little is known about how the loss of additional afferent systems might modulate this response. To address this issue, we examined at 14, 30, and 45 days postlesion, the sprouting of commissural/associational afferents following either a unilateral fimbria fornix transection, a unilateral entorhinal cortex lesion, or combined lesions of both the entorhinal cortex and the fimbria fornix. Loss of septal innervation to the hippocampus was assessed using the cholinesterase stain, whereas sprouting from the commissural/associational pathway was determined from Holmes fiber-stained sections. In addition, the Timms stain was used to examine the time course of the loss of terminal fields of the various zinc-containing afferent systems within the hippocampus. Following the removal of input to the hippocampus via the fimbria fornix transection, there was no evidence of sprouting of the commissural/associational fibers into the deafferented portion of the dentate gyrus. In contrast, rats receiving an entorhinal cortex lesion showed a significant increase (28%) in the width of the commissural/associational fiber plexus that was present by 14 days postlesion. By comparison, the magnitude of the expansion of the commissural/associational fiber plexus was significantly larger after lesioning both the entorhinal cortex and the fimbria than after the entorhinal cortex lesion alone (45% vs. 28%). In addition, the expansion of the commissural/associational fiber plexus that was not increased at 14 days postlesion but was significantly increased at 30 days postlesion. The delay in the sprouting of the commissural/associational pathway coincided with the time course of loss of zinccontaining fibers in the outer molecular layer of the dentate gyrus as assessed with the Timms stain. These results suggest that the magnitude and time course for the sprouting of axons from the commissural/associational pathway into the partially deafferented hippocampus of the adult rat is lesion dependent and that the effect of the loss of input from the entorhinal cortex can be modulated and enhanced by the concomitant depletion of input from the fimbria fornix. © 1995 Willy-Liss, Inc.
Battling Prostate Cancer with 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitors: a Pyrrhic Victory?

Given the relatively small impact of prostate cancer screening on cancer mortality, experts are now suggesting that chemoprevention with 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (5-ARI) may be a more effective strategy for cancer control. Two large placebo-controlled randomized trials found that men receiving 5-ARI were about 25% less likely than controls to be detected with cancer. However, most cancers were detected on routine biopsies required by study protocols. The benefit from receiving 5-ARI was minimal among men who underwent biopsy for clinical indications. Additionally, men receiving 5-ARI were more likely than controls to be diagnosed with high-grade cancers, though post-hoc analyses adjusting for biases accounted for the excess risk in one of the studies. A recent guideline recommended that men considering prostate cancer screening also consider chemoprevention. The rationale is that reducing cancer incidence, given the known risks for overdiagnosis and subsequent overtreatment, is sufficient justification for chemoprevention. However, a large randomized controlled trial found that screening was associated with a 70% increase in prostate cancer diagnosis—which chemoprevention would then reduce by 25%. This does not seem an acceptable trade-off especially because the potential increased risk for high-grade cancers could lead to higher cancer mortality.
Environmental Control of Net Photosynthesis in Naturally Growing Pinus Ponderosa Laws

Carbon dioxide exchange by intact foliage was monitored in the middle—crown region of 30—m tall ponderosa nine trees growing in their natural environment at 1,300 m in the Sierra Nevada of California. Characteristic diurnal patterns of net photosynthesis as a function of temperature are presented for summer conditions of low, medium, and high environmental stress. Changes in relationship between rates of net photosynthesis and factors of the environment were determined by examining the data within different time periods on days of markedly different stress conditions. Highest correlations were obtained under conditions of low stress when 80—90% of the variation in rates of net photosynthesis could be accounted for by changes in temperature and radiation alone. As general stress conditions increased, ability to predict rates of net photosynthesis decreased, with saturation vapor pressure deficit becoming the dominant factor accounting for variation. General prediction equations using data pooled from a wide range of summer conditions accounted for, at best, 65% of the variation in net photosynthesis.
New tools for the diagnosis of peritoneal carcinomatosis

The aim was to determine whether assays of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cholesterol in ascites add diagnostic value to cytology. The additional diagnostic efficacy of the biochemical assays was studied in the ascitic fluid from 130 patients, of whom 57 had peritoneal carcinomatosis. All diagnoses were verified by subsequent necropsy and/or histology. CEA concentrations over 5 ng/ml indicated carcinomas, occasionally without peritoneal involvement of the tumor. However, increased values were significantly more common in cancer with peritoneal involvement (p < .01), giving a sensitivity of 51% and specificity of 97% for carcinomatosis. A cholesterol value exceeding 1.21 mmol/l was found in 93% of cancers with peritoneal involvement, but it was not entirely specific (96%) for carcinomatosis. Simultaneous increases in CEA and cholesterol concentrations were specific for carcinomatosis and this combination increased the sensitivity for diagnosing carcinomatosis from 77% with cytology alone to 88%. The correct diagnosis could thus be made in five of 12 cases with inconclusive cytology. The measurements of both CEA and cholesterol concentrations in ascites give additional specific information about peritoneal carcinomatosis and can therefore be a useful adjunct to cytology—in particular, in inconclusive cases.
Casting aluminium cooking pots: labour, migration and artisan production in West Africa's informal sector, 1945–2005

This article investigates the history of aluminium casting, a sector of the informal economy devoted to recycling scrap aluminium. Artisans who cast aluminium make a variety of products out of scrap, including various utensils and receptacles for food preparation, such as cooking pots. While labour and its history in West Africa has garnered much historical research, as has the work of artisans who specialise in working other types of metal, especially iron, little attention has been paid to aluminium casting. The oversight is significant, because the diffusion of aluminium casting opens up a history on the transnational movement of labour and artisan production in late colonial and post-colonial Africa.
Development of an analytical model for the laser machining of ceramic and glass-ceramic materials

A laser machining model for ceramics and glass ceramics is developed from the analytical treatment of a one‐dimensional vaporization problem with a distributed heat source. Analytical solutions are derived for evolution of the material system from an arbitrary initial state to a quasisteady state. The developed solutions are used to predict the behavior of high‐intensity Nd:YAG laser pulses (up to 107 W/cm2, ms duration) on a typical ceramic or glass ceramic material. Predictions include the critical intensity required for vaporization of material Ic, the material removal ΔM, and thickness of the affected residual surface layer S after a single laser pulse of given shape and intensity. Predictions are compared with the numerical calculations from a commercially available software package.
Lessons from Dorothy Allison: teacher education, social class and critical literacy

Integrating autobiographical narrative and case study, this teacher‐research article looks closely at how one white, female, heterosexual, middle‐class elementary school teacher in the US used short stories written by Dorothy Allison as an entry point to look at difference from a critical perspective. Challenging the too often conflated constructs of race and class, this study was conducted in a Masters course on literacy that foregrounded issues of social class. Contrary to what some may believe, the author argues that foregrounding class did not eclipse critical analyses of race, gender and sexuality, but moved one student towards more nuanced readings of oppression.
Detection of Antigens Associated With Epstein-Barr Virus Replication in Extracts From Biopsy Specimens of Nasopharyngeal Carcinomas

By using monoclonal antibodies to different Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) polypeptides in combination with immunoblotting, we detected antigens associated with EBV replication in extracts from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) biopsy specimens. Major polypeptides associated with both the diffuse and the restricted components of the early antigen (EA) complex were found in extracts from nine of nine NPC biopsy specimens. Cells from an additional NPC biopsy specimen, passaged repeatedly in nude mice, were found to be positive for the major EA (restricted) polypeptide. This approach revealed that extracts from three of 14 biopsy specimens form other benign and malignant diseases also expressed these viral polypeptides. Therefore, for the first time, these results conclusively demonstrate the presence of EA polypeptides in extracts from NPC biopsy specimens. This finding provides at least a partial explanation for the reported prognostic value of antibodies to this antigen in patients with this disease.
Impact of far-field interactions on performance of multipole-based preconditioners for sparse linear systems

Dense operators for preconditioning sparse linear systems have traditionally been considered infeasible due to their excessive computational and memory requirements. With the emergence of techniques such as block low-rank approximations and hierarchical multipole approximations, the cost of computing and storing these preconditioners has reduced dramatically. In our prior work [15], we have demonstrated the use of multipole-based techniques as effective parallel preconditioners for sparse linear systems. At one extreme, multipole-based preconditioners behave as dense (bounded interaction) matrices (multipole degree 0), while at the other extreme, they are represented entirely as series expansions. In this paper, we show that: (i) merely truncating the kernel of the integral operator generating the preconditioner leads to poor convergence properties; (ii) far-field interactions, in the form of multipoles, are critical for rapid convergence; (iii) the importance and required accuracy of far-field interactions varies with the complexity of the problem; and (iv) the preconditioner resulting from a judicious mix of near and far-field interactions yields excellent convergence and parallelization properties. Our experimental results are illustrated on the Poisson problem and the generalized Stokes problem arising in incompressible fluid flow simulations.
How to make a molecular light switch sequence-specific: tethering of an oligonucleotide to a dipyridophenazine complex of ruthenium (II)

Considerable attention has been given recently to the design and development of nonradiative methods of recognizing DNA in a sequence-specific manner. Earlier, we reported that Ru(bpy)2dppz2+(bpy equals 2,2'-bipyridine, dppz equals dipyrido[3,2:a-2',3':c]phenazine) shows no luminescence in aqueous solution, but upon intercalation into double-helical DNA, bright photoluminescence is observed (A. E. Friedman, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1990, 112, 4960). Based upon this observation, a sequence-specific molecular light switch has been designed in which a dppz complex of ruthenium(II) is tethered onto an oligonucleotide. An oligonucleotide modified at its 5 foot end has been constructed by coupling the sequence 5'-H2N(CH2)6AGTGCCAAGCTTGCA-3' to Ru(phen')2dppz2+ (phen' equals 5-amido-glutaric acid-1,10-phenanthroline). Like the parent complex Ru(bpy)2dppz2+, the single-stranded metal-oligonucleotide conjugate shows little detectable luminescence in aqueous solution. Addition of the complementary strand results in intense photoluminescence; time-resolved studies show that the emission is biphasic with excited state lifetimes of 500 (60%) and 110 (40%) ns. As expected, addition of a non- complementary strand produces no luminescence enhancement over that of the single-stranded metal-oligonucleotide. These results demonstrate that this oligonucleotide derivatized metal complex can be used to recognize and target specific sequences on DNA, a valuable feature which may lead to interesting and novel applications in hybridization technology.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An exploratory study of the validity of administering the hand test in a group format

Wagner (1983) devised a projective test in which the subject is presented pictures of hands in various positions and asked to guess what rhey might be doing. Taylor ( 1969) changed the format by presenting this Hand Test in a group format. Wagner had standardized the test in individual presentation to measure psychopathology and devised a PATHOLOGY score from the test protocols, an acting-out score and many other scores. The present study was designed to explore whether these two scores obtained from a group administration would correlate with measures of Extraversion and Neuroticism from the Eysenck Personality Inventory (Eysenck & Eysenck, 1963). The Hand Test was administered in a group format following Taylor (1969) to 30 male and 39 female students aged 18 to 22 yr. (M = 19.3 yr., SD = 1.4). Each card was displayed on a screen for 90 sec., and subjects wrote down their responses. Subjects were then administered the Eysenck Personality Inventory. Neuroticism scores were not correlated with the PATHOLOGY score (I = 0.01) but were with two of the 20 possible measures from the Hand Test (Affiliation: 0.36, and the Acting-out-ratio: 0.26). This may suggest that Neuroticism could be related to aggression versus nonaggression. Lie scores were related to three of the measures, -0.21 for Sum Maladjusted, -0.30 for Pathology, and -0.31 for Crippled. Incidentally, Extraversion scores were not related to any of the measures from the Hand Test. These relationships are interesting but difficult to explain and do not support the construct validity of either test. It is possible that the group-adrninisterd version of the Hand Tesc is not as clinically valid as the individuallyadministered form.
The effects of testosterone propionate and methenolone enanthate on the healing of humeral osteotomies in the Wistar rat.

A randomized blind prospective study was carried out to determine if an anabolic androgenic steroid with a high anabolic/androgenic ratio, Group A, (1/0.05) methenolone enanthate (me), compared to an anabolic/androgenic agent with a low anabolic/androgenic ratio, Group B, (1.0/1.0) testosterone propionate (tp), compared to a control, Group C, cottonseed oil (co), affected midhumeral osteotomy healing in 100 two-month-old female Wistar rats. The rats received 4 mg/kg me, 4 mg/kg te, and equal volumes of co weekly. The rats were sacrificed at 2, 4, and 6 weeks. The entire humerus with the healing osteotomy was carefully dissected until all soft tissue attachments were stripped. The healing callus was then subjected to (1) biochemical analysis (hexosamine, hydroxyproline, and calcium), (2) biomechanical testing (progressive distraction of the callus at 1 mm/min on an electrohydraulic materials test system, model 1331, Instron Corp, Canton, MA, and (3) histology. Results of the biochemical testing demonstrated that the percentage of calcium in the healing callus at 2 weeks in group B (tp) was 7.3 +/- 1.0, and this value was greater than that in group C (co), 4.8 +/- 1.6 (p greater than .01), and greater than that in group A (me), 5.6 +/- 0.6 (p greater than .01). At 4 weeks, the percentage of calcium in the callus in group B (tp) was 6.8 +/- 1.9, in group A (me) 7.3 +/- 3.7, and these values were both greater than that in group C (co), 3.9 +/- 2.2 (p greater than .02 and .01, respectively). At 6 weeks the percentage of calcium in the callus in group B (tp) was 11.7 +/- 3.9 and in group A (me) 12.7 +/- 3.9, and again these values were both greater than that in group C (co), 6.7 +/- 2.6 (p greater than .02 and .01, respectively). The remainder of the biochemical analysis, hexosamine and hydroxyproline content, did not show a statistical difference in groups A, B, and C at 2, 4, and 6 weeks. The biomechanical studies and histology also failed to show statistical differences between the three groups at 2, 4, and 6 weeks. The conclusion of this study is that an agent with a low androgenic activity does not increase calcium callus concentrations early in the course of fracture healing compared to an agent with higher androgenic activity. As healing progresses, both agents increase the concentration of calcium in osteotomy healing. The clinical significance of this study is that agents with low androgenic activities favorably influence osteotomy healing and may be clinically useful because they lack unwanted virilizing activity.
Microsatellites isolated from the North American ground skink (Scincella lateralis)

Thirteen polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed in the North American ground skink, Scincella lateralis, for use in landscape and population genetic research. Loci were genotyped for a sample of 37 lizards from southeastern Louisiana. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 5 to 25 and observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.23 to 0.97. The high levels of polymorphism observed in these loci will be useful for a variety of applications.
Breast cancer, induction of differentiation by embryonic tissue.

A mouse mammary tumor, adenocarcinoma BW 10232, was maintained in vitro for 14 days, separated from embryonic mammary mesenchyme by a Millipore filter. Tubules developed in the tumor; deoxyibonucleic acid synthisis declined; and a presumptive acid mucopolysaccharide matrix, not evident in the controls, appeared.
Fiscal Policy During Absorption Cycles

Domestic absorption cycles are relevant in assessment and design of fiscal policies. Our cross-country analysis covers 59 advanced and emerging countries for the 1990-2009 period. We show that ignoring domestic absorption cycles leads to biased fiscal stance indicators, for both advanced and emerging economies, by up to 1.5 percent of GDP. The estimates of fiscal policy reaction functions indicate that absorption booms are associated with pro-cyclical fiscal policy. We tackle the endogeneity problem in reactions functions through stripping the cyclical component of the fiscal aggregates. We also find that simple filtering methods in the computation of absorption gaps perform as better as indirect methods of estimating trade balance gaps and stripping of output gaps.
First Report of the Cucurbit Powdery Mildew Fungus (Podosphaera xanthii) Resistant to Strobilurin Fungicides in the United States

Resistance to strobilurin fungicides was documented in isolates collected from three fungicide efficacy experiments conducted in research fields in Georgia (GA), North Carolina (NC), and New York (NY). In these fields in 2002, strobilurins (fungicide group 11, quinone outside inhibitors [QoI]) when used alone on a 7-day schedule (use pattern not labeled) did not effectively control cucurbit powdery mildew. Strobilurin efficacy declined dramatically after the second application in New York (3). Efficacy also was reduced in commercial fields in Kentucky and research fields in Arizona, California, Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan, and Virginia in 2002 where strobilurins were used predominantly or exclusively. Isolates were collected on 22 July and 8 and 17 October after the last of four, five, and five applications of strobilurin (trifloxystrobin formulated as Flint or azoxystrobin formulated as Quadris) in experiments conducted by J. D. Moore in Chula, GA, M. McGrath in Riverhead, NY, and G. J. Holmes in Clayto...
Error Propagation Mitigation for Wireless Network Coding

Cooperative diversity has been proposed as an implementation for networks where terminals are restricted to using physical arrays; this technique implements space diversity by creating virtual antennas arrays with cooperating nodes in order to combat multipath fading. In this paper, we propose the use of network coding over some scenarios in relay networks, in order to mitigate the propagation of errors in a wireless network that maximizes throughput using network coding. In short, we propose a scheme for a wireless network using channel side information and ideas based on network coding.