cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using active connection graphs for reasoning with recursive rules

Raouralva rules, such as "Your parents ancestors are your ancestors", although very useful for theorem proving, natural language understanding, question-answering and Information retrieval systems, present problems for many such systems, either causing infinite loopa or requiring that arbitrarily many copies of them be made. SNIP, the SNaPS Inference Package, can use reouralva rules without either of these problems. A raouralva rule oauaaa a cycle to ba built in an Active connection graph. Each pass of data through the cycle results in another answer. Cycling stops as soon as either the desired answer is produoed, no more answers can be produced or resource bounds are exceeded.
Premenstrual Psychosis in an Adolescent: A Case Report.

Abstract Premenstrual psychosis is a rare phenomenon initiating during or preceding menses, often lasting one to two weeks after the onset of menses. Previous literature shows links between the est...
Hedge Funds and Stock Price Formation

Using comprehensive quarterly data on hedge fund stock holdings, we study the role of hedge funds in the process of stock price formation. We find that hedge funds tend to hold undervalued stocks a...
Major Cations (Ca, Mg, Na, K, Al)

Although many different parameters may be considered when an aquatic ecosystem is assessed for its water quality and ecological integrity, one important chemical indicator is an analysis of the concentrations of the major cations Ca, Mg, Na, K, and Al. Each major cation has important biological functions, biogeochemical relationships, and ecological roles that influence the ability of an aquatic ecosystem to sustain life forms and active food webs. Concentrations of these ions in surface waters are determined by hydrologic factors and interactions among various source and sink processes such as atmospheric deposition, mineral weathering, ion exchange, microbial mineralization, biological assimilation, sedimentation, and geochemical precipitation reactions. In many surface waters, generation of acid neutralizing capacity is closely linked to the cycles of Ca, Mg, and Na, whereas cycling of the critical nutrient P may be strongly influenced by the biogeochemistry of Al. Despite wide variations in the concentrations of major cations in different surface water systems, several consistent chemical patterns have been observed. With the exception of locations affected by coastal marine aerosols, most surface waters contain mixtures of major cations ranked in the following order of abundance based on molar charge concentration: Ca Mg Na K ≥ Al. However, acidified surface waters may experience elevated concentrations of Al, which pose a risk for sensitive aquatic biota.
Asset/Liability Management: From Immunization to Option-Pricing Theory

It was nearly forty years ago when the eminent British actuary F.M. Redington published the paper “Review of the Principles of Life-Office Valuations,” in which he suggested the principle that there should be equal and parallel treatment in the valuation of assets and liabilities. His theory of immunization for insulating a portfolio against interest rate fluctuations follows as an immediate consequence of this principle. A deficiency in Redington’s model is the assumption that the asset and liability cash flows are fixed and certain. In this paper we show that his theory can be extended to the general case of interest-sensitive cash flows (SPDA, UL, MBS, etc.) by means of modern option-pricing theory.
Ultraviolet-Induced Damage and Its Repair in Human DNA

Electromagnetic radiation of appropriate wavelength and intensity can induce damage in cellular macromolecular structures. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation can, for example, damage many cellular structures, including membranes, protein, RNA, and, of course, DNA. Almost all cells, including human cells growing in tissue culture, show a striking lowering of viability after moderate doses of UV irradiation. There is evidence suggesting that damage to DNA is the primary event responsible for UV-induced cell degeneration and death (1–3). Although cause and effect has not been definitely established, a number of experimental correlations support the theory that UV-induced DNA pyrimidine dimers represent one of the principal causative agents in the death and mutation of mammalian cells. Certainly, the identification of dimers as inactivating agents in human cells has provided us with the best insight available into an understanding of the role of cellular DNA repair processes in environmental carcinogenesis.
Planning and execution in incompletely specified environments

This paper describes a number of new ideas for planning and for the execution of plans in a world which is not completely specified. Such situations often occur in real world environments. Most of the ideas contained here have been implemented in a system for computer-aided decision-making for flight operations.
Paper-based Vertical Flow Immunoassay (VFI) for detection of bio-threat pathogens.

Abstract Currently, the standard method for identifying biological agents of potential threats to national security and public health, such as pathogens, virus, and toxins, mainly rely on microbiological cultivation. This method is time-consuming and it requires sophisticated equipment and well-trained personnel, which are often unavailable in remote areas or at point-of-need. Therefore, an alternative rapid, simple, and sensitive method for detecting bio-threat agents is in crucial need. We report a paper-based Vertical Flow Immunoassay (VFI) device that can overcome these limitations. The VFI device utilizes a nanoporous nitrocellulose membrane encapsulated in a stainless steel filter holder. As the sample is pushed through the membrane, which is pre-functionalized with capture antibody, a sandwich assay is formed and colorimetric signal is generated to reflect the presence of target antigens. Through theoretical analyses of antigen-antibody binding process inside a porous membrane, we identified two critical factors – membrane pore size and sample flow rate that can be optimized to improve the assay sensitivity. Then, the effects were demonstrated through experimental studies using Burkholderia pseudomallei (the causative agent of melioidosis) as a model pathogen. The B. pseudomallei VFI was based on an immunoassay targeting the B. pseudomallei surface capsular polysaccharide (CPS). The experimental results agreed well with the theory showing that increasing the flow speed (up to 1.06 mm/s) and reducing the membrane pore size (down to 0.1 µm) could improve the sensitivity by at least 5 times. The VFI's limit-of-detection for CPS spiked in buffer solution was determined to be 0.02 ng/mL. The developed VFI shows great potential as a point-of-care tool for detection of bio-threat agents in a variety of clinical and resource-restricted conditions.
Using Bayesian methodology to incorporate personal knowledge when estimating average tons per acre of loblolly pine plantations

Foresters often don rsquo t fully utilize available information when estimating average stand tons ac ndash Previous experience and if available historic inventory data of the same tract or similar tracts can be used as prior information in a Bayesian context to reduce uncertainty associated with average ton estimates Bayesian methods produce a posterior distribution dependent both on the current forest inventory sample and prior information about the probabilities associated with any one average tons ac ndash actually being the true average tons A more complete description and background of using Bayesian methods to incorporate personal knowledge when estimating average tons is provided Additionally a practical example using data obtained from an actual forest inventory conducted in a loblolly pine Pinus taeda L plantation is presented Using conventional variable plot sampling techniques average tons was estimated at tonsac ndash However when determining a posterior distribution using a Beta distribution to quantify prior personal knowledge of similar sites the estimate of average tons changed to tons ac ndash When using a Uniform distribution to quantify prior knowledge the estimated average tons did not change For this example ton estimates were not substantially changed when using a Bayesian approach however the inferential statements that can be made about the true average tons are different than when using a frequentist inference approach
Uprooting Systems of Colonization: Naming Learning Ecologies as Eurocentric

“Uprooting Systems of Colonization: Naming Learning Ecologies as Eurocentric” demonstrates a process of uprooting systems of colonization, with a continued nurture that recognizes when unwanted weeds weaken the growth of our gardens. This deracinating introduces the audience to the coloniality of power as an historically long-seated problem plaguing urban communities today, particularly in formal and informal learning ecologies such as computer science education. We are also introduced to Itzel, a student, the protagonist of this narrative.
Is there room for children in booming western cities? Empirical evidence from Austin, Denver, and Portland

Abstract Austin, Denver, and Portland are all booming cities in or on the edge of the American West. Their thriving economies and natural and urban amenities have attracted large numbers of in-migrants. As housing prices rise, families with children in particular face diminished choices about where to live. This article asks three questions: How have the child populations of Austin, Denver, and Portland fared in recent decades? Is there a link between gentrification and a decrease in family households with children? And finally, to what extent do various housing types associate with more or fewer of these households? In brief, Austin, Denver, and Portland have fared reasonably well in maintaining family life, but neighborhoods with master-planned brownfield or greenfield developments appear to have accounted for a disproportionate share of the growth in their child populations, helping to offset sharp losses in gentrifying neighborhoods closer to the cities' urban cores. As these opportunities begin to diminish in all three cities, the strong association between compact single-family and “missing middle,” or middle density, housing types and households with children suggests pathways for these three cities and others like them to retain such households, by using policy to encourage these development types.
Corneal Injury Detection Using Apple iOS-Based Application Technology.

Purpose To describe the feasibility of an attachment-free iOS-based cobalt blue light application to accurately detect corneal injury. Methods Corneal epithelium from New Zealand White rabbits was removed by gentle scraping with a dulled scalpel or by using a classic biopsy punch (2 mm in diameter). Each cornea was then examined using a smartphone-enabled blue light after applying a fluorescein sodium ophthalmic strip. Photographs of each cornea before and after using the smartphone-based light were captured with a second smartphone device. Results The iOS-based (Apple Inc., Cuptertino, CA) cobalt blue light effectively illuminated fluorescein dye in all ex vivo samples. Both circular punch biopsy and linear scalpel-induced corneal injuries were readily identified. Conclusions The iOS-based cobalt blue light is a portable, low-cost, and effective alternative to commercially available cobalt blue lights.
Emergency Laparoscopic Repair of an Iatrogenic Gastric Perforation in a Hiatal Hernia following a Failed Endoscopic Closure.

Iatrogenic gastrointestinal perforation is a rare, life-threatening complication of endoscopic procedures, which requires either endoscopic or surgical repair. We report the account of an 82-year-old woman with an iatrogenic gastric perforation of a hiatal hernia secondary to an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedure. Despite immediate recognition of the complication and endoscopic closure with through-the-scope (TTS) clips, the patient developed mediastinitis, peritonitis, and sepsis. She subsequently underwent an emergency laparoscopic hiatal hernia dissection and repair of the perforation with mediastinal and peritoneal washout. Given the patient’s age and the degree of insult, subdiaphragmatic anchoring with abdominal drain placement was performed, and the hiatus was left open for additional drainage. The use of a side-viewing duodenoscope with the presence of a large hiatal hernia contributed to the risk of gastric perforation. We conclude that performing endoscopic procedures in patients with a known hiatal hernia should be carefully undertaken. If a perforation in such patients occurs, laparoscopic repair of such complications is feasible as demonstrated in this case video.
Accounting education literature review (2019)

Abstract This review of the accounting education literature includes 81 articles published during 2019 in five accounting education journals: (1) Journal of Accounting Education, (2) Accounting Education, (3) Advances in Accounting Education: Teaching and Curriculum Innovations, (4) Issues in Accounting Education, and (5) The Accounting Educators’ Journal. We update 14 prior accounting education literature reviews by organizing and summarizing contributions to the accounting education literature made during 2019. Articles are categorized into five sections corresponding to traditional knowledge bases: (1) curriculum and instruction, (2) instruction by content area, (3) educational technology, (4) students, and (5) faculty. We summarize and critique the research rigor of the empirical articles. Suggestions for research are presented. Articles classified as instructional resources and cases published in the same five journals during 2019 are tabulated in appendices categorized by the appropriate content area.
Nearest neighbour distributions: New statistical measures for cosmological clustering

The use of summary statistics beyond the two-point correlation function to analyze the non-Gaussian clustering on small scales is an active field of research in cosmology. In this paper, we explore a set of new summary statistics -- the $k$-Nearest Neighbor Cumulative Distribution Functions ($k{\rm NN}$-${\rm CDF}$). This is the empirical cumulative distribution function of distances from a set of volume-filling, Poisson distributed random points to the $k$-nearest data points, and is sensitive to all connected $N$-point correlations in the data. The $k{\rm NN}$-${\rm CDF}$ can be used to measure counts in cell, void probability distributions and higher $N$-point correlation functions, all using the same formalism exploiting fast searches with spatial tree data structures. We demonstrate how it can be computed efficiently from various data sets - both discrete points, and the generalization for continuous fields. We use data from a large suite of $N$-body simulations to explore the sensitivity of this new statistic to various cosmological parameters, compared to the two-point correlation function, while using the same range of scales. We demonstrate that the use of $k{\rm NN}$-${\rm CDF}$ improves the constraints on the cosmological parameters by more than a factor of $2$ when applied to the clustering of dark matter in the range of scales between $10h^{-1}{\rm Mpc}$ and $40h^{-1}{\rm Mpc}$. We also show that relative improvement is even greater when applied on the same scales to the clustering of halos in the simulations at a fixed number density, both in real space, as well as in redshift space. Since the $k{\rm NN}$-${\rm CDF}$ are sensitive to all higher order connected correlation functions in the data, the gains over traditional two-point analyses are expected to grow as progressively smaller scales are included in the analysis of cosmological data.
Discovery to Launch of Anti-allergy (Emadine; Patanol/Pataday/Pazeo) and Anti-glaucoma (Travatan; Simbrinza) Ocular Drugs, and Generation of Novel Pharmacological Tools Such as AL-8810.

The eye and eyesight are exquistly designed and are precious, and yet we often take them for granted. Good vision is critical for our long-term survival and for humanity's enduring progress. Unfortunately, since ocular diseases do not culminate in life-and-death scenarios, awareness of the plight of millions of people suffering from such eye ailments is not publicized as other diseases. However, losing eyesight or falling victim to visual impairment is a frightening outlook for most people. Glaucoma, a collection of chronic optic neuropathies, of which the most prevalent form, primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), is the second leading cause of irreversible blindness. POAG currently afflicts >70 million people worldwide and is an insidious, progressive, silent thief of sight that is asymptomatic. On the other hand, allergic conjunctivitis (AC), and the associated rhinitis ("hay-fever"), frequently victimizes a huge number of people worldwide, especially during seasonal changes. While not life-threatening, sufferers of AC soon learn the value of drugs to treat their signs and symptoms of AC as they desire rapid relief to overcome the ocular itching/pain, redness, and tearing AC causes. Herein, I will describe the collective efforts of many researchers whose industrious, diligent, and dedicated team work resulted in the discovery, biochemical/pharmacological characterization, development and eventual launch of drugs to treat AC (e.g., olopatadine [Patanol/Pataday/Pazeo] and emedastine [Emedine]), and for treating ocular hypertension and POAG (e.g., travoprost [Travatan ] and Simbrinza). This represents a personal perspective.
STUDY OF DIRECT-PHOTON AND PION PRODUCTION

We present comparisons of high-pT photon and pion production in hadronic interactions with expectations from next-to-leading order pertubative QCD (NLO pQCD). We also comment on phenomenological models of kT smearing (which approximate effects of additional soft-gluon emission) and on the status of resummation calculations.
Kurt W. Forster. Aby Warburgs Kulturwissenschaft: Ein Blick in die Abgründe der Bilder : Berlin: Matthes & Seitz, 2018, 255 pp., ISBN 978-3957572424

Aby Warburg's achievement, in Kurt Forster's view, lay not so much in his art historical and iconographical researches (significant as these were) as in the quest for a practice that would be able ...
Individually Tailoring Messages to Promote African American Men's Health.

In this paper, we describe our approach to individualizing messages to promote the health of middle-aged and older heterosexual, cisgender African American men. After arguing the importance of bein...
Rising from Jack Kerouac's Couch

"JACK KEROUAC SLEPT ON THAT SOFA," I announced in the morning. Wally, my nineteen-year-old cousin, bolted upright from his lethargic sprawl across the appalling wreck of my apartment's ratty red-velvet, cat-clawed couch. Wally's backpack, hiking boots, and cardboard hitchhik ing sign?upon which he had scrawled in coal-black marker pen with excellent penmanship, CALIFORNIA?had been strewn across my Oak land flat since his arrival the night before. I negotiated a path through the debris of my cousin's vagabond life and forced a cup of steaming black coffee into his fist.
Dopamine: A Novel Antitumor Agent Active Against B-16 Melanoma In Vivo

L-dopa methyl ester has been shown to be an effective antitumor agent against the B-16 melanoma in vivo . We have now examined the analog, dopamine, a major catabolite of L-dopa. Dopamine adaminstration at a daily dose of 600 mg/kg resulted in a 48% (p In vitro , an effect similar to that observed with L-dopa methyl ester was noted, specifically, a rapid and profound inhibition of thymidine incorporation with little effect on uridine or leucine incorporation. We have postulated that the inhibition of a DNA polymerase might be the site of action of these novel antitumor agents.
A comparison of the geminate recombination kinetics of several monomeric heme proteins.

The geminate rate constants for CO, O2, NO, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, and n-butyl isocyanide rebinding to soybean leghemoglobin and monomeric component II of Glycera dibranchiata hemoglobin were measured at pH 7, 20 degrees C using a dye laser with a 30-ns square-wave pulse. The results were compared to the corresponding parameters for sperm whale myoglobin and the isolated alpha and beta subunits of human hemoglobin (Olson, J.S., Rohlfs, R.J., and Gibson, Q.H. (1987) J. Biol. Chem., 262, 12930-12938). The rate-limiting step for O2, NO, and isonitrile binding to all five proteins is ligand migration up to the initial geminate state, and the rate of this process determines the overall bimolecular association rate constant for these ligands. In contrast, iron-ligand bond formation limits the overall bimolecular rate for CO binding. The distal pockets in leghemoglobin and in Glycera HbII are approximately 10 times more accessible kinetically to diatomic ligands than that in sperm whale myoglobin. This difference accounts for the much larger association rate constants (1-2 x 10(8) M-1 s-1) that are observed for O2 and NO binding to leghemoglobin and Glycera HbII. The rates of isonitrile migration through leghemoglobin are also very large and indicate a very fluid or open distal structure near the sixth coordination position. In contrast, there is a marked decrease in the rate of migration up to and away from the sixth coordination position in Glycera HbII with increasing ligand size. These results were also used to interpret previously published rate constants and quantum yields for the high (R) and low (T) affinity states of human hemoglobin. In contrast to the differences between the monomeric proteins, the differences between the CO-, O2-, and NO-binding parameters for R and T state hemoglobin appear to be due to a decrease in the geminate reactivity of the heme iron atom, with little or no change in the accessibility of the distal pocket.
Dextran-based hydrogel to regulate tissue growth

A dextran hydrogel was synthesized from cross-linking a blend of acryloylated dextran and dextran bioconjugate. The conjugated dextran contains matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) sensitive peptides forming crosslinks that promotes cell-induced enzymatic degradation of the hydrogel and migration through the gel. By changing the ratio of cleavable cross-links to stable cross-links in the hydrogel, the extent of cell invasion into the gel (tissue ingrowth) can be regulated. At twenty-four hours, the extent of migration ranged from 0.25 to 13.6% area covered by cells based on the level of degradable crosslinks within the gel. It was discovered that the gel proportion containing 80% acryloylated dextran and 20% conjugated dextran limited the most cell migration.
Fast model based stereo matching using SOAR

Stereo correspondence is maybe the most prominent step in extraction of three dimensional structure of a scene from two or more images taken from distinct viewpoints. The correspondence problem consists of determining the locations in each image that are projections of the same physical point in space. This paper introduces a novel model based stereo matching algorithm using System of Associative Relations (SOAR) computational model. SOAR makes use of pair-wise pixel interactions to determine the underlying structure of associations within the token. The proposed stereo correspondence algorithm utilizes feature vectors (tokens) formed by direction of derivatives which constitute SOAR feature vectors. The algorithm proposed here is simple and easily realizable in hardware. Proposed algorithm is observed to yield equivalent matching performance at lower computation cost.
Predator Perception of Batesian Mimicry and Conspicuousness in a Salamander

In Batesian mimicry a palatable mimic deceives predators by resembling an unpalatable model. The evolution of Batesian mimicry relies on the visual capabilities of the potential predators, as prey detection provides the selective force driving evolutionary change. We compared the visual capabilities of several potential predators to test predictions stemming from the hypothesis of Batesian mimicry between two salamanders: the model species Notophthalmus viridescens, and polymorphic mimic, Plethodon cinereus. First, we found mimicry to be restricted to coloration, but not brightness. Second, only bird predators appeared able to discriminate between the colors of models and nonmimic P. cinereus. Third, estimates of salamander conspicuousness were background dependent, corresponding to predictions only for backgrounds against which salamanders are most active. These results support the hypothesis that birds influence the evolution of Batesian mimicry in P. cinereus, as they are the only group examined capable of differentiating N. viridescens and nonmimetic P. cinereus. Additionally, patterns of conspicuousness suggest that selection from predators may drive the evolution of conspicuousness in this system. This study confirms the expectation that the visual abilities of predators may influence the evolution of Batesian mimicry, but the role of conspicuousness may be more complex than previously thought.
Redemption, Fairness, and the Politics of Transformation in the Obama Presidency

Every new president raises many questions in the public mind. Because Barack Obama was a relative newcomer to the national political scene, he raised more questions than most and still does two years into his presidency. Who is Barack Obama, really? I trace the intertwined developmental arcs of the president's late-blooming ambition and his ambivalent relationships with both of his parents and his own core identity. Obama's efforts to reconcile the conflicting experiences and feelings he had as he navigated these psychological currents have a great deal to do with how he has approached his presidency. Obama is a president of enormous intelligence and considerable political skill, but his presidency has faltered in part because of the mismatch between his redemptive and transformational ambitions and the public's willingness and readiness to support them.
Is there a role for surgical resection in the treatment of early-stage pancreatic lymphoma?

Abstract Background: Pancreatic lymphoma is a rare neoplasm. The role of surgical resection in curing this disease is poorly defined. Study Design: From March 1983 to July 1997, eight patients with stage I or II primary pancreatic lymphoma were identified and retrospectively reviewed. All patients received chemotherapy, five patients received radiotherapy, and three patients also underwent surgical resection. A review of the published pancreatic lymphoma experience in the English-language literature was also undertaken. Results: Three patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy with successful resection of the lymphoma and are disease free at 64, 62, and 53 months followup. Five patients were treated with nonresectional therapy. Three are disease free at 128, 51, and 24 months. Two patients died of disease at 9 and 37 months. A review of the pancreatic lymphoma experience in the English- language literature identified 122 cases of pancreatic lymphoma. Fifty-eight of these cases represented stage I or II lymphoma, which was treated without surgical resection with a 46% cure rate. Fifteen patients who had surgical resection for localized disease have been reported with a 94% cure rate. Conclusions: Based on both our single institution experience and the literature, it is suggested that surgical resection may play a beneficial role in the treatment of localized pancreatic lymphoma, although selection factors cannot be absolutely excluded.
Epstein-Barr Virus RNA Detection and Glandular Differentiation in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Abstract Most tumors arising in the nasopharynx are either squamous cell carcinoma or so-called undifferentiated carcinoma of the nasopharyngeal type. Primary adenocarcinomas of the nasopharynx are rare, and glandular differentiation in undifferentiated carcinoma of the nasopharyngeal type has not been reported to date. We report 2 cases of undifferentiated carcinoma of the nasopharyngeal type that show distinct glandular differentiation by light microscopy, histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, and ultrastructure. Both tumors showed equal positivity for Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein and in situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus genome in the undifferentiated areas of the tumor and those featuring glandular differentiation.
Disruptions in Resting State Functional Connectivity and Cerebral Blood Flow in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is often occult to conventional imaging techniques. However, there is growing evidence that mTBI patients who lack evidence of structural intracranial injury may develop post-concussive syndrome (PCS). We investigated longitudinal alterations in resting state functional connectivity (rs-FC) in brain networks in a population of 28 patients compared to 28 matched control participants. Rs-FC and cerebral blood flow (CBF) within the nodes of the Default Mode Network (DMN) and Task Positive Network (TPN) were assessed at three time points including acute, sub-acute, and chronic stages following mTBI. Participants received the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM) to assess cognitive performance. Main findings indicate that despite normalized cognitive performance, chronic mTBI patients demonstrate increased rs-FC between the DMN and regions associated with the salience network (SN) and TPN compared to the control populations, as well as reduced strength of rs-FC within the DMN at the acute stage of injury. In addition, chronic mTBI patients demonstrate an imbalance in the ratio of CBF between nodes of the DMN and TPN. Furthermore, preliminary exploratory analysis suggests that compared to those without chronic PCS, patients with chronic PCS reveal an imbalance in the ratio of CBF between the DMN nodes and TPN nodes across multiple stages of recovery. Findings suggest that the altered network perfusion with the associated changes in rs-FC may be a possible predictor of which mTBI patients will develop chronic PCS.
Ultrastructural analysis of the functional copulatory organ of the male rotifer, Asplanchna brightwelli

The male rotifer copulatory organ is composed of a urethral canal extending from the tip of the copulatory organ internally to a layer of microvilli. The microvilli project from two different cell types, referred to as the internal and peripheral microvillar cells according to their location. At this microvillar junction a second canal, the vas deferens, continues posteriorly and enters the sperm duct region of the testis. The channel of the vas deferens is formed from the inner wall of three separate cells; the cap, intermediate and basal cells. Peripheral to these cells and parallel to them for their entire length, cross sections of seven prostate gland cells can be observed. Anteriorly, these gland cells are connected to the basal end of the microvillar layer via a short neck region, through which glandular secretion occurs only during copulation. The mechanism of secretion appears to be a form of exocytosis whereby the secretory granule membrane fuses with the cell plasmalemma so that rupturing at the point of fusion will release the granule content into the neck region. The prostate gland cells contain an abundance of autophagic vacuoles while most of the other cells of the copulatory organ contain primary lysosomes and cytolosomes. These organelles may be associated with the aging process in rotifers, or, as in the case of the prostate gland-autophagic vacuoles, with a fast organelle turnover during secretion.
Antiandrogen effects in models of androgen responsive cancer.

Abstract The ability of antiandrogens to antagonize androgen effects in androgen responsive tissues is well estabished. Antiandrogens may diminish in vivo or in vitro proliferation of some androgen responsive cancer cells without causing cessation of multiplication. These model studies are representative of clinical experience in treatment of human prostate cancer with antiandrogen therapy. Recent studies in the AXC/SSh rat prostate cancer model show that these cancer cells elaborate polypeptide growth factors which stimulate their proliferation. If growth factor production by these cells is androgen independent, this may provide an explanation for failure of androgen ablation or antiandrogen treatment to effectively halt prostate cancer cell proliferation.
Laser treatment of urethral condyloma: A five-year experience

Abstract Objective Twenty cases of men treated with the neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet(Nd:YAG) laser for meatal and/or urethral condyloma over five years were reviewed. Method All patients underwent Nd:YAG laser treatment of visible lesions as outpatientsunder general anesthesia using the visual urethrotome sheath and 0° lens. Follow-up urethroscopy was performed at three-month intervals. Cure of the gross disease was defined as negative findings on two sequential follow-up urethroscopies. Results All patients with gross condylomatous disease were verified to have type6/11 human papillomavirus. Ninety-five percent had meatal condylomata of which 42 percent had concomitant distal urethral lesions. Thirty percent were cured of gross disease after one treatment, while 40 percent needed two, three, four, or five separate treatments before gross cure was obtained. Thirty percent had insufficient follow-up. Only 2 of the patients experiencing recurrence did so after negative finding on one follow-up urethroscopy. Conclusions We believe attempts at cure of gross urethral condylomatous disease should be made because of its unsightliness and symptoms such as split stream and bleeding. Cure of gross disease with the Nd:YAG laser, as evidenced by our results, is possible. However, it may require several treatments. Follow-up urethroscopy is recommended in all patients because of the high incidence of recurrence and concomitant distal urethral involvement in those patients with meatal disease.
Sexual differentiation of vasopressin innervation of the brain: cell death versus phenotypic differentiation.

In most vertebrates studied, males have more vasopressin (VP) cells in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, or homologous vasotocin cells in nonmammalian species, than females. Previous research excluded differential cell birth and migration as likely mechanisms underlying this difference, leaving just differential cell death and phenotypic differentiation of existing cells. To differentiate between these remaining possibilities, we compared VP cell number in wild-type mice vs. mice overexpressing the anti-cell death factor, Bcl-2. All animals were gonadectomized in adulthood and given testosterone capsules. Three weeks later, brains were processed for in situ hybridization to identify VP cells. Bcl-2 overexpression increased VP cell number in both sexes but did not reduce the sex difference. We repeated this experiment in mice with a null mutation of the pro-cell death gene, Bax, and obtained similar results; cell number was increased in Bax−/− mice of both sexes, but males had about 40% more VP cell...
Selective Reoperation for Locally Recurrent or Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Following Primary Pancreatic Resection

Background Resection of certain recurrent malignancies can prolong survival, but resection of recurrent pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is typically contraindicated because of poor outcomes.
The Separation Of The Optical Transfer Function In A Turbulent Medium

The only condition for separation of the optical transfer function treated in the literature is the long-exposure (ensemble average) condition. Other conditions are considered here. One particular condition based upon the Taylor "frozen atmosphere" hypothesis may be widely applicable for intermediate exposure times. A computer simulation for testing separation in this case is proposed.© (1976) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Not through my skin: Political resistance and the female body in Péter Tímár's Egészséges Erotika/Sound Eroticism (1985)

ABSTRACTEastern European film satires from the 1960s onwards often introduce highly erotic and mischievous female characters, whose unruliness can be seen as rebelling against oppressive and irrational conditions. Yet, the revolutionizing force of female erotica, paradoxically, comes in a form of fetishistic fantasy that reinvigorates a heavily gendered political agency. In other words, women's bodies serve specifically masculine desires for political liberation in pleasurable ways. My analysis of Peter Timar's film, Egeszseges Erotika/Sound Eroticism (1985) shows that while the satires effectively and poignantly mock the last stage of socialist decadence and extreme bureaucratic despotism, they also use the female body as prey for their critical agenda.
Anomalous biliary drainage associated with pancreaticobiliary maljunction and nondilatation of the common bile duct

A case report is presented of an infant with jejunal atresia and hyperbilirubinemia with diagnosed pancreaticobiliary maljunction without choledochal dilatation. Common channel insertion was into the third portion of the duodenum.
Elasticity Models for the Spherical Indentation of Gels and Soft Biological Tissues

AFM micro- or nanoindentation is a powerful technique for mapping the elasticity of materials at high resolution. When applied to soft matter, however, its accuracy is equivocal. The sources of the uncertainty can be methodological or analytical in nature. In this paper, we address the lack of practicable nonlinear elastic contact models, which frequently compels the use of Hertzian models in analyzing force curves. We derive and compare approximate force­ indentation relations based on a number of hyperelastic general strain energy functions. These models were applied to existing data from the spherical indentation of native mouse cartilage tissue as well as chemically crosslinked poly( vinyl alcohol) gels. For the biological tissue, the Fung and single-term Ogden models were found to provide the best fit of the data while the Mooney-Rivlin and van der Waals models were most suitable for the synthetic gels. The other models (neo-Hookean, two-term reduced polynomial, Fung, van der Waals, and Hertz) were effective to varying degrees. The Hertz model proved to be acceptable for the synthetic gels at small strains ( <20% for the samples tested). Although this finding supports the generally accepted view that many soft elastic materials can be assumed to be linear elastic at small strains, we propose the use of the nonlinear models when evaluating the large-strain indentation response of gels and tissues.
AVO Inversion And Direct Hydrocarbon Detection

A prediction-error style of model parameterization is designed to detect the presence of hydrocarbons as anomalies relative to the background reflectivity. The three-term linearized approximation to the Zoeppritz equations is reformulated such that one term is sufficient to model the background reflectivity (where the apriori assumptions are valid). Two other terms describe the perturbations relative to the apriori assumptions.
Preliminary Assessment of Gadodiamide-Enhanced, Complex-Difference Phase-Contrast Magnetic Resonance Angiography

Rationale and Objectives. Enhancement of the vascular signal in complex-difference, phase-contrast (CDPC) angiography can be achieved by administering a gadolinium chelate. Enhancement occurs because the vascular signal in CDPC angiography is a function of both velocity and the magnitude of the steady-state magnetization. Methods. We examined 55 patients by phase-contrast magnetic resonance before and following gadodiamide injection administration. We assessed readers' subjective confidence in reviewing the resultant images. Results. Gadodiamide enhancement increases the steady-state magnetization of blood by reducing the T1, thus increasing the vascular signal. In this preliminary clinical trial, small arteries (2–3 mm in diameter), venous structures, and pathologic conditions with slow flow were visualized better following contrast enhancement. Conclusion. The increase in vascular signal related to this technique correlated with experimental predictions and subjectively resulted in improved diagnostic confidence.
Differential sensitivity of viruses to the antiviral activity of Shiga toxin 1 A subunit

Abstract The non-toxic enzymic A subunit of Shiga toxin 1 (StxA1) reduces expression and replication of the bovine retroviruses, bovine leukemia virus and bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV). Here, the impact of StxA1 on representative positive and negative stranded RNA viruses was compared. BIV and equine infectious anemia virus were sensitive to picomolar concentrations of StxA1 while poliovirus, rhinovirus, and vesicular stomatitis virus were only marginally sensitive to nanomolar concentrations of toxin. Thus, the length of the reproductive cycle and/or other factors, but not viral encapsulation may play a role in determining sensitivity to StxA1. The effects of StxA1 at concentrations from 0.01 to 10 μg/ml on the most sensitive virus (BIV-infected cultures of fetal bovine lung cells) were analyzed by electron microscopy 48 h post challenge. Cells treated with 0.1 μg StxA1/ml or higher toxin concentrations were similar in appearance and showed progressively fewer viral factories with increasing toxin concentration. However, cells treated with 0.01 μg/ml StxA1 had a radically different appearance, exhibiting smooth cell membranes and high vacuolization. These results showed that complex retroviruses were more sensitive to StxA1 than single-stranded RNA viruses and that StxA1 interfered with retroviral replication in a concentration-dependent manner.
A pilot investigation of the Graduated Recovery Intervention Program (GRIP) for first episode psychosis

The Graduated Recovery Intervention Program (GRIP) is a new individual cognitive-behavioral therapy program designed to facilitate functional recovery in people who have experienced an initial episode of psychosis. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the feasibility and tolerability of the GRIP intervention, and to compare the effectiveness of GRIP versus treatment as usual (TAU) for improving specific clinical and psychosocial outcomes. Forty-six individuals with first episode psychosis were randomized to GRIP+TAU or TAU alone. Primary outcomes focused on social and role functioning, and quality of life. Secondary outcomes included psychotic symptoms, depression, substance use, social support, attitudes toward medications, well-being, and hospitalizations. The results indicate that GRIP was well-tolerated, as evidenced by good attendance and low drop-out rates, and well-received (based on positive feedback from participants). Although the majority of mixed model analyses were not statistically significant, examination of within-group changes and effect sizes suggests an advantage for GRIP over TAU in improving functional outcomes. These advantages and the fact that the GRIP intervention demonstrated feasibility and tolerability suggest that this intervention is worthy of further investigation.
Symbolic phonetic features for modeling of pronunciation variation

A significant source of variation in spontaneous speech is due to intra-speaker pronunciation changes, often realized as small feature changes, e.g., nasalized vowels or affricated stops, rather than full phone transformations. Previous computational modeling of pronunciation variation has typically involved transformations from one phone to another, in part because most speech processing systems use phone-based units. Here, a phonetic-feature-based prediction model is presented where phones are represented by a vector of symbolic features that can be on, off, unspecified or unused. Feature interaction is examined using different groupings of possibly dependent features, and a hierarchical grouping with conditional dependencies led to the best results. Feature-based models are shown to be more efficient than phone-based models, in the sense of requiring fewer parameters to predict variation while giving smaller distance and perplexity values when comparing predictions to the hand-labeled reference. A parsimonious model is better suited to incorporating new conditioning factors, and this work investigates high-level information sources, including both text (syntax, discourse) and prosody cues. Experiments show that feature-based models benefit from prosody cues, but not text, and that phone-based models do not benefit from any of the high-level cues explored here.
Role of the senile plaque in neuropeptide deficits of Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract 1. Senile plaques participate in a cropping of the dendritic tree of enkephalinergic dentate granule cells and hl and subicular pyramidal cells. 2. Somatostatin-containing pyramidal neurons are lost in Alzheimer's disease, whereas nonpyramidal somatostatin neurons are less affected. Fibers containing somatostatin penetrate immature, but not end-stage senile plaques. 3. The senile plaque may precipitate much of the hippocampal denervation seen in Alzheimer's disease.
Learning from Writing in College Biology

This study used both quantitative and qualitative analyses to examine the influence of written arguments on learning in a college level introductory biology class and the types of metacognition employed by students while writing. Comparison of a treatment and control group indicates that the writing assignments used had minimal impact on overall content learning as measured by conventional exams. Subsequent interviews and think-aloud protocols with a subset of students indicated that writing arguments had the potential to foster learning through forward and backward search strategies. However, few of the students took advantage of this opportunity to use metacognitive skills. This study suggests that preparing written arguments is not sufficient, by itself, to have a reliable effect on student learning and is consistent with the view that students must be explicitly taught when and how to use different metacognitive strategies.
A Unified Approach to Model-Reference Adaptive Systems Part I: Theory

A unified approach to model-reference adaptive control systems is presented. A linearized error equation for each adaptive system is derived about some operating point and converted into the standard form for plotting root loci. The contribution made here is to convert the selection of an adaptive technique and the choosing of adaptive coefficients for some desired system performance from a "mystical art" to standard control techniquess.
Dreaming of robots: an interview with Bruce Sterling

Bruce Sterling is a 50-year-old cyberpunk who is currently "Provocateur-in-Residence" at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. His many works of science fiction include a number of robots, especially the novel and short-story cycle Schismatrix Plus.
Ammonia-ammonium leaching of deep-sea manganese nodules

Abstract Ammonia-ammonium leaching of samples of nodules from several different locations was carried out after reduction of the nodules under CO CO 2 gas mixtures at 400, 600, and 800°C. In accordance with thermodynamic analysis, nickel, copper and cobalt oxides in the nodules are preferentially reduced with a 60 40 gas mixture of CO CO 2 . After an initial reduction step with CO CO 2 at 600°C, leaching at room temperature and atmospheric pressure with aqueous ammonia-ammonium carbonate and ammonia-ammonium sulfate solutions yielded high extractions of copper and nickel (> 80%), and close to 50% for cobalt. The nature of the pores in nodules from different locations appears to affect the extraction process. A lower reduction temperature is required to obtain the same extraction of nickel, copper and cobalt in a sulfate system than is necessary in a carbonate system. However, a higher manganese content results in the sulfate leaching solutions as compared to the carbonate system, where essentially none of the manganese and iron are extracted.