cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Agricultural Readjustment in the Corn Belt

Thought and discussion as to the solution of the farmers' problem has passed through many phases since the crisis of 1920. Price fixing, credit, the tariff, and cooperation have each in turn been suggested as the all-important remedy. It is significant that our program for this meeting as a whole indicates a recognition of the true fundamental nature of the problem, the necessity of a thorough-going examination of it, and a well-reasoned treatment. Not only the agricultural economists but farmers themselves are realizing that a hasty cure is not to be expected. With this realization has come the conviction that the task of readjustment as a means of getting our agriculture back to a prosperous condition is a task fraught with great difficulties. However, this realization is the most encouraging phase of the whole situation. It has carried us beyond the hopes of a quick and spectacular solution by some easily applied formula and has put us well in the way of working out, detail by detail, the problem as it actually is. In attempting such a difficult task as that of outlining a possible program of agricultural readjustment in the Corn Pelt, one realizes that in the limited time allotted little can be done beyond pointing out some specific maladjustments, some of the factors in the situation which limit and condition the readjustment process, and giving, if possible, some positive suggestion as to a successful attack on this great task at this
Clinical Risk Assessment in the Antiphospholipid Syndrome: Current Landscape and Emerging Biomarkers.

Laboratory criteria for the classification of antiphospholipid syndrome include the detection of a lupus anticoagulant and/or anticardiolipin and anti-β2-glycoprotein I antibodies. However, the majority of patients who test positive in these assays do not have thrombosis. Current risk-stratification tools are largely limited to the antiphospholipid antibody profile and traditional thrombotic risk factors. Novel biomarkers that correlate with disease activity and potentially provide insight into future clinical events include domain 1 specific anti-β2GPI antibodies, antibodies to other phospholipids or phospholipid/protein antigens (such as anti-PS/PT), and functional/biological assays such as thrombin generation, complement activation, levels of circulating microparticles, and annexin A5 resistance. Clinical risk scores may also have value in predicting clinical events. Biomarkers that predict thrombosis risk in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies have been long sought, and several biomarkers have been proposed. Ultimately, integration of biomarkers with established assays and clinical characteristics may offer the best chance of identifying patients at highest risk of APS-related complications.
Posterior fossa medulloblastoma in an atypical extra-axial location: A case report.

Abstract Medulloblastoma is the most common posterior fossa tumor of childhood typically within the fourth ventricle. However, extra-axial medulloblastoma in posterior fossa is an uncommon diagnosis. We report a case in a 33-month-old male who presented with repeated complaints of abdominal pain, intermittent emesis, and diarrhea, and diagnosed with right cerebellar extra-axial medulloblastoma, which was surgically resected. Majority of the reported extra-axial medulloblastoma in posterior fossa in the United States are located in the cerebellopontine angle. However, to the best of our knowledge, our case is the first to document medulloblastoma occurring exclusively in the cerebellar hemispheric extra-axial space rather than the cerebellopontine angle. Although the diagnosis can present as a radiological dilemma, a systematic multimodality imaging approach can aid in narrowing the differential diagnosis and timely management. In this case report, we will discuss the imaging characteristics, differential diagnosis, and management strategies, alongside a brief review of the world literature of extra-axial medulloblastoma.
Evaluation of the Child with Extremity Pain or Limp

The child presenting to the physician with a limp or extremity pain is usually accompanied by anxious parents who are concerned not only about the cause but also about the permanency of the problem. Evaluation is often challenging since younger children cannot communicate verbally about their pain and may have trouble localizing it for the examiner. It is the physician’s task to solve the mystery by accumulating as many clues as possible and analyzing them correctly.
Look who's talking: discovering dependencies between virtual machines using CPU utilization

A common problem experienced in datacenters and utility clouds is the lack of knowledge about the mappings of the services being offered to or run by external users to the sets of virtual machines (VMs) realizing them. This makes it difficult to manage VM ensembles to attain provider goals like minimizing the resources consumed by certain services or reducing the power drawn by datacenter machines. This paper presents the 'Look Who's Talking' (LWT) set of methods and framework for identifying inter-VM dependencies. LWT does not require services to be modified, or middleware or operating systems to be instrumented, but instead, operates in management VMs with privileged access to hypervisor-level information about current machine use. The current implementation of LWT has been integrated into the Xen hypervisor running across a small-scale prototype datacenter, for which experimental measurements show that it can effectively identify dependencies between VMs with an average of 97.15% overall accuracy rate, with zero knowledge of or modifications to applications or workloads and with minimal effect on system performance.
Genetics of Pathogenesis

Events which occur during pathogenesis reflect the combined activities of the genetic systems of the plant and the pathogen. In a discussion of these genetic interactions, Day (1974) points out that our limited knowledge of gene function in pathogenesis requires a speculative approach. This approach, which is taken here, may be justified if it leads to concepts subject to experimental verification.
A Historical Sampling of Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Potency of Marihuana and Hashish Confiscated in Virginia

Introduction with Cannabis, one of the oldest drugs known to man, is now widespread over the world, including Western countries where it had never been observed before. Cannabis sativa has been cultivated for centuries for the hemp in its stem, the oil in its seed, and the biologically active substance in its flowering tops. The principal biologically active ingredients include delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC) (Nahas, 1975).
Validation of the Hepatocellular Carcinoma Early Detection Screening (HES) Algorithm in a Cohort of Veterans With Cirrhosis

Background & Aims Early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through surveillance reduces mortality associated with this cancer. Guidelines recommend HCC surveillance every 6 months for patients with cirrhosis, via ultrasonography, with or without measurement of serum level of alpha fetoprotein (AFP). Methods We previously developed and internally validated an HCC early detection screening (HES) algorithm that included patient’s current level of AFP, rate of AFP change, age, level of alanine aminotransferase, and platelet count in a department of Veterans affairs (VA) cohort with active hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis. HES score was associated with 3.84% absolute improvement in sensitivity of detection of HCC compared with AFP alone, at 90% specificity, within 6 months prior to diagnosis of this cancer. We externally validated the HES algorithm in a cohort of 38,431 patients with cirrhosis of any etiology evaluated at a VA medical center from 2010 through 2015. Results A total of 4804 cases of HCC developed during a median follow-up time of 3.12 years. At 90% specificity, the HES algorithm identified patients with HCC with 52.56% sensitivity, compared to 48.13% sensitivity for the AFP assay alone, within 6 months prior to diagnosis; this was an absolute improvement of 4.43% (P Conclusion We validated the HES algorithm in detection of HCC in patients with cirrhosis of any etiology evaluated at VA medical centers. The algorithm offers a modest but useful advantage over AFP alone in HCC surveillance.
Media Effects on Children

Abstract Media effects on children as identified by resarchers may broadly be categorized into cognitive, emotional, social, and health-related outcomes. While much of this research focuses on negative outcomes like fear, aggression, materialism, and obesity, media may have positive effects on children as well such as learning and prosocial attitudes. At different ages, children are affected by media in different ways. Likewise, the most successful strategies for mitigating negative outcomes vary with children's ages.
Evolutionary Developmental Psychology

The field of evolutionary developmental psychology (EDP) seeks to integrate the basic tenets of evolutionary psychology (EP) and developmental systems theory. EDP can potentially broaden the horizons of mainstream EP by combining the principles of Darwinian evolution by natural selection with the study of human development, focusing on the epigenetic processes that occur between humans and their environment in a way that attempts to explain how evolved psychological mechanisms become expressed in the phenotypes of children and adults. This article provides an overview of the newly emerging field of EDP, focusing both on species-typical patterns of human development and their applications, as well as identifying individual differences among humans as a result of adaptively structured phenotypic plasticity and genetic variation. EDP represents an emerging synthesis between explanatory models of species-universal traits and individual differences resulting from adaptive developmental plasticity and genetic diversity. This newly emerging field provides the most complete picture of adaptive human behavior and cognition, taking into consideration our species' rich evolutionary history in conjunction with ontogenetic differences among humans.
I wear, therefore I am: investigating sneakerhead culture, social identity, and brand preference among men

While the popularity of athletic footwear or “sneakers” has been widely assessed within academic literature, few studies to date have examined the influence of a specific sneaker subculture called “Sneakerheads”. Moreover, the brand preferences and brand identities that may exist within the Sneakerhead subculture have not been extensively examined. To address this gap in the research, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 male, self-identified Sneakerheads. The main goal of the research was to explore the Sneakerhead culture, while gaining an understanding of brand preferences, practices, and group identity factors. The Social Identity Theory was employed as the theoretical framework for this research. Qualitative analysis of the interviews revealed the following three topical areas: (1) Back in the Day, (2) All About the Jumpman, and (3) For Members Only. Findings regarding the unique culture of Sneakerheads indicate a clear sense of group identity as it relates to motivations, behaviors, and brand identity within the Sneakerhead community. Moreover, the findings of this study further define the lifestyle of a Sneakerhead and shed light on their unique behaviors and practices within the culture.
Spatial performance of high- and low-Pt loaded proton exchange membrane fuel cells under cathode exposure to nitrogen dioxide

Abstract The effects of NO2 cathode exposure on the localized performance of high- and low-Pt proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) operated under high power generating conditions were studied and compared. Introduction of 2 ppm NO2 in the cathode feed gas caused a spatial performance distribution and voltage drop of 80 and 130 mV for high- and low-Pt samples, respectively. A full recovery of the cell voltage was observed after stopping the NO2 injection in the air stream only for high-Pt cells, while low-Pt cells had a partial recovery. The performance loss could be attributed to the dissociative adsorption of NO2 on Pt with the formation of NO and its further reduction to N2O via two consecutive electron and proton transfer steps. Cathode exposure to 2–5 ppm NO2 led to a decrease in the electrochemical area (ECA) of 17–18 and 21–23% for the high- and low-Pt samples, respectively, which exceeded the ECA loss in reference tests in pure air. The low-Pt PEMFC performance loss after poisoning by 1–2 ppm NO2 could be recovered applying cyclic voltammetry. However, poisoning by 5 ppm NO2 led to a serious decline in the spatial low-Pt PEMFC performance of 10–70 mV.
Environmental and sex-specific molecular signatures of glioma causation.

Background The relative importance of genetic and environmental risk factors in gliomagenesis remains uncertain. Methods Using whole-exome sequencing data from 1105 adult gliomas, we evaluate the relative contribution to cancer cell lineage proliferation and survival of single-nucleotide mutations in tumors by IDH mutation subtype and sex. We also quantify the contributions of COSMIC cancer mutational signatures to these tumors, identifying possible risk exposures. Results IDH-mutant tumors exhibited few unique recurrent substitutions-all in coding regions, while IDH-wildtype tumors exhibited many substitutions in non-coding regions. The importance of previously reported mutations in IDH1/2, TP53, EGFR, PTEN, PIK3CA and PIK3R1 was confirmed; however, the largest cancer effect in IDH wildtype tumors was associated with mutations in the low-prevalence BRAF V600E. Males and females exhibited mutations in a similar set of significantly overburdened genes, with some differences in variant sites-notably in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway. In IDH-mutant tumors, PIK3CA mutations were located in the helical domain for females and the kinase domain for males; variants of import also differed by sex for PIK3R1. Endogenous age-related mutagenesis was the primary molecular signature identified; a signature associated with exogenous exposure to haloalkanes was identified and noted more frequently in males. Conclusions Cancer-causing mutations in glioma primarily originated as a consequence of endogenous rather than exogenous factors. Mutations in helical versus kinase domains of genes in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway are differentially selected in males and females. Additionally, a rare environmental risk factor is suggested for some cases of glioma- particularly in males.
Bacterial α-diglucoside metabolism: perspectives and potential for biotechnology and biomedicine

In a competitive microbial environment, nutrient acquisition is a major contributor to the survival of any individual bacterial species, and the ability to access uncommon energy sources can provide a fitness advantage. One set of soluble carbohydrates that have attracted increased attention for use in biotechnology and biomedicine is the α-diglucosides. Maltose is the most well-studied member of this class; however, the remaining four less common α-diglucosides (trehalose, kojibiose, nigerose, and isomaltose) are increasingly used in processed food and fermented beverages. The consumption of trehalose has recently been shown to be a contributing factor in gut microbiome disease as certain pathogens are using α-diglucosides to outcompete native gut flora. Kojibiose and nigerose have also been examined as potential prebiotics and alternative sweeteners for a variety of foods. Compared to the study of maltose metabolism, our understanding of the synthesis and degradation of uncommon α-diglucosides is lacking, and several fundamental questions remain unanswered, particularly with regard to the regulation of bacterial metabolism for α-diglucosides. Therefore, this minireview attempts to provide a focused analysis of uncommon α-diglucoside metabolism in bacteria and suggests some future directions for this research area that could potentially accelerate biotechnology and biomedicine developments. KEY POINTS: • α-diglucosides are increasingly important but understudied bacterial metabolites. • Kinetically superior α-diglucoside enzymes require few amino acid substitutions. • In vivo studies are required to realize the biotechnology potential of α-diglucosides.
Gender disparities in gastrointestinal surgery fellowship programs.

BACKGROUND Gender disparities in surgical leadership have come under increased scrutiny, and in order to better understand why these disparities exist, it is important to study the disparities across surgical fellowship programs. METHODS Data derived from the Fellowship Council (FC) database for fellows completing training from academic years 2015-2019 were analyzed. Available information included institution, fellowship type, program director (PD), associate program director (APD), faculty, and fellow names for all FC Fellowships. Faculty and fellow gender were determined from personal knowledge or publicly available online biographical information. RESULTS A total of 1023 fellows and 221 programs were analyzed. The advanced gastrointestinal (GI)/minimally invasive surgery (MIS) fellowship programs included 321 fellows, with a small increase in the percentage of female fellows from 28 to 31% over 5 years. Advanced GI/MIS/bariatric fellowship programs had a total of 262 fellows, also with a small increase in the percent of female fellows, from 29 to 38% in the study period. The gender of program directors, assistant program directors, and faculty for the fellowship programs studied were analyzed as well. Of the 221 programs in the Fellowship Council data, 13.6% of program directors, 18.3% of associate program directors, and 19.9% of faculty were female. Advanced GI/MIS fellowship programs had the lowest percentage of female PDs, with only 9.3% of the program directors being female. Colorectal surgery fellowships had the highest percentage of female PDs, with 33% being female. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, women are underrepresented in gastrointestinal surgery fellowships among both trainees and educators. It is likely that a significant contributing factor to this underrepresentation of female fellows is the underrepresentation of female program directors and faculty; although neither our study nor any previously published study has proven that statistically.
Fire Ecology and Management of Forest Ecosystems in the Western Central Hardwoods and Prairie-Forest Border

The ecotone between the Great Plains and the Eastern Deciduous Forest region is characterized by transitional grassland-forest ecosystems with a robust history of frequent fire regimes and fire-adapted natural communities. Historically, fires created a mosaic of prairies, savannas, woodlands, and forests juxtaposed by landscape controls. Humans have been strong determinants of fire regimes, causing frequent fires in historical times and an extended period of fire exclusion for nearly the last century. In recent decades, interest has increased in understanding the region’s fire ecology and management. This interest is driven by management objectives to promote and maintain plant and animal diversity, restore ecological processes, and increase ecosystem resilience. Plant species in the region exhibit adaptation to frequent fire regimes and wildlife species are associated with habitats maintained by fire. However, exclusion of fire over the past century has left a long-lasting mark on ecosystems by changing ecosystem structures and compositions and, in some cases, by eliminating fire-adapted natural communities. In the future, the rise of campaigns that promote appropriate fire uses will be contingent upon science, demonstrated management successes, public perspectives, and the broader challenges associated with global changes.
Oliver Evans and the Framing of American Patent Law

If the complicated birth of United States patent law can be told through the story of a single figure, that person is Oliver Evans. Evans’s patenting activities spanned the Founding. He received patents from four states in the 1780s, and then, in 1791, the third U.S. patent to be granted. This grant became the most contested patent of the early Republic. Amid bitter politicking, Evans received the first Congressional patent extension and brought four of the U.S. Supreme Court’s first six patent cases. He also pioneered large-scale patent enforcement, asserting and litigating his rights across multiple states, as well as issuing the first demand letter to a sitting U.S. President. In the process, Evans became the nation’s leading polemicist for the rights of patentees. The story of Oliver Evans thus embodies the framing of American patent law -- the construction of both the law's institutional framework and the political and rhetorical claims that surrounded it. By appearing at all the major waypoints of Founding-era and early-nineteenth-century patent history, Evans provides a crucial test case for several important historical questions, including the degree of continuity between the first federal patents and their state predecessors, the contested role played by natural-rights conceptions of the patent, and the enforceability of inventors’ rights in the early Republic.
A New Test of Bell’s Inequality Using Optical Interference

A new form of two-photon interferometry1 that is dependent upon nonlocal correlations between a pair of photons is currently under investigation. These two-photon interference effects violate Bell’s inequality without any dependence upon photon polarization and are thus of fundamental interest. They may have practical applications in such areas as coherent Raman spectroscopy as well.
Excavations at Rainbow Cave and Wanderer's Cave: two rockshelters in the Carnarvon Range, Queensland

If the state of Queensland can be said to have true "uplands", then they are to be found in the southern and central region of the state in that place Archibald Meston (1895) called the "Home of the Rivers".Â There, some 400km inland from Australia's eastern coast and some 600km south of the Tropic of Capricorn, the uplifted and heavily weathered Triassic sandstones form a conspicuous link in the north-south trending mountains collectively referred to as "The Great Dividing Range".Â These ancient sandstones seldom rise above 650m elevation, and never more than the prominence of Black Alley Peak (Mt. Ackland) at 1000m.Â Rather, the range here achieves its mass and character by being broad and ruggedly dissected.Â Plateaus and mesas with sharp precipitous cliffs commingle with alluvial flats, seasonal creeks and the headwaters of several important rivers such as the Dawson, Warrego, Maranoa and Barcoo.
Consumption of Shrews, Sorex spp., by Arctic Grayling, Thymallus arcticus

In an investigation of the dietary habits of Arctic Grayling ( Thymallus arcticus ) we found that two individuals out of 93 sampled in southwestern Alaska (approximately 59°N, 159°W) contained a total of five shrews ( Sorex spp.). These shrews contained enriched levels of nitrogen stable isotopes, suggesting utilization of nutrients derived from salmon. We hypothesize that normally terrestrial shrews accidentally enter streams while foraging along the productive riparian zones of creeks with high densities of salmon. Shrews are apparently susceptible to opportunistic predation by resident stream fishes, including Arctic Grayling, when they enter the streams.
What to Do With Travelers Who Have Isolated Antibody to Hepatitis B Core Antigen

We would like to applaud Chen and colleagues for their recent study of hepatitis B screening data in US travelers attending travel clinics in the Boston area.1 This article elegantly described how pretravel encounters represent unique opportunities to screen travelers for the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide,2 to identify and educate those infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV), and to promote vaccination for those found to be susceptible. In their analysis, 48 of 496 travelers with available test results (10%) had antibody to the hepatitis B core …
Ernst von Glasersfeld's Limerick

First paragraph: In the 1980s I went through a phase of writing limericks during idle moments when I lacked something to read. The result was a set of 27 limericks about cybernetics (Umpleby 1992…
Scalability study of PSANDE: Power supply analysis for noise and delay estimation

Variations in the power-distribution network are exacerbated because of scaled supply voltages and smaller noise margins in sub-nanometer designs, which adversely affect performance and yield. Power-Supply noise incurred by excessive simultaneous switching of multiple paths negatively impacts the timing of a circuit. Supply noise is a major issue especially during transition and delay test where test vectors cause increased switching as compared to functional operation resulting in increase in path delays. Test rejects due to excessive noise-induced failures during delay and transition testing negatively impacts yield. Hence there is a need to accurately characterize the resistive and inductive voltage drop caused by excessive switching. To our knowledge, inductive drop has been excluded to simplify noise analysis. In our previous work, we have presented a convolution-based dynamic method (herein referred to as PSANDE) to estimate both IR and Ldi/dt drop on small combinational and sequential circuits. In this paper we show that the effectiveness of the design partitioning technique makes the framework feasible for a larger design. Our dynamic approach involves selectively simulating only extracted switching logic which makes the run-time tractable as compared to prohibitive full-chip SPICE simulations. We also present data to show that PSANDE can accurately predict the power-supply noise due to clock tree switching. Data presented in this paper for power supply noise is based on a large ITC'99 sequential benchmark b17 circuit. with a maximum error of 8.2% in comparison to full-chip SPICE results.
Increasing Crop Output through Improved Technology Adoption: The Fadama III Approach in Delta State, Nigeria

The study focused on increasing crop output through improved technology adoption: the Fadama III approach in Delta State, Nigeria. The study which took place between June 2012 and February, 2013 used stratified random sampling technique to select 340 respondents (made up of 279 Fadama users and 61 non-users). Data which came from primary source was generated through structured questionnaire and analysis was achieved by both descriptive and inferential statistics. It was shown that the rates of adoption of these technologies vary but they generally range from about 11% for Irrigation practices to about 51% for use of improved crop cultivars. The mean rate of adoption of all arable crops technologies was about 43%. Results also show that Fadama users significantly had higher mean percentage increase in yield of about 21% than non-Fadama users who recorded only a mean of about 15% increase. The variables that significantly affected rate of adoption were, Farming experience, Farm size Non-farm incomes, access to advisory services and cost of technology adoption, all of which except the last positively influenced rate of adoption. Among the constraints to adoption of technologies, cost of adoption, lack of knowledge of improved technologies, complexity of available technologies and late delivery of required improved technologies were most serious. Among other recommendations it was suggested that governments should intensify efforts to the promotion of the more adoption of proven technologies through the provision of credits in order to increase productivity.
CpG island methylator phenotype in cancer

DNA hypermethylation in CpG-rich promoters is now recognized as a common feature of human neoplasia. However, the pathophysiology of hyper-methylation (why, when, where) remains obscure. Cancers can be classified according to their degree of methylation, and those cancers with high degrees of methylation (the CpG island methylator phenotype, or CIMP) represent a clinically and aetiologically distinct group that is characterized by 'epigenetic instability'. Furthermore, CIMP-associated cancers seem to have a distinct epidemiology, a distinct histology, distinct precursor lesions and distinct molecular features.
Professional development as a means to increasing teachers' self-efficacy for technology integration

The purpose of this study was to explore the importance of the integration of technology into educational classrooms and why teachers are reluctant to embrace this integration. Further, this study systemically evaluated the effects of professional development on teacher change in beliefs in and use of the given workshop focus (technology) and on learning outcomes in participant's classroom. The Stages of Concern Questionnaire (SOCQ) was administered to a treatment group of teachers who agreed to participate in a 40-hour workshop of intense technology training and to a control group of teachers who attended other technology workshops on a volunteer basis. Data were analyzed with the statistical software SPSS for Windows version 11.0. Two one-way repeated measures of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at the simple effect level were performed to examine the mean differences between the treatment group and the control group. The analysis results indicated a significant increase for the treatment group mean scores on the personal subscale and no significant increase or decrease for the control group. No significant differences (p = .05) occurred between the control group and the treatment group indicating that 40-hours of intense technology training may not be the answer to technology training for teachers. The data indicated an increase in all of the subscales, from pre-test to post-test, for the treatment group. The intense technology training workshop helped improve the integration of technology in the classrooms of the teachers who attended the workshop, but not to the extent that this workshop is the best way to provide professional development.
Changes in Parent and Peer Relationships between Childhood and Adolescence: A Research Agenda for Gifted Adolescents

Research on the transformation of relations that non-gifted children have with their parents and peers as they go through puberty is examined. Two broad changes are noted: first, adolescents spend ...
Pascal: Understanding Programming and Problem Solving

From the Publisher: This alternate version of Pascal, Fourth Edition features a faster pace and earlier development of procedures, parameters, and functions before loops and conditional statements (Ch. 3). (For a later development of procedures and parameters, see the fourth edition). This is the paperback version of the first half of Nance, Naps Introduction to Computer Science, 3rd Alternate Edition.
Maximum kinetic energy considerations in proton stereotactic radiosurgery

The purpose of this study was to determine the maximum proton kinetic energy required to treat a given percentage of patients eligible for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) with coplanar arc-based proton therapy, contingent upon the number and location of gantry angles used. Treatment plans from 100 consecutive patients treated with SRS at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center between June of 2007 and March of 2010 were analyzed. For each target volume within each patient, in-house software was used to place proton pencil beam spots over the distal surface of the target volume from 51 equally-spaced gantry angles of up to 360°. For each beam spot, the radiological path length from the surface of the patient to the distal boundary of the target was then calculated along a ray from the gantry location to the location of the beam spot. This data was used to generate a maximum proton energy requirement for each patient as a function of the arc length that would be spanned by the gantry angles used in a given treatment. If only a single treatment angle is required, 100% of the patients included in the study could be treated by a proton beam with a maximum kinetic energy of 118 MeV. As the length of the treatment arc is increased to 90°, 180°, 270°, and 360°, the maximum energy requirement increases to 127, 145, 156, and 179 MeV, respectively. A very high percentage of SRS patients could be treated at relatively low proton energies if the gantry angles used in the treatment plan do not span a large treatment arc. Maximum proton kinetic energy requirements increase linearly with size of the treatment arc.
GENE ACTION OF AGRONOMIC TRAITS IN RICE (Oryza sativa L.)

Six parent diallel cross without reciprocal was studied to investigate the genetic behavior of different agronomic traits in rice. The analysis of Wr-Vr graph showed that panicle length, thousand grain weight and grain yield per plant did not follow the additivedominance model indicating epistatic gene action responsible for the expression of these traits. All other traits under the study were conditioned by overdominance gene action except grains per panicle, which was controlled by partial dominance. The Yr׳ – (Vr + Wr)׳ graph revealed random distribution of dominant and recessive gene in expressing different traits in different parent, while correlation between parental mean and parental order of dominance indicated increasing effect of dominant gene for all the traits except days to heading and % spikelet sterility.
Electron microscopy of rinderpest virus in bovine kidney tissue culture cells.

Abstract The early development of rinderpest virus (Pendik strain) in bovine kidney tissue culture monolayers was examined by thin sectioning and electron microscopy. The virus-cell culture system which was used, permitted visualization of viral structures over a period of 8 days. Studies were made of morphological changes taking place at 3 hours, 1, 3, 4, 7, and 8 days after the cultures were made. The cells were grown in infective tissue culture fluids at a ratio of 250 ml of fluid (average titer 10 6.5 TC ID 50 /ml) to 1 ml of packed trypsinized bovine kidney epithelial cells. The effects of infection were visible at 3 hours, but development of virus bodies and possible precursor structures took longer with various stages of development visible at all times. After 8 days, the cells no longer adhered to the glass. Rinderpest virus developed within or contiguous to mitochondria and had a small-particle structure of 40–60 mμ which preceded the complete virus of diameter 150–300 mμ. The cytoplasmic sacs or inclusions which contained both small and large particles were 300–700 mμ in diameter.
Structures and photophysical properties of model compounds for arylethylene disilylene polymers

The compounds [C6H5C⋮CC6H4C⋮CSiR2]2 (R = Me (3a), n-Bu (3b)) have been synthesized by the reaction of C6H5C⋮CC6H4I with HC⋮CSiR2SiR2C⋮CH. The structures of [C6H5C⋮CSi(CH3)2]2 (2), 3a, and C6H5C⋮CC6H4C⋮CC6H5 (4) have been determined by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In 3a and 4 short contact distances between the aryl rings and the acetylene groups (3.587 (3) A in 3a and 3.481 (2) A in 4) indicate strong intermolecular interactions in the solid state. The fluorescence spectra of diphenylacetylene, 3a, 3b, and 4 are highly dependent on concentration. In dilute solution (around 10-6 mol/L), spectra appear to be of single molecules, but at higher concentration, a red shift was observed, assigned to excimer formation. At still higher solid-state concentrations or in crystals, a further red shift for 3a and 4 was evident, probably due to the formation of aggregates.
From imaging to prediction: Emerging non-invasive methods in pediatric cardiology

Abstract The demand for early diagnosis and improved management of cardiovascular diseases is a continuous source of motivation for the development of non-invasive quantitative imaging and predictive tools. The past few years have witnessed major advances in imaging technologies and integrated computational methods that focus on blood flow and its biomechanical interactions with the walls of the cardiovascular system. This paper summarizes the key biomechanical concepts behind these methods, reviews the current and forthcoming technologies, and evaluates the readiness of these emerging non-invasive methods for the clinical setting.
Pericardiocentesis and Intrapericardial Sclerosis: Effective Therapy for Malignant Pericardial Effusions

Background Pericardial effusions remain a formidable problem in patients with an advanced malignancy. We reviewed our experience with pericardiocentesis and intrapericardial sclerotherapy versus open surgical drainage as the treatment for these effusions. Methods A retrospective review was performed of one surgeon's experience (M.E.B.) with the surgical treatment of malignant pericardial effusions at a tertiary-care cancer center. Results Sixty patients underwent 72 procedures during 8 years. Thirty-seven (51%) pericardiocenteses and 35 (49%) open procedures were performed in patients with effusions. There was no significant difference in the complication rates seen between those effusions drained via pericardiocentesis (n=5; 13%) and those drained in an open surgical procedure (n=5; 14%). Similar results were seen with respect to the development of a recurrent effusion. There were no procedure-related deaths. The median survival for all patients was 97 days. Patients with breast cancer as their primary malignancy survived significantly longer after drainage than did all others ( p =0.01). The type of procedure did not influence survival. Costs of surgical drainage exceed those of pericardiocentesis by nearly fortyfold. Conclusions Pericardiocentesis with intrapericardial sclerotherapy is as effective as open surgical drainage for the management of malignant pericardial effusions.
Severe metabolic acidosis after acute naproxen sodium ingestion

Naproxen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is a propionic acid derivative that possesses analgesic and antipyretic properties through inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. The propionic acids have been considered the least toxic of the NSAIDs, and one, ibuprofen, is currently available as an over-the-counter medication. Though acidosis has been reported with ibuprofen, no such occurrence has been reported for naproxen sodium. We report the case of a 15-year-old girl who presented with severe metabolic acidosis and seizures that rapidly followed naproxen sodium ingestion. Serum bicarbonate levels returned to normal 12 hours after admission and correlated with the known pharmacokinetics of naproxen. The pharmacokinetics of naproxen and treatment of its overdose, and possible mechanisms of metabolic acidosis are reviewed.
Modeling Fetal Death and Malformation in Developmental Toxicity Studies

We review approaches to dose-response modeling and risk assessment for binary data from developmental toxicity studies. In particular, we focus on jointly modeling fetal death and malformation and use a continuation ratio formulation of the multinomial distribution to provide a model for risk. Generalized estimating equations are used to account for clustering of animals within litters. The fitted model is then used to calculate doses corresponding to a specified level of excess risk. Two methods of arriving at a lower confidence limit or Benchmark dose are illustrated and compared. We also discuss models based on single binary end points and compare our approach to a binary analysis of whether or not the animal was ‘affected’ (either dead or malformed). The models are illustrated using data from four developmental toxicity studies in EG, DEHP, TGDM, and DYME conducted through the National Toxicology Program.
Ocean–Atmosphere Characteristics of Tropical Instability Waves Simulated in the NCEP Climate Forecast System Reanalysis

AbstractThe NCEP Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) represents a new effort with the first guess from a high-resolution coupled system and offers prospects for improved simulation of mesoscale air–sea coupled variability. This study aims to describe the characteristics of ocean–atmosphere covariability associated with tropical instability waves (TIWs) in the Pacific for the CFSR, and to assess how well they agree with in situ and satellite observations.Multiyear daily high-resolution CFSR data are used to describe variability associated with TIWs. Results show that TIW-induced SST variations exhibit pronounced seasonal and interannual variability that are tightly connected with cold tongue variations. The analysis illustrates coherent patterns associated with TIWs, both in the ocean and the atmosphere. Moisture and air temperature maximums are located west of SST maximums, leading to downstream displacement of surface pressure minimums relative to SST maximums. Surface winds accelerate (decelerate)...
Exposure to common food additive carrageenan leads to reduced sulfatase activity and increase in sulfated glycosaminoglycans in human epithelial cells

The commonly used food additive carrageenan, including lambda (λ), kappa (κ) and iota (ι) forms, is composed of galactose disaccharides linked in alpha-1,3 and beta-1,4 glycosidic bonds with up to three sulfate groups per disaccharide residue. Carrageenan closely resembles the endogenous galactose or N-acetylgalactosamine-containing glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), chondroitin sulfate (CS), dermatan sulfate (DS), and keratan sulfate. However, these GAGs have beta-1,3 and beta-1,4 glycosidic bonds, in contrast to the unusual alpha-1,3 glycosidic bond in carrageenan. Since sulfatase activity is inhibited by sulfate, and carrageenan is so highly sulfated, we tested the effect of carrageenan exposure on sulfatase activity in human intestinal and mammary epithelial cell lines and found that carrageenan exposure significantly reduced the activity of sulfatases, including N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase, galactose-6-sulfatase, iduronate sulfatase, steroid sulfatase, arylsulfatase A, SULF-1,2, and heparan sulfamidase. Consistent with the inhibition of sulfatase activity, following exposure to carrageenan, GAG content increased significantly and showed marked differences in disaccharide composition. Specific changes in CS disaccharides included increases in di-sulfated disaccharide components of CSD (2S6S) and CS-E (4S6S), with declines in CS-A (4S) and CS-C (6S). Specific changes in heparin-heparan sulfate disaccharides included increases in 6S disaccharides, as well as increases in NS and 2S6S disaccharides. Study results suggest that carrageenan inhibition of sulfatase activity leads to re-distribution of the cellular GAG composition with increase in di-sulfated CS and with potential consequences for cell structure and function.
Ventricular Enlargement in Major Depression

Major depression accompanied by psychosis may be a separate nosological entity from nonpsychotic depression. Investigators have noted behavioral and biochemical differences in psychotic and nonpsychotic patients, as well as differences in response to treatment. A previous study using computed tomography (CT) found enlargement of the lateral cerebral ventricles in patients with manic-depressive illness with psychotic symptoms. The present study examined CT scans of patients with major affective illness that was accompanied by hallucinations, delusions, or both. The ventricles of the depressed group were significantly larger than those of a group of normal controls.
Validity and Reliability of Tympanometric Measures for Pediatric Patients

Sensitivity and specificity of static acoustic admittance (SAA) and tympanometric width (TW) were assessed for 116 pediatric patients. Otologic examination was the validation criterion. Reliability...
COPI coatomer complex proteins facilitate the translocation of anthrax lethal factor across vesicular membranes in vitro

The delivery of the diphtheria toxin catalytic domain (DTA) from acidified endosomes into the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells requires protein–protein interactions between the toxin and a cytosolic translocation factor (CTF) complex. A conserved peptide motif, T1, within the DT transmembrane helix 1 mediates these interactions. Because the T1 motif is also present in the N-terminal segments of lethal factor (LF) and edema factor (EF) in anthrax toxin, we asked whether LF entry into the cell might also be facilitated by target cell cytosolic proteins. In this study, we have used LFnDTA and its associated ADP-ribosyltransferase activity (DTA) to determine the requirements for LF translocation from the lumen of endosomal vesicles to the external medium in vitro. Although low-level release of LFnDTA from enriched endosomal vesicles occurs in the absence of added factors, translocation was enhanced by the addition of cytosolic proteins and ATP to the reaction mixture. We show by GST-LFn pull-down assays that LFn specifically interacts with at least ζ-COP and β-COP of the COPI coatomer complex. Immunodepletion of COPI coatomer complex and associated proteins from cytosolic extracts blocks in vitro LFnDTA translocation. Translocation may be reconstituted by the addition of partially purified bovine COPI to the translocation assay mixture. Taken together, these data suggest that the delivery of LF to the cytosol requires either COPI coatomer complex or a COPI subcomplex for translocation from the endosomal lumen. This facilitated delivery appears to use a mechanism that is analogous to that of DT entry.
The measurement of leach rates: A review

Abstract A historical perspective of the techniques that can be used to measure the leach rate of radioactive waste forms is presented. The achievement of leach rates that are as low as possible has been an important goal ever since the development of solidification processes for liquid radioactive wastes began in the 1950's. Leach tests can be divided into two major categories, dynamic and static, based on whether or not the leachant in contact with the test specimen is changed during the course of the test. Both types of tests have been used extensively. The results of leach tests can be used to compare waste forms, and that has been a major purpose of leach data heretofore; increasingly, however, the data now are needed for predicting long-term leaching behavior during geologic disposal. This requirement is introducing new complexities into leach testing methodology.
Initiating exporting: The role of managerial motivation in small to medium enterprises

Abstract The initiation and continuation of exporting activities of small to medium businesses continue to lag expectations. Assistance in the form of subsidies and financial resources does not seem to spur the initiation of exporting. Using observations of the exporting activities of small to medium companies as the dependent variable, this research examines managerial motivations behind initiating exporting activities. Using the theoretical lens of expectancy theory, this research examines and tests several antecedents to initiation of exporting in a structural equation model. Outcomes suggest that expectancy and valence influence the initiation of exporting. International market orientation, resource availability, and affinity to internationalization all influence the components of motivation.
Incidental Findings of Nonparentage: A Case for Universal Nondisclosure

We advocate for the incorporation of a new clause into the consent forms for pediatric genetic testing that clearly states that any incidental information about parentage will not be revealed, regardless of the result. Using a case of misattributed maternity, we examine both the pro- and antidisclosure arguments. In the absence of arguments that clearly demonstrate irrevocable harm from nondisclosure and against a backdrop of arguments that compellingly highlight the potential for serious harms from disclosing incidental findings of nonparentage, we advocate for a universal, institution-wide policy of nondisclosure. Our proposed policy of universal nondisclosure not only provides a viable solution to the disclosure dilemma but also empowers patients to know what testing is available to them and to seek it out on their own terms, fully informed. With an easily implemented consent change, clinics can take a clear and firm stance in the disclosure debate. As a result, patients will be protected, policy will be widely understood, and cases will be resolved consistently and clearly.