cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
OP VI – 6 A comparative analysis of cancer rates due to environmental radioactive contamination within identified zones in the town of mailu-suu, from 2006–2015

Background/aim The town of Mailuu-Suu in Jalalabad Province was, during the time of the USSR, a uranium ore mining and processing town consisting of 23 uranium tailing pits and 13 dumps. The objective was to study cancer rates and death cases within three identified zones of contamination in the town of Mailuu-Suu. Methods Researcher’s fieldwork and archival data from the Mailuu-Suu hospital were used. An Eberline (FH40 F2)gamma radiation radiometer and dosimeter was used to measure the power of absorbed doses of a gamma radiation. Radiometric measurements were carried out in the houses and in the yards (if a private house, then on the entire area of the farm). A total number of 89 measurements were taken at various areas or zones of the city. Results In 10 years (2006–2015) in the town of Mailuu-Suu 197 people was dying because of cancer and 235 new cases of cancer disease were known. Zone 1 – Sary-Bee. Background gamma radiation was recorded within 40 mR/h – 640 mR/h in this zone. Total new cases of cancer disease was 22 with attributable 23 deaths. Zone 2 is located in the centre of the town of Mailuu-Suu. Background gamma radiation was recorded within 40 mR/h – 145 mR/h in this zone. Strong contrations of Radon were found in the air. Total new cases of cancer were 193 with 163 attributable deaths. Zone 3 – Kok-Tash is located in the lower part of the town and downstream of the tailing pits, dumps Total new cases of cancer were 20 with 11 attributable deaths. Conclusion The greatest number of cancer patients identified in this study were located in Zone 2 or the central part of the town. A primary cause of the high cancer rates found here are attributable to the high concentrations of radon in the air. Lung, stomach and breast cancer were found to be the most common types of cancer in the town of Mailuu-Suu.
Exosome RNAs as Biomarkers and Targets for Cancer Therapy

Abstract Exosomes are now realized as important contributors in cellular communication, which can transport many biological molecules and perturb physiological changes in the recipient cells. Several researchers have suggested that the content of exosomes changes when they are released from cells under physiological (i.e., disease) or physical stress. Because noncoding RNAs, such as miRNA (miRNA) and long noncoding RNA, form a major component of exosome cargo, they have been regarded as a vital source of biomarkers and therapeutic cargo. This chapter discusses in detail the noncoding RNAs present in the exosome and the literature exploring the use of exosome miRNAs as biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment response in major cancer types. The technology and newer methods of studying exosome RNAs are also reviewed.
A New Search Algorithm for Allocating Pilots in Asymptotic TDD Massive MIMO Systems

This paper proposes a novel heuristic algorithm that mitigates pilot contamination in Massive MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) systems by optimizing the allocation of pilots, which are a shared resource among base stations (BSs). The goal is to minimize the effect of pilot contamination caused by interference from reusing the same pilot sequence from multiple user equipment (UE) in different cells. Specifically, we aim to maximize the minimum uplink signal to interference ratio (SIR) through the network by assigning the same pilot to the UEs in different cells that cause the least amount of interference. For this purpose, the algorithm starts with two cells that have the worst arithmetic mean of the potential SIR between their users. Then the algorithm continues the assignment procedure for the rest of the cells depending on the arithmetic mean of the worst potential SIR of the users of a cell and the users of the already assigned cells. The simulation results showed that our results are very close to the optimal solution where the exhaustive search is feasible, and outperforms the results obtained from recently published related work which served as a benchmark when the exhaustive search could not be applied to the search space size.
Muon-cooling research and development

The MuCool R&D program is described. The aim of MuCool is to develop all key pieces of hardware required for ionization cooling of a muon beam. This effort will lead to a more detailed understanding of the construction and operating costs of such hardware, as well as to optimized designs that can be used to build a Neutrino Factory or Muon Collider. This work is being undertaken by a broad collaboration including physicists and engineers from many national laboratories and universities in the US and abroad. The intended schedule of work will lead to ionization cooling being established well enough that a construction decision for a Neutrino Factory could be taken before the end of this decade based on a solid technical foundation.
Chapter 8 – L2CAP

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the logical link control and adaptation protocol (L2CAP), which is a multiplexing layer that allows several higher-level protocols or applications to use Bluetooth communications. L2CAP is one of three APIs for Bluetooth communication that are available to JABWT applications. JABWT provides a packet-based API for L2CAP as opposed to the stream-based APIs available for serial port and OBEX. The L2CAP layer is on the host side of the HCI; it uses HCI to communicate with the baseband layer in the Bluetooth radio module. All Bluetooth data communications use L2CAP, but Bluetooth voice communications do not. Several protocols sit on top of the L2CAP layer and use L2CAP to provide access to the Bluetooth hardware in the Bluetooth radio module. The SDP and the RFCOMM protocol are two of these higher-level protocols.
Chapter 11 – Dystonia

Dystonia is characterized by sustained or intermittent muscle contractions causing abnormal, often repetitive, movements, postures, or both. Dystonic movements are typically patterned, twisting, and may be tremulous. Dystonia is often initiated or worsened by voluntary action and associated with overflow muscle activation. The causes of dystonia in children are numerous, ranging from genetic conditions with dystonia as the only manifestation, genetic conditions in which dystonia is accompanied by other features, and acquired conditions. Treatment strategies include oral medications, botulinum toxin, deep brain stimulation, and adaptive therapies.
A mild Younger Dryas recorded in southeastern Alaska

Palynological and sedimentological analyses of lacustrine cores from Baker Island, located in southeastern Alaska’s Alexander Archipelago, indicate that the beginning of the Younger Dryas chronozon...
Control of Learning in Anticoordination Network Games

Many games have undesirable Nash equilibria. In such games, a designer's goal is to avoid “bad” equilibria. In this article, we focus on which players to control and how to control them so that the emerging outcome of learning dynamics is desirable. In particular, we consider best-response-type learning dynamics for an anticoordination network game. The designer's goal is to achieve maximum anticoordination with the fewest number of players to control at each round. Our analysis shows that despite the incentive to anticoordinate with neighbors, selfish agents may fail to do so. Accordingly, we relate optimal policies for obtaining maximum anticoordination to the set of Nash equilibria. Noting the combinatorial problem of optimally selecting players in benchmark networks, we develop suboptimal solutions via solving a minimum vertex-cover problem, and by greedily selecting players based on their potential to induce cascading effects. Numerical experiments on random networks show that the cascade-based greedy algorithm can lower the control effort significantly compared to random public advertising policies. Moreover, its control effort is no more than twice the optimal control effort in the worst case.
Self-Learning Traditional vs Simulation-Based Education of Medical Residents for Mechanical Ventilation

Background: Training of physicians on mechanical ventilation (MV) is highly variable among residency programs and little is known about best practices. In particular, few studies have compared online learning (eg, PowerPoint module) to computer-based simulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of a patient-ventilator simulator to facilitate MV education compared to traditional education with lecture slides, as a self-directed study of basic MV concepts. The hypothesis was the software-based patient-ventilator simulator results in more MV knowledge acquisition (ie, higher scores on a written test) compared to traditional education. Methods: The study was approved by the Cleveland Clinic (CCF) Institutional review board. Study participants were Internal Medicine Residents at CCF Main Campus and Fairview Hospital, whom we expect to have no substantive experience with MV and were enrolled during March and April 2019. Participants were randomly assigned to two learning tool groups; traditional lectures based on PowerPoint slides (TG) and patient-ventilator simulator programmed in Microsoft Excel (SG). The simulation-based group (SG) was also given an abbreviated set of slides that present the same content as the traditional group (TG) for definition of terms. In the SG, all graphic descriptions were presented with the simulator. Both groups were given the same pre-and post-test to evaluate knowledge acquisition. Outcome data were mean differences between the pre-test and post-test scores. Data were compared with t-tests and P
Explaining persistent incomplete mixing in multicomponent reactive transport with Eulerian stochastic model

Abstract We present an Eulerian stochastic advection–diffusion–reaction (SADR) model and use it to explain incomplete mixing typically observed in transport experiments with bimolecular reactions. Unlike traditional advection–dispersion–reaction (ADR) models, the SADR model describes mechanical and diffusive mixing as two separate processes. In the SADR model, mechanical mixing is driven by random advective velocity whose variance is given by the coefficient of mechanical dispersion. The diffusive mixing is modeled as a Fickian diffusion process with the effective diffusion coefficient. We demonstrate that the sum of the two coefficients is equal to the dispersion coefficient, but only the effective diffusion coefficient contributes to the mixing-controlled reactions. We use experimental results of Gramling et al. ** to show that for transport and bimolecular reactions in porous media, the SADR model is significantly more accurate than the ADR model, which overestimates the concentration of the reaction product by as much as 60%. We also show that the SADR model predicts an experimentally observed bell-shaped spatial distribution of the reactive product concentration, while the ADR model results in a concentration distribution with an unphysical kink.
Using a Modified Surprise Question as a Tool to Improve Primary Palliative Care in a Neurocritical Care Unit.

Background Specialty palliative care is a limited resource. The surprise question (“Would you be surprised if this patient died within the next 12 months?”) is a screening tool for clinicians to identify people nearing the end of life. The researchers used a modified surprise question (MSQ) to improve primary palliative care in a neurocritical care unit. Methods A palliative care physician attended interdisciplinary rounds up to three days a week and asked the primary neurocritical care team, for each patient admitted in the previous 24 hours, the MSQ: “Would you be surprised if this patient died during this hospital stay?” If the response was “No,” the unit social worker identified the patient's surrogate decision maker (SDM), and the primary team was encouraged to conduct a goals of care (GOC) conversation. The frequency of SDM documentation, occurrence and timing of GOC conversations, and palliative care and hospice consultations were measured for the baseline six months before the intervention, and six months after. Results Among 350 patients admitted to the neurocritical care unit during the study, the age, gender, prehospitalization presence of advance directives, and mortality were comparable between the baseline (n = 173) and intervention (n = 177) periods. Compared to the baseline period, there was a higher frequency during the intervention period of documentation of SDM (31.8% vs. 54.2%, p = 0.00002), all GOC conversations (35.3% vs. 53.1%, p = 0.008), GOC conversations conducted by the primary team (27.2% vs. 47.5%, p = 0.00009), palliative care consultations (11.6% vs. 23.2%, p = 0.004), and hospice consultations (2.3% vs. 9.6%, p = 0.004). Conclusion The MSQ can be used as a tool to identify the risk of mortality, facilitate palliative care delivered by the primary team, and improve end-of-life care.
Achieving Computation-Communication Overlap with Overdecomposition on GPU Systems

The landscape of high performance computing is shifting towards a collection of multi-GPU nodes, widening the gap between on-node compute and off-node communication capabilities. Consequently, the ability to tolerate communication latencies and maximize utilization of the compute hardware are becoming increasingly important in achieving high performance. Overdecomposition has been successfully adopted on traditional CPU-based systems to achieve computation-communication overlap, significantly reducing the impact of communication on application performance. However, it has been unclear whether overdecomposition can provide the same benefits on modern GPU systems. In this work, we address the challenges in achieving computation-communication overlap with overdecomposition on GPU systems using the Charm++ parallel programming system. By prioritizing communication with CUDA streams in the application and supporting asynchronous progress of GPU operations in the Charm++ runtime system, we obtain improvements in overall performance of up to 50% and 47% with proxy applications Jacobi3D and MiniMD, respectively.
An Assessment of the Cues College Students Interpret From a Sexual Partner to Determine They Are Refusing.

The purpose of this study was to assess the cues college students use to determine a sexual partner is refusing vaginal-penile sex (i.e., refusal interpretations). As a secondary aim, we explored t...
The role of executive functioning deficits in the association between substance-use-related stigma and substance use problems among trauma-exposed individuals.

Background: Previous research has linked the internalization of shame and negative stereotypes associated with substance use to increased severity of substance use problems (i.e., negative conseque...
Statistical Equivalence Testing of Higher-Order Protein Structures with Differential Hydrogen Exchange-Mass Spectrometry (HX-MS)

Hydrogen exchange-mass spectrometry (HX-MS) is widely recognized for its potential utility for establishing the equivalence of the higher-order structures of proteins, particularly in comparability and similarity contexts. However, recent progress in the statistical analysis of HX-MS data has instead placed an emphasis on significance testing to identify regions of proteins where there are significant differences in HX between two or more protein states. In the cases involving assessment of similarity or equivalence of the higher-order structure of different protein samples (e.g., biosimilars), significance testing of HX-MS data is unsuitable. To meet this need, we have adapted the univariate two one-sided test (TOST) equivalence testing method for HX-MS data. Equivalence acceptance criteria were determined using maximum deviations from randomized resampling of truly equivalent samples to define hybrid equivalence criteria (maximum deviation of true equivalents, MDTE). Application of the TOST-MDTE test on differential HX-MS measurements of wild-type and mutated maltose-binding proteins demonstrates that the equivalence testing method was fit-for-purpose. Three infliximab biosimilars (Remsima, Renflexis, and Inflectra) were found to be equivalent to their Remicade reference product based on differential HX-MS measurements, while 5% deglycosylated NIST mAb was not statistically equivalent to the unmodified NIST mAb reference.
Brief Comparison of Tandem and Cascaded Solar Cells

Current review is focused on comparison of technology, design and fabrication of hetero-structured solar cells made in different configurations and using different materials. The widely studied hetero-structured solar cells are represented by two major groups, namely, tandem, and cascaded solar cell configurations. The major element in solar cell of both groups is intrinsic region of the designed p-i-n junction, where electron – hole pairs are generated by absorbed light and, most importantly, separated one from the other. The energy gap and absorption coefficient of semiconductor used for the i-region defines the harvested part of solar spectra and efficiency of solar cell. Tandem solar cells are built as stacks of separate p-n junctions, where every junction is made of a semiconductor with preselected energy gaps Eg, absorbing different part of sun spectra. Connected in sequence with decreasing values of energy gap from top to bottom, these stacks in a tandem cell harvest different segments of sun spectra. On the contrary, cascaded solar cell consist of a set of i-regions made of semiconductors with different energy gaps built into a single p-n junction. The thickness of every i-region is designed to provide maximum absorption for preselected part of the sun spectra. In current study, we compare for both groups the ability to harvest widest part of sun spectra, efficiency, complexity of design, as well as cost of solar cell production.
Unified family courts: a saving grace for victims of domestic violence living in nations with fragmented court systems

Fragmented court systems are especially problematic for domestic violence victims because they typically are involved in more than one proceeding that stems from the same pattern of abuse. The proceedings are handled in different courts and before different judges, who are often unaware of these orders being issued in other proceedings. Consequently, conflicting orders are prevalent and the protection and needs of victims are often not met. A unified family court, on the other hand, provides one court with the subject-matter jurisdiction to handle all family-related matters and one judge to hear all cases that involve a single family, resulting in conflicting orders being issued less frequently. Additionally, the needs of victims are better served as a result of the services component. Given the fragmented state of the court systems in New York and Pennsylvania, United States; Alberta, Canada; and Australia, unified family courts should be implemented in each locality. Language: en
Pergolide as primary therapy for macroprolactinomas.

The objective of this study is to determine whether pergolide therapy is an effective modality for the de novo treatment of patients with macroprolactinomas. Twenty-two consecutive patients with macroprolactinomas were included in the study and followed prospectively. These included 16 men and 6 women in whom pregnancy was not of concern. Pergolide was administered once or twice a day depending on the patient's preference. Ten patients received 0.1 mg daily as a maintenance regimen and in the others the daily dose ranged from 0.05 to 0.5 mg. Eight patients reported minor but tolerable side effects. One patient had to be switched to cabergoline because of intolerable nausea. After a mean of 12 months (range, 3–36), mean PRL levels declined from 3,135 ng/ml (range, 126–31,513) to 50 ng/ml (3–573), representing a mean PRL suppression of 88% (range, 0–99). PRL levels became normal in 15 patients and decreased to 25–40 ng/ml in 3 others. The mean tumor volume shrinkage was 25% or greater in 19 patients (86%), 50% or greater in 17 patients (77%), and 75% or greater in 10 patients (45%). Visual abnormalities were reversible after pergolide therapy in all but 1 of 12 patients with initially abnormal formal visual testing. Two out of 4 premenopausal women did not normalize PRL levels and had persistent oligomenorrhea. Testosterone was low in 14 men at presentation and normalized in 3 with pergolide therapy. We conclude that pergolide is a safe, inexpensive, and generally well-tolerated dopamine agonist for the treatment of macroprolactinomas in men and women in whom pregnancy is not of concern. In these specific populations, pergolide may become the first-line therapy for treatment of macroprolactinomas.
A Mechanism for Eliciting Probabilities

This paper describes a direct revelation mechanism for eliciting agents' subjective probabilities. The game induced by the mechanism has a dominant strategy equilibrium in which the players reveal their subjective probabilities.
From Co-Location to Collaboration: Working Together to Improve Student Learning

An academic librarian and the coordinator of a campus tutoring and writing center recently relocated to the library researched their value to second-year students. Differences in the amount and type of available data called for conducting in-depth interviews with students about their research and writing processes. The researchers also reviewed relevant material regarding similar collaborative efforts at other college and universities. The gaps revealed in the environmental scan along with the best practices of librarian/writing center collaboration helped determine future steps needed for both units to move from mere co-location to working in true collaboration.
Approximating Data in Constraint Databases

Approximate representation of any spatio-temporal variable, by some interpolation function, is necessary when it is measured only sporadically. This paper argues that the approximate representation can be captured by a constraint database. Since constraint databases can be queried via standard query languages - such as relational algebra, SQL and Datalog - this provides an immediate benefit for flexible querying of the data. We propose a concrete system that implements a version of this approach. We also add beyond the standard queries new ones like cartogram similarity queries and an advanced graphical user interface with 3-D animation of GIS-based data.
Soil biochemical properties in brown and gray mine soils with and without hydroseeding

Abstract. Surface coal mining in the eastern USA disturbs hundreds of hectares of land every year and removes valuable and ecologically diverse eastern deciduous forests. Reclamation involves restoring the landscape to approximate original contour, replacing the topsoil, and revegetating the site with trees and herbaceous species to a designated post-mining land use. Re-establishing an ecosystem of ecological and economic value as well as restoring soil quality on disturbed sites are the goals of land reclamation, and microbial properties of mine soils can be indicators of restoration success. Reforestation plots were constructed in 2007 using weathered brown sandstone or unweathered gray sandstone as topsoil substitutes to evaluate tree growth and soil properties at Arch Coal's Birch River mine in West Virginia, USA. All plots were planted with 12 hardwood tree species and subplots were hydroseeded with a herbaceous seed mix and fertilizer. After 6 years, the average tree volume index was nearly 10 times greater for trees grown in brown (3853 cm3) compared to gray mine soils (407 cm3). Average pH of brown mine soils increased from 4.7 to 5.0, while gray mine soils declined from 7.9 to 7.0. Hydroseeding doubled tree volume index and ground cover on both mine soils. Hydroseeding doubled microbial biomass carbon (MBC) on brown mine soils (8.7 vs. 17.5 mg kg−1), but showed no effect on gray mine soils (13.3 vs. 12.8 mg kg−1). Hydroseeding also increased the ratio of MBC to soil organic C in both soils and more than tripled the ratio for potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN) to total N. Brown mine soils were a better growth medium than gray mine soils and hydroseeding was an important component of reclamation due to improved biochemical properties and microbial activity in mine soils.
HUMOUR OF PRINCIPALS AND ITS IMPACT ON TEACHERS AND THE SCHOOL

In a paper presented to the U.C.E.A. Conference on Thought and Research in Educational Administration held in honour of Professor Dan Griffiths, Professor Donald Willower drew the participants' attention to the existence of evidence of a special brand of humour in educational administration subcultures. Willower categorised this humour as the “war story” variety, and suggested such humour may turn what could be considered a personal attack on the administration into a less threatening, amusing incident and, when expressed in meetings with the members of the subculture, seemed to evoke shared ordeals, common meanings and social support. Wood, in studying coping mechanism in a British high school, concluded that humour and laughter played a major role in coping strategies of teachers and students alike. The positions raised by these authors prompted certain questions regarding humour and its importance to school communities and became the stimulus for the study reported here into the relationship of humour to the role of the school principal, and the implications of such a relationship for research in education. This article outlines the rationale for studying the humour of principals, the methodology of the study, its findings and conclusions.
Effect of relative risk and cluster configuration on the power of the one‐dimensional scan statistic

The scan test for clustering in time is based on the maximum number of events in an interval )window( of width w as the window moves across the entire time frame. Power estimates of the scan statistic are simulated for a variety of epidemiologically motivated situations. Two cluster configurations are used: a rectangular pulse, and a triangular pulse designed to emulate environmental contamination. For a rectangular pulse, the relative risk R of disease in the cluster region in R-fold as high as it is for the background region. The power is strongly influenced by the sample size, the relative risk, and the width or duration of the cluster region, whereas the effect of the cluster configuration is small. Using a 5 per cent significance level, a relative risk of 4, a standardized cluster duration of 0·10, a relative window width of 1·5, and a )non-random( sample size of 50, the simulated power is approximately 80 per cent, indicating that the minimum sample size in the cluster region for adequate power is in the 12-32 range for values of the parameters used in this study.
Many ribosomal protein mutations are associated with growth impairment and tumor predisposition in zebrafish

We have characterized 28 zebrafish lines with heterozygous mutations in ribosomal protein (rp) genes, and found that 17 of these are prone to develop zebrafish malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (zMPNST). Heterozygotes from the vast majority of tumor-prone rp lines were found to be growth-impaired, though not all growth-impaired rp lines were tumor-prone. Significantly, however, the rp lines with the greatest incidence of zMPNSTs all displayed a growth impairment. Furthermore, heterozygous cells from one tumor-prone rp line were out-competed by wild-type cells in chimeric embryos. The growth impairment resulting from heterozygosity for many rp genes suggests that a global defect in protein translation exists in these lines, raising the possibility that a translation defect that precedes tumor development is predictive of tumorigenesis.
Ion motion in a small low energy cyclotron

Abstract A small cyclotron (the “cyclotrino”) was proposed for direct detection of radiocarbon in 1980 and has now detected radiocarbon at natural abundance. High resolution and background rejection are achieved in this cyclotron by acceleration of negative ions through many turns while operating at a high harmonic. This article details the analysis of ion motion in a small flat-field, electrostatically-focused cyclotron. Included are discussions of beam acceptance, axial and radial beam stability, and a detailed analysis of phase bunching and its effect on mass resolution.
Behavioral and neurochemical effects of psychotomimetic drugs in neonate chicks

Abstract The effects of various psychoactive drugs on the behavior and brain neurochemistry of neonate chicks were examined. d-Amphetamine, l-amphetamine, p-hydroxyamphetamine, and l-dopa all elicited a similar behavioral excitement. Mescaline and 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (DOM) caused opisthotonic postures. Cocaine and p-methoxyamphetamine induced some features of both groups and cocaine also elicited convulsions. Norepinephrine and dopamine produced sedation. All agents inducing opisthotonos elevated brain norepinephrine. d-Amphetamine and l-dopa reduced serotonin while norepinephrine, dopamine and DOM all elevated serotonin. Dopa doubled the brain dopamine levels while norepinephrine reduced them. Paradoxes in the data are discussed.
Endogenous opiates, opioids, and immune function: evolutionary brokerage of defensive behaviors.

Abstract Recent empirical data have elucidated a compelling physiological basis for endogenously expressed, chemically authentic, morphine and its cognate μ 3 and μ 4 opiate receptors. Cellular “morphinergic” signaling is predominantly targeted to autocrine/paracrine regulatory processes and is reciprocally linked to stimulated production and release of the free radical gas nitric oxide (NO). Additionally, we have recently described a functionally coupled μ 4 opiate receptor/NO regulatory pathway in human multi-lineage progenitor cells in the absence of traditional opioid, neuropeptide, or catecholamine G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). These accumulated data not only suggest an evolutionary primacy for morphinergic signaling as a fundamental regulatory mechanism, but identify μ 3 and μ 4 opiate receptors as candidate primordial GPCRs that may have served as prototypic models for diverse families of GPCRs. The present review focuses on the parallel roles of morphinergic signaling and endogenous opioid peptide-mediated regulatory processes in immune function and the development of defensive integrated behaviors including nociception from rudimentary cellular responses to chemical/environmental challenges. Finally, structural similarities between the intracellular domains of μ 3 opiate receptors and chemokine receptors CCR2 and CCR5 provide an additional chemical basis for these contentions.
Experimental Fascioloides magna infections of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus).

Six mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus) and one white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), approximately 5-mo-old, each were inoculated orally with 500 metacercariae of Fascioloides magna. All mule deer died from liver fluke infection between 69 and 134 days (mean =114, SE = 9.9) after inoculation. Between 38 and 326 immature F. magna (mean =102, SE =45.5) were recovered from each deer at necropsy. Flukes were present in livers, lungs, and free in pleural and peritoneal spaces. Infection was characterized by necrotizing hepatitis, fibrosing peritonitis and pleuritis, and hematin pigment accumulation in liver, lung, and many other internal organs. Eggs of F. magna first were detected in feces of the white-tailed deer 28 wk after inoculation, and weekly thereafter until the healthy deer was euthanized at 31 wk. At necropsy, 205 F. magna, including 12 encapsulated mature and 193 nonencapsulated immature flukes were recovered from liver, lungs, and free in abdominal and thoracic spaces of the white-tail...
Contrast and quantitation in uniform regions of thin sections using transmission electron microscopy

SUMMARY A direct approach to quantitative measurements of uniform regions in thin sections is described. Accelerating voltages around 80 kV and objective aperture angles of about 9·3 mrad will provide conditions where contrast is directly proportional to specimen mass thickness. An extensive treatment of electron scattering in Formvar films for wide ranges of electron microscopic operating conditions is summarized in a simple, empirical equation. The extent to which Formvar results may be generalized to other materials, both embedding media and structures within the thin section, is treated. Using these results, precise measurements of local section thickness and of specimen density and/or dry mass of regions which penetrate the entire section thickness are possible, with the accuracy dependent upon irradiation effects and specimen makeup.
Generation of eGFP expressing recombinant Zaire ebolavirus for analysis of early pathogenesis events and high-throughput antiviral drug screening

Zaire ebolavirus causes large outbreaks of severe and usually fatal hemorrhagic disease in humans for which there is no effective treatment or cure. To facilitate examination of early critical events in viral pathogenesis and to identify antiviral compounds, a recombinant Zaire ebolavirus was engineered to express a foreign protein, eGFP, to provide a rapid and sensitive means to monitor virus replication in infected cells. This genetically engineered virus represents the first insertion of a foreign gene into ebolavirus. We show that Ebola-eGFP virus (EboZ-eGFP) infects known early targets of human infections and serves as an ideal model to screen antiviral compounds in less time than any previously published assay.
GENERALIZATIONS OF COMPLEMENTED RINGS WITH APPLICATIONS TO RINGS OF FUNCTIONS

It is well known that a commutative ring R is complemented (that is, given a ∈ R there exists b ∈ R such that ab = 0 and a + b is a regular element) if and only if the total ring of quotients of R is von Neumann regular. We consider generalizations of the notion of a complemented ring and their implications for the total ring of quotients. We then look at the specific case when the ring is a ring of continuous real-valued functions on a topological space.
Refinery investment and naval fuel production

Abstract Survey data and linear programming techniques have been combined to forecast probable domestic refinery configurations and the production of Navy and other fuels for the years 1990 and 1995. The forecasts suggest that Gulf and West Coast refinery investments could be used largely for support of motor gasoline production. Future refinery configurations affect the availability of Navy mobility fuels. To maintain current fuel-supply levels, it appears that the military will have to pay more for Navy jet fuel relative to the price of civilian jet fuel. The quality of Navy jet fuel is projected to be stable during the forecast period. The Navy's marine diesel fuel is forecast to be in good supply. However, the low-temperature fluidity of the fuel is expected to deteriorate.
The dual nature of prior computer experience: More is not necessarily better for technology acceptance

It is often presumed that individuals with greater computer experience will easily adopt new or updated replacements of existing information technology. To examine this assumption, this study reviews prior computer experience research, identifies two key dimensions of computer experience i.e. computer use and computer proficiency and evaluates their effects individually. Analysis of survey data from 737 respondents using structural equation modeling indicates that each dimension had differential effects on behavioral intentions to use a newly introduced internet-based technology with computer use having curvilinear effects on adoption intentions. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Parasympathetic preganglionic cardiac motoneurons labeled after voluntary diving

A dramatic bradycardia is induced by underwater submersion in vertebrates. The location of parasympathetic preganglionic cardiac motor neurons driving this aspect of the diving response was investigated using cFos immunohistochemistry combined with retrograde transport of cholera toxin subunit B (CTB) to double-label neurons. After pericardial injections of CTB, trained rats voluntarily dove underwater, and their heart rates (HR) dropped immediately to 95 ± 2 bpm, an 80% reduction. After immunohistochemical processing, the vast majority of CTB labeled neurons were located in the reticular formation from the rostral cervical spinal cord to the facial motor nucleus, confirming previous studies. Labeled neurons caudal to the rostral ventrolateral medulla were usually spindle-shaped aligned along an oblique line running from the dorsal vagal nucleus to the ventrolateral reticular formation, while those more rostrally were multipolar with extended dendrites. Nine percent of retrogradely-labeled neurons were positive for both cFos and CTB after diving and 74% of these were found rostral to the obex. CTB also was transported transganglionically in primary afferent fibers, resulting in large granular deposits in dorsolateral, ventrolateral, and commissural subnuclei of the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) and finer deposits in lamina I and IV-V of the trigeminocervical complex. The overlap of parasympathetic preganglionic cardiac motor neurons activated by diving with those activated by baro- and chemoreceptors in the rostral ventrolateral medulla is discussed. Thus, the profound bradycardia seen with underwater submersion reinforces the notion that the mammalian diving response is the most powerful autonomic reflex known.
Picture reconstruction from projections in restricted range

In order to reduce scanning time modern x-ray scanners provide projections only in a restricted range [0, ϕ] with ϕ < π. We consider the reconstruction of pictures from p + 1 complete projections in [0, ϕ]. An extrapolation procedure is given to achieve approximations gp of the data in the whole range. We show that the L2-error of the corresponding picture is of order p−α if the original belongs to the Sobolev space Hoα. The validity of our error estimate is investigated by numerical experiments.
Swiss flag or Red Cross emblem: why the confusion?

As a dual Swiss-US citizen, I have been astonished for many years about the sheer quantity of Swiss National flags decorating the United States. Indeed, I encounter the Swiss flag regularly in football stadiums, ballparks, and concert arenas, owing to the unequivocal earmarking of first aid stations and first aid responders at popular venues (Figure 1). The root cause is likely attributed to an unintentional mix-up of the Swiss flag with the Red Cross emblem. This misconception appears to be increasingly prevalent throughout the United States. In general, I would deem such a trivial oversight as unworthy of a formal correction. However, I was recently stunned to notice that the new Emergency Room of our own University Hospital in Colorado [1] is also “misbranded” with the Swiss cross (Figure 2). This most recent anecdotal episode set the incentive for the drafting of this editorial. Clearly, the purpose of this article is not meant to be condescending or indoctrinating, but rather aimed at shedding some light on the interesting historic background on the origin of the Swiss flag and Red Cross, and to potentially clarify a widespread misperception. Figure 1 Erroneous “misbranding” of medical services with the Swiss national symbol. Figure 2 Entrance to the new emergency room at University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, CO, mislabeled with the flag of Switzerland.
A Practical Viscoplastic Damage Model for Lead-Free Solder

This paper summarizes the results of a program to construct an internal variable viscoplastic damage model to characterize 95.5Sn-3.9Ag-0.6Cu (wt.%) lead-free solder under cyclic thermomechanical loading conditions. A unified model is enhanced to account for a deteriorating microstructure through the use of an isotropic damage evolution equation. Model predictions versus experimental data are given for constant strain-rate tests that were conducted at strain rates of 4.2 X 10 -5 s -1 and 8.3 X 10 -4 s -1 over a temperature range from -25°C to 160°C; cyclic shear tests; and elevated-temperature creep tests. A description is given of how this work supports larger ongoing efforts to develop a predictive capability in materials aging and reliability, and solder interconnect reliability.
An analysis of the potential of Wind Energy Conversion Systems

Abstract Wind Energy Conversion Systems (WECS) are solar systems because the sun drives the atmospheric circulation. About 20 TW of wind energy flows poleward annually, over land in temperate latitudes, in the 500 m deep atmospheric boundary layer. An average 500 GW of electricity could be generated by massive exploitation of the U.S. Great Plains wind field. There are, however, large fluctuations in available wind power. There are frequent 20% variations in annual supply; annual periodicity brings most wind power during the spring; there are storm cycles; and there is a diurnal cycle. Gusts and turbulence also require filtering to meet normal power requirements. Several schemes are evolving to tame this erratic wind power supply. Modern technology is refining horizontal-axis turbines of a wide size range. Progress is also being made toward producing an economical vertical-axis turbine. Standards for turbine performance evaluation and installation site selection are now being developed. Yet it will be a few years before proven systems can significantly affect national energy supplies. Eventually, mass-produced WECS may cost $1000 per installed, rated kW, but the wind does not often flow at turbine-rated speed. With some storage or filtering, problems with wind variability may be overcome. Then WECS electricity production may be as economical as other electric generators. No serious hazards or environmental impacts should slow WECS development.
The Personal and Social Correlates of a Gender Difference Ideology

In our society, widely shared strong beliefs about differences between women and men in interests, competencies, and roles are ubiquitous. This paper explores the powerful, problematic and widespread influence of this gender difference ideology, and presents examples from areas of personal experience, family life, paid employment, and social interaction. It is proposed that the relationship between a gender ideology and social behavior is a complex one and that beliefs do not necessarily precede behavior. A final section presents challenges to a gender difference ideology and suggests that, because our construction of gender is inextricably tied to inequality, our study of gender must focus on the process and conditions that underlie the construction.
Computer Model Validation in Vehicle Crash Safety Design

This paper describes the framework of nonlinear finite element model validation for vehicle crash simulation. Several methods were developed to quantify transient time-domain data (functional data). The concept of correlation index was proposed to determine the degree to which a model is an accurate representation of the real world from the perspective of the intended uses of the model. The methodologies developed in this paper can also be used for CAE model updating, parameter tuning, and model calibration.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
The influence of part of speech on paired-associate learning

Two experiments assessed the influence of part of speech of the stimulus and response on paired-associate learning. Experiment I indicated that noun pairs were learned faster than adjective, verb, or adverb pairs, and adjective pairs were learned faster than adverb pairs. Experiment 2 indicated that noun pairs were learned faster than adverb, pronoun, or preposition pairs, and pronoun pairs were learned faster than preposition pairs.
Fate of Intracardiac Lead Vegetations After Percutaneous Lead Extraction

Permanent pacemaker (PPM) and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) devices are increasingly used in today’s clinical practice. An underappreciated complication and treatment dilemma arises when intracardiac leads become infected from a systemic bacterial infection, at times resulting in large lead vegetations. Two patients (ages 42 and 63 years) with previously implanted devices (ICD and PPM, respectively) presented with fevers and constitutional symptoms and were subsequently found to have bloodstream bacterial infections. Echocardiographic examination revealed several large mobile echodensities adherent to the intracardiac leads consistent with either thrombus, vegetations, …
A megagametophyte analysis of genetic linkage in pitch pine (Pinus rigida mill.)

The haploid state of conifer megagametophyte tissue provides a means of testing for genetic linkage among allozyme loci in conifers. Using pitch pine trees (Pinus rigida Mill.), which were previously determined to be heterozygous for certain allozymes, we have been able to detect linkage among several pairs of loci. One such pair, GOT-1 and GPI-2, is tightly linked showing a recombination frequency of 4 per cent. Four other pairs appear to be linked with recombination frequencies at the margin of detectability, 38–40 per cent, but tree-to-tree variation makes positive determination difficult for less tightly linked loci. Such variation may be due to small sample sizes and presence of inversion polymorphisms. These results are the first report of tight linkage in a forest tree and represent a start in mapping the conifer genome.
Abstract 4353: Cycloxygenase-2 inhibitor regulates p73 isoform expression pattern, inhibit growth, and induce apoptosis in NHL cell line model with 1p36 chromosomal disruption.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Diclofenac is a cycloxynase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor that is used in clinics as an analgesic anti-inflammatory drug and has been shown to increase TP73 gene signature in multiple tumor cell lines. TP73, a gene at 1p36 locus, is controlled by a balance between two isoforms with opposing functions, the full length TAp73 protein (pro-apoptotic) and the NH2-terminally truncated ΔNp73 protein (anti-apoptotic through antagonizing both TAp73 and p53). Our previous work has shown a differential ΔNp73 up-regulation among NHL cases with 1p36 chromosomal disruption correlates with decreased apoptosis, increased cellular proliferation and increased angiogenesis. Modulation of ΔNp73:TAp73 ratio using TAp73 expression vector in Granta-519 (NHL cell line model that harbor disrupted 1p36 and express high levels of ΔNp73) resulted in growth inhibition and increased response to chemotherapy. In this study, we hypothesized that diclofenac treatment will modulate the expression profile of p73 isoforms and alter the behavior of the NHL cells with 1p36 disruption. Diclofenac treatment of Granta-519 cells resulted in a decrease in ΔNp73, increase in TAp73 mRNA expression. MTT assay showed a concentration- and duration-dependent cell growth inhibition. Decreased expression of the proliferation marker ki-67 and cell cycle arrest as indicated by flow cytometric cell cycle analysis; were evident following diclofenac treatment. Furthermore, Annexin-V-Flous flow cytometric analysis showed increased number of apoptotic cells that was associated with increased cleaved caspase-3 following diclofenec treatment. Moreover, pro-apoptotic target genes expression was induced by diclofenac treatment including p21, PUMA, NOXA, and BIM. Next we tested the effect of diclofenac treatment on standard CHOP-resistant Granta-519 sub-clones, that resulted in down-regulation of ΔNp73 mRNA expression and a significant dose-dependent growth inhibitory effect. Together, our data demonstrate that diclofenac treatment caused p73 isoforms reconstitution (↑TAp73 and/or ↓ΔNp73), inhibited growth of NHL cells with 1p36 abnormality and highlights the potential of diclofenac as a potential new adjuvant therapy in NHL with disrupted TP73 gene region. Citation Format: Hesham M. Hassan, Michelle Varney, Shantaram S. Joshi, Rakesh K. Singh, Bhavana J. Dave. Cycloxygenase-2 inhibitor regulates p73 isoform expression pattern, inhibit growth, and induce apoptosis in NHL cell line model with 1p36 chromosomal disruption. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4353. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4353