cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of an improved prototype mini-baghouse to control the release of respirable crystalline silica from sand movers

ABSTRACTThe OSHA final rule on respirable crystalline silica (RCS) will require hydraulic fracturing companies to implement engineering controls to limit workers' exposure to RCS. RCS is generated by pneumatic transfer of quartz-containing sand during hydraulic fracturing operations. Chronic inhalation of RCS can lead to serious disease, including silicosis and lung cancer.NIOSH research identified at least seven sources where RCS aerosols were generated at hydraulic fracturing sites. NIOSH researchers developed an engineering control to address one of the largest sources of RCS aerosol generation, RCS escaping from thief hatches on the top of sand movers. The control, the NIOSH Mini-Baghouse Retrofit Assembly (NMBRA), mounts on the thief hatches. Unlike most commercially available engineering controls, the NMBRA has no moving parts and requires no power source. This article details the results of an evaluation of generation 3 of the NMBRA at a sand mine in Arkansas from May 19–21, 2015.During the evaluat...
Disparities in eating disorder diagnosis and treatment according to weight status, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic background, and sex among college students

Objective Eating disorders (EDs) present a significant threat to the health of adolescents and young adults, yet remain under-diagnosed and under-treated at a population-level. EDs have historically been thought to afflict “skinny, white, affluent girls” (the SWAG stereotype). As such, higher-weight individuals, racial/ethnic minorities, those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, and males may not recognize their need for treatment, may not be properly screened for EDs, and/or may not be referred to treatment. Method Using large-scale survey data from the healthy bodies study, we examined variations in prevalence of perceived need for ED treatment, ED diagnosis, past-year ED treatment, and treatment barriers according to weight status, race, socioeconomic background, and sex among undergraduate and graduate students with symptoms of an ED (N = 1,747). Results Among students with symptoms of an ED, 30.7% perceived a need for treatment, 10.5% had received a diagnosis, and 13.6% had received treatment in the past year. Individual characteristics were highly associated with perceived need, diagnosis, and past-year treatment. Females were more likely than males to perceive a need for treatment (OR = 1.97), to be diagnosed (OR = 4.66), and to be treated (OR = 1.64) for their ED symptoms. Socioeconomic background was associated with perceived need for treatment and past-year treatment, with students from affluent backgrounds having higher odds of perceiving need (OR = 1.52) and of receiving treatment (OR = 1.89) compared with their non-affluent peers. Discussion At a population-level, the unmet need for ED treatment disproportionately affects certain groups. Stereotypes about who develops EDs could contribute to disparities in ED treatment and outcomes.
Abstract 17847: Sedation Use Alters Quantitative Electroencephalography in Comatose Post Cardiac Arrest Patients

Introduction: Electroencephalography (EEG) has clinical and prognostic importance for comatose survivors of cardiac arrest. Recent interest in quantitative EEG (qEEG) analysis has grown. The qualitative effects of sedation on EEG are well known, but potentially confounding effects of sedatives on qEEG are poorly characterized in anoxic injury. Hypothesis: Sedation decreases amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG) and alpha/delta ratio (ADR), increases suppression ratio (SR), and the magnitude of this change will predict neurological recovery. Methods: We routinely monitor comatose post-arrest patients with EEG for 48-72h, or until death or awakening. In this prospective study, we included consecutive EEG-monitored patients who had protocolized sedation interruptions, excluding those with contraindications to interruption such as seizure or hemodynamic instability. We used Persyst v12 to quantify SR, aEEG, and ADR and calculated medians for 10min immediately prior to sedation interruption and the last 5min of interruption. We used nonparametric tests to determine if the qEEG signal changed pre- to post- and whether this differed by outcome (Cerebral Performance Category 1-2 at hospital discharge vs 3-5). Results: Of 101 screened subjects, 22 met inclusion criteria (median age 58 years, 73% male). Sedation regimens varied (18 propofol; 13 fentanyl; 5 midazolam). Median duration of sedation interruption was 35min, and did not differ by sedative type. Pre-interruption, higher ADR and aEEG and lower SR predicted favorable outcome. Post-interruption, SR decreased (median change -0.85, IQR: -12.0 to 0), aEEG increased (0.38, IQR +0.02 to 1.07), but ADR did not change. SR decreased more among those with a poor outcome (P=0.01), but aEEG and ADR changes did not differ by outcome. Conclusions: In acute anoxic brain injury, sedation increases SR and decreases aEEG. Larger decreases in SR with sedation interruption predict worse outcomes, which may reflect a susceptibility of deafferentated cortex to suppress in response to sedation.
On the potential of EEG for biometrics: combining power spectral density with a statistical test

The objective of this work was to explore the potential of using subject's electroencephalogram (EEG) as a biometric identifier. EEG was collected from eight healthy male participants, while exposing them to the sequence of images displayed on the screen. The averaged, over EEG rhythms, estimates of power spectral density were used as the classification features for the artificial neural network and Euclidean distance-based classifiers. Prior the classification, Kruskal-Wallis test was performed on the power estimates to verify that they were statistically different between different individuals, who were performing identical tasks. Assuming the significance level of 0.075, Kruskal-Wallis analysis indicated that up to 96.42% of such estimates were statistically different between different participants and, therefore, can be used as the classification features for biometric authentication. When using average EEG spectral power as the classification features, the highest classification accuracy of 87.5% was achieved for α1 EEG rhythm (8–10 Hz), while using the artificial neural network classifier, and for α2 EEG rhythm (10–14 Hz), while using the Euclidean Distance classifier. The classification performance may be mediated by the type of visual stimulation (i.e., the image the subject perceives) and the statistical test may be instrumental for classification feature selection.
Investigating curricular policy as a tool to dismantle the master’s house: Indian Education for All and social studies teacher education:

US curricular policies frequently bolster neoliberal power structures within both pre-K to 12 schools and universities by privileging settler–colonial narratives and excluding Indigenous knowledge....
Ultrasound imaging for identifying dynamics of soft tissue

This paper describes the development of a non-invasive system for characterizing tissue dynamics. The system combines medical ultrasound imaging with an optical tracking system and a vertical exciter that can impart whole-body vibrations on seated subjects. Tissue motion was extracted from the ultrasound images, and in combination with the optical tracker data, the frequency response of the tissue was calculated based on the commanded vibration of the seat and the resultant motion of the tissue. Dynamics of abdominal organs and the upper leg were characterized using the developed system. The ultrasound imaging method presented here will provide insight into the dynamics of soft tissues, as well as their boundary conditions with surrounding organ systems. The identified characteristics can be utilized for surgical planning and simulation as well as for validating a finite element model that is being developed to predict vehicular ride comfort in the early stages of automobile design.
Privacy Verification and Enforcement via Belief Abstraction

Privacy is a crucial concern in many practical systems. We consider a new notion of privacy based on beliefs of the system states, which is closely related to opacity in discrete event systems. To guarantee the privacy requirement, we propose to abstract the belief space whose dynamics is shown to be mixed monotone where efficient abstraction algorithm exists. Based on the abstraction, we propose two different approaches to preserve privacy with an illustrative example.
The Will to Deviance

In his novella Billy Budd, Herman Melville struggles to explain the malicious evil present in his character John Claggart—the master-at-arms who sets in motion the chain of events that ultimately destroys the innocent and beautiful Billy. Despairing of gaining understanding either through common sense or ordinary science, Melville finally lights on the concept of “natural depravity “—a concept that transcends our ordinary secular consciousness of ordinary badness and engages a perspective (one of extraordinary evil, seductive sin, and self-chosen loathsomeness) that seems mythic and theological.
A Perspective on the Role of the Dynamical Core in the Development of Weather and Climate Models

This chapter aims to place the dynamical core of weather and climate models into the context of the model as a system of components. Building from basic definitions that describe models and their applications, the chapter details the component structure of a present-day atmospheric model. This facilitates the categorization of model components into types and the basic description of the dynamical core. An important point in this categorization is that the separation between ‘dynamics’ and ‘physics’ is not always clear; there is overlap. This overlap becomes more important as the spatial resolution of models increases, with resolved scales and parameterized processes becoming more conflated. From this categorization an oversimple, intuitive list of the parts of a dynamical core is made. Following this, the equations of motion are analyzed, and the design-based evolution of the dynamical core described in Lin (2004, Monthly Weather Review) is discussed. This leads to a more complete description of the dynamical core, which explicitly includes the specification of topography and grids on which the equations of motion are solved. Finally, a set of important problems for future consideration is provided. This set emphasizes the modeling system as a whole and the need to focus on physical consistency, on the scientific investigation of coupling, on the representation of physical and numerical dissipation (sub-scale mixing and filtering), and on the robust representation of divergent flows. This system-based approach of model building stands in contrast to a component-based approach and influences the details of component algorithms.
Fertility in Angus females

The objective of this project was to determine the genetic control of conception rate, or pregnancy percentage in Angus beef heifers. Producers from 6 herds in 5 states provided 3144 heifer records that included breeding dates, breeding contemporary groups, service sires, and pregnancy check information. There were 214 sires of heifers represented, with 104 sires having less than five progeny, and fourteen sires having greater than fifty progeny. These data were merged with performance and pedigree information, including actual and adjusted birth weights, weaning weights, and yearling weights, from the American Angus Association database. Heifer pregnancy rate varied from 0.75 and 0.95 between herds, and from 0.65 to 1.00 between sires, with an overall average pregnancy rate of 0.93, measured as percentage of heifers pregnant at pregnancy check after the breeding season. The software package Matvec was used to analyze the binary trait of pregnancy status at pregnancy check. This binary trait assumed an underlying continuous distribution of fertility that resulted in the threshold trait of pregnancy. A generalized linear animal model, using the relationship matrix, was fitted. This model included the fixed effects of contemporary group, age of dam, and first service sire, and the covariates of heifer age at the start of breeding, adjusted birth weight, adjusted weaning weight, and adjusted yearling weight. The relationship matrix included four generations of pedigree. The heritability of pregnancy percentage on the underlying scale was 0.13 ± 0.07. Estimated breeding values on the underlying scale, which are in units of underlying fertility, ranged from -0.48 to 0.80 for heifers, and from -0.56 to 0.70 for sires of heifers. Including growth traits with pregnancy rate as two-trait analyses did not change the heritability of pregnancy rate.
Retrosigmoid Transtentorial Approach: Technical Nuances and Quantification of Benefit From Tentorial Incision.

Objective The transtentorial extension of the retrosigmoid approach allows for improved visualization of the brainstem and petroclival region. This approach is an important tool in the skull base surgeon's armamentarium for pathologies involving the petroclival region. It has been shown that the addition of tentorial transection improves the exposed surface area of the brainstem. However, no data have been reported regarding the depth of the additional anterior and medial exposure. The goal of the present study was to describe the additional depth of exposure gained by performing tentorial transection. This information allows surgeons to preoperatively estimate the amount of operative exposure gained by this technique. Methods Five preserved cadaveric heads were dissected using frameless image guidance. A standard retrosigmoid craniotomy was performed, followed by tentorial transection. The boundaries of the surgical exposure and depth of the surgical field were compared before and after tentorial transection. Results After transection, we found a 20.1-mm increase in anterior exposure (P Conclusions When performing retrosigmoid craniotomy, the addition of tentorial transection allows for a significant increase in anterior and medial exposure with no significant increase in superior or lateral exposure.
Scalable AWGR-based All-to-All Optical Interconnects with 2.5D/3D Integrated Optical Interposers

This paper investigates AWGR-based optical interposers for scalable hierarchical all-to-all interconnects. First, we analyzed the crosstalk requirements for single-AWGR-based interposer. Second, we presented a hierarchical all-to-all architecture that can scale beyond 100,000 nodes. Finally, we presented our work-in-progress on 1.6 Tb/s silicon photonic interposer design and fabrication.
A Serum-Induced Transcriptome and Serum Cytokine Signature Obtained at Diagnosis Correlates with the Development of Early Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Metastasis

Background: Despite the accessibility of blood, identification of systemic biomarkers associated with cancer progression has been especially challenging. The aim of this study was to determine a difference in baseline serum immune signatures in patients that experienced early pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) metastasis compared with patients that did not. We hypothesized that immune mediators would differ in the baseline serum of these patient cohorts. To test this hypothesis, novel approaches of systemic immune analysis were performed. Methods: A serum-induced transcriptional assay was used to identify transcriptome signatures. To enable an understanding of the transcriptome data in a global sense, a transcriptome index was calculated for each patient taking into consideration the relationship of up- and downregulated transcripts. For each patient, serum cytokine concentrations were also analyzed globally as a cytokine index (CI). Results: A transcriptome signature of innate type I IFN inflammation was identified in patients that experienced early metastatic progression. Patients without early metastatic progression had a baseline transcriptome signature of TGFβ/IL10–regulated acute inflammation. The transcriptome index was greater in patients with early metastasis. There was a significant difference in the CI in patients with and without early metastatic progression. Conclusions: The association of serum-induced transcriptional signatures with PDAC metastasis is a novel finding. Global assessment of serum cytokine concentrations as a CI is a novel approach to assess systemic cancer immunity. Impact: These systemic indices can be assessed in combination with tumor markers to further define subsets of PDAC that will provide insight into effective treatment, progression, and outcome.
Stimulated Raman scattering-spectroscopic optical coherence tomography (SRS-SOCT): theory, applications and new developments

Stimulated Raman scattering spectroscopic optical coherence tomography (SRS-SOCT) is a recently developed molecular imaging technique that leverages the spatial and spectral multiplexing capabilities of SOCT with the molecular sensitivity and specificity of SRS for fast, tomographic, label-free molecular imaging. Here we present a theoretical framework for SRS-SOCT, discuss its advantages and limitations, and show experimental results from excised human adipose tissue. We also discuss our recent efforts in developing a novel light source, based on a coherently broadened laser, that is specifically tailored for SRS-SOCT. Implications of this label-free, molecular imaging technique for biomedical applications are discussed.
Business adaptation to climate change: American ski resorts and warmer temperatures

How do firms adapt to the intensity of adverse chronic conditions stemming from the natural environment? We seek to contribute to the debate on whether environmental adversity tends to be positively or negatively related to adaptation. We propose that both diverging perspectives tend to predict part of firms' adaptation to nature adversity intensity. This is because of the interplay between latent counterbalancing mechanisms. First, at mild levels of nature adversity intensity, organizational inertial forces constrain organizations' willingness to adapt. Second, at medium levels of nature adversity intensity, coalition building and internal organizational politics allow managers to deploy adaptation resilience capabilities. Third, at severe levels, growing natural forces eventually impose limits beyond which protective adaptation becomes unviable. Our findings from a 2001 to 2013 analysis of western U.S. ski resorts' adaptation to temperature conditions indicate that firms facing medium levels of nature adversity intensity appear more likely to engage in higher levels of adaptation whereas those experiencing lower and higher intensity show a tendency for lower levels of adaptation, yielding an inverted U‐shaped relationship.
Industrial Ecologies: Manufacturing the Post-industrial Landscape

The sustainable design of urban centers has been the aspiration of many architects, urban designers, and planners throughout history. From Frank Lloyd Wright’s proposal for Broadacres City, Le Corbusier’s Radiant City, and the garden city movement, to the more recent principles of new urbanism and sustainable urbanism, the challenge of integrating the natural and built environment continues to allude designers. Sustainability in architectural research today centers around building performance and the technology and design principles that increase energy efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and minimize a building’s impact on the environment. On the scale of cities, environmentally conscious urban design practices, as defined by sustainable development, sustainable urbanism, and ecological urbanism also seek to minimize or prevent further degradation of ecological systems. Although diminishing the impact of the built environment on the natural world is crucial to the success of future generations, definitions of sustainability should be expanded to also include the restoration of any environmental degradation that already exists. The definition of regenerative urban development and regenerative cities captures this notion, but few case studies of how the entirety of the idea can be implemented exist. Given the inherent ecological damage associated with post-industrial sites, their rehabilitation offers an opportunity to implement these concepts to not only prevent further ecological degradation but to also restore the land itself.
Single-shot 3D fluorescence microscopy with Fourier DiffuserCam

We propose a single-shot 3D fluorescence microscope that achieves large field-of-view and good resolution across a wide axial range. This is implemented by inserting a diffuser into the Fourier plane of the objective and solving an inverse problem. We show experimental 3D results of a freely-moving C. elegans nematode at 25 fps.
Super Twisting High Order Sliding Mode Control of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine with Direct Attack Based on Doubly Fed Induction Generators

In this paper we present a nonlinear control using super twisting high order sliding mode for a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) with direct attack based on doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) supplied by an AC-AC converter. In the first place, we carried out briefly a study of modeling on the whole system (H-darrieus wind turbine). In order to control the power flowing between the stator of the DFIG and the grid, a proposed control design uses high order sliding mode technique is applied for implementing to remove completely the chattering phenomenon on a conventional sliding mode control. The use of this method provides very satisfactory performance for the DFIG control, and the chattering effect is also reduced by this technique. The machine is tested in association with a wind turbine. Simulations results are presented and discussed for the whole system.
Derrida on Law and Blood

In his lectures on the death penalty Jacques Derrida argues the surprising thesis that ‘no philosophical system as such has ever been able rationally to oppose the death penalty’. And he also enter...
Multi-dimensional belief fusion of multi-Gaussian structures

Abstract This paper describes the mathematical formulation of belief fusion of multi-Gaussian probability distribution functions (PDFs) in N-D, as well as the construction of some useful non-Gaussian structures. An emphasis of this work is the development of concise algorithms for constructing and efficiently fusing these non-Gaussian structures in N-space. In order to address decision-making using multi-Gaussian PDFs, an efficient probabilistic decision-making scheme is introduced and validated here. We investigate the trade-off between precision and efficiency in comparison with spatially discretizing fusion methods, concluding that the proposed techniques offer an improvement in both accuracy and efficiency for many contexts requiring non-Gaussian representation of belief. The proposed framework can be implemented in a diverse range of scenarios, potentially with real-time capability, and often without substantial sacrifice in accuracy.
Taking the Longer View of COVID-19.

What are the prospects for dealing with COVID‐19 more effectively in the future? This editorial addresses the question from the perspective of long‐term control of coronavirus infection.
Chapter 6 – Network Imaging

Recent developments in neuroimaging techniques have advanced our understanding of the human brain as composed of large-scale, distributed functional networks. This view comes from a large body of work utilizing multiple imaging methods in capturing brain dynamics during the resting state, a task, varying levels of consciousness, and disease. The present chapter provides a review of recent imaging literature, with an emphasis on the cortical networks that underlie human cognitive functions. Evidence will be presented from methods commonly used for human neuroimaging, including functional magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalography, and magnetoencephalography. Changes to both anatomical and functional network connectivity and how they relate to development, altered states of consciousness, and disease will be discussed.
Long‐term outcomes in patients with recurrent human papillomavirus‐positive oropharyngeal cancer after upfront transoral robotic surgery

BACKGROUND Clinical course following failure of human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal cancers (HPV + OPC) is poorly understood. This study aims to characterize disease course following failure after transoral robotic surgery (TORS). METHODS We identified patients with HPV + OPC-treated upfront with TORS at our institution from 2007 to 2017. HPV status was confirmed with immunohistochemistry or HPV DNA polymerase chain reaction. Patient characteristics, treatment modalities, and post-recurrence outcomes were analyzed for the recurrent cohort. RESULTS Of the 317 HPV + OPC patients, 28 (8.8%) experienced recurrence, all of HPV 16/18 subtypes. Median post-recurrence survival was 19.8 months (range 2.3-195.8 months) in the 12 locoregional and 16 months (range 2.4-79.5 months) in the 14 distant failures. Sixteen are alive with a median of 39.8 months (range 5.5-209.4 months) after retreatment. CONCLUSION This is one of the largest series evaluating survival following TORS failure in HPV + OPC. Despite failure, long-term survival and durable remission are possible with single-modal or multiple-modal salvage treatment.
Metabolic Syndrome Is Associated With Higher Risk of Wound Complications After Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background Obesity is prevalent among patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty and has been associated with the risk of wound complications, particularly when an anterior approach is used. However, most studies have focused on obesity defined by the body mass index (BMI), without considering the metabolic effects of adiposity. Thus, in this study, we investigated the independent effects of the BMI and metabolic syndrome on wound complications after total hip arthroplasty. Methods Among 804 consecutive patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty between October 2013 and July 2016, we evaluated the associations between obesity (BMI ≥30 mg/kg2), metabolic syndrome (defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines), and wound complication (defined as documented wound dehiscence, drainage, erythema, hematoma, infection, or seroma) over a 1-year follow-up period. We used Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for demographics, smoking status, and hospital length of stay. Results Patients’ mean age at time of surgery was 62.0 ± 11.9 years. Forty-seven percent were male, 27.9% were obese, and 11.6% met the definition for metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome was associated with a 4-fold higher risk of wound complication (95% confidence interval: 1.4-11.1) after adjusting for all covariates including the BMI. In unadjusted analysis, obesity was associated with a higher risk of wound complication (hazard ratio: 2.8, 95% confidence interval: 1.3-6.2). However, obesity was not associated with the risk of wound complication after adjusting for the metabolic syndrome (P = .16). Conclusions Metabolic syndrome, but not obesity, defined by a BMI ≥30, was associated with wound complications, suggesting that metabolic effects of adiposity may represent a distinct risk factor in the development of wound complications from a higher BMI alone.
Effect of alkaline hydrogen peroxide treatment on cell wall composition and digestion kinetics of sugarcane residues and wheat straw

Our objective was to characterize changes in cell wall composition and digestibility of sugarcane bagasse, pith from bagasse, and wheat straw after treatment with alkaline hydrogen peroxide (AHP). The AHP treatment solution contained 1% H2O2 (wt/vol) maintained at pH 11.5 with NaOH. The H2O2 in solution amounted to 25% of the quantity of substrate treated. After treatment, residues were washed and dried. Detergent fiber composition, total fiber components (neutral sugars, uronic acids, Klason lignin, and noncore lignin phenolic acids), IVDMD, in vitro digestion kinetics of NDF, and monosaccharide digestibilities (24 and 120 h) were determined. Total fiber (TF) and NDF concentrations of all treatment residues were increased (P less than .05) over control substrates by AHP because of greater losses of cell solubles than of cell wall constituents. Hemicellulose:cellulose ratio in NDF of treatment residues was decreased (P less than .05) by AHP for all substrates, but the neutral sugar composition of TF did not agree with this preferential loss of hemicellulose components. Klason lignin, ADL, and esterified noncore lignin, especially ferulic acid, were reduced (P less than .05) by AHP, whereas etherified noncore lignin composition was unchanged. Treatment increased (P less than .05) IVDMD, extent of NDF digestion, and monosaccharide digestibilities of all crop residues. The rate of NDF digestion was increased (P less than .05) for the sugarcane residues but not for wheat straw. Alkaline hydrogen peroxide improved crop residue digestibility, probably as a result of the removal of core and noncore lignin fractions.
Comparison of motivations and perceptions of capstone benefits for industry sponsors: An interview-based study of faculty and industry:

The goal of this research is to understand, explore, and align the motivation and value that industry gains from sponsoring senior level mechanical engineering capstone design projects at Clemson U...
ECOWAS Interventions in Mali, Guinea Bissau and the Gambia (2012-2017): Implications on Democracy and Governance.

In the past two decades, military establishments in West Africa have destabilized the state and undermined the peace and security of citizens in many respects. Legitimate governments were ousted from power and election results were overturned by defeated incumbent autocratic leaders. ECOWAS was forced to intervene militarily to restore constitutionality in Mali and Guinea Bissau in 2012, and The Gambia in 2017. This paper distinctively compares ECOWAS mandates authorizing interventions in Mali, Guinea Bissau and The Gambia to understand the evolution of regional peace keeping and enforcement initiatives. The findings suggest that ECOWAS intervention in Mali, Guinea Bissau and The Gambia is a new model of coercion in regional peace enforcement and governance.
Induction of guinea pig antibody responses in vitro.

Guinea pig spleen cells cultured together with peritoneal exudate lymphocytes (PEL) were found to generate large numbers of antibody-forming cells (AFC) in vitro in response to hapten-protein antigens. Neither cell type cultured alone yielded appreciable responses. Strain 13 or F 1 (Strain 2 × Strain 13) lymphocytes, but not those from strain 2 animals, are able to respond to the genetically controlled antigen, DNP-guinea pig albumin (DNP-GPA). Antisera directed against responder (strain 13) parent Ia antigens selectively blocked the generation of AFC by F 1 (strain 2 × strain 13) spleen-PEL mixtures in response to DNP-GPA. Both allogeneic (strain 2) and syngeneic macrophages functioned equally well in presentation of DNP-GPA to strain 13 lymphocytes.
Comparison of Glutathione, Cysteine, and Their Redox Potentials in the Plasma of Critically Ill and Healthy Children

Background: Oxidative stress (OS) is known to play a role in critical illness due to an imbalance in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and the body’s ability to detoxify pro-oxidants using small molecule anti-oxidants and anti-oxidant enzymes. Objective: To compare the concentrations of plasma redox metabolites and redox potentials for the Cys/CySS and GSH/GSSG thiol/disulfide pairs in critically ill children with healthy control children. Methods: We performed a prospective clinical observational study of children ages ≤ 18 years and weight ≥ 6 kg who were hospitalized between January 2010 and April 2012 in a 30 bed multidisciplinary medical-surgical pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). We measured the plasma concentrations of Cys, CySS, GSH, and GSSG within the first 24 hours of PICU arrival, and we calculated the redox potential for the Cys/CySS (Eh Cys/CySS) and GSH/GSSG (Eh GSH/GSSG) thiol/disulfide pairs in the plasma of 61 critically ill children and 16 healthy control children. Results: Critically ill children have less Cys (p = 0.009), less CySS (p = 0.011), less Total Cys ([Cys] + 2[CySS], p = 0.01), more GSSG (p < 0.001), and more oxidized Eh GSH/GSSG (p < 0.001) compared to healthy children. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that in the presence of pediatric critical illness, the Total Cys/CySS thiol pool decreases while GSH is likely one component of the cellular redox system that reduces CySS back to Cys thus maintaining Eh Cys/CySS. The Total Cys pool is more abundant than the Total GSH pool in the plasma of children. Further investigation is needed to elucidate the differences in redox potentials in subgroups of critically ill children, and to determine whether differences in redox metabolite concentrations and redox potentials correlate with severity of critical illness and clinical outcomes.
The Impact of Rising Corn Prices on the Conservation Reserve Program: An Empirical Model

This paper examines the relationship between corn prices and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) enrollment within the Corn Belt Region. While this paper places particular emphasis on corn prices, other variables are examined which could have an impact on enrollment, such as corn yield, corn acreage, gross state product and the 2008 Farm Bill. Five empirical models are constructed to estimate the results. This paper finds that a rise in corn prices leads to a reduction in CRP acreage. Specifically, if corn prices rise by $1, CRP land in the Corn Belt will decline by 135,263 acres over a three-year period.
Graph embeddings 1988: recent breakthroughs, new directions

THE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF RESULTS ON GRAPH EMBEDDINGS THAT DESERVE TO BE CALLED `BREAKTHROUGHS'' BECAUSE OF THEIR SETTLING HARD OPEN PROBLEMS AND/OR THEIR RAISING IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT PROMISE TO ALTER THE DIRECTION OF SUBSEQUENT RESEARCH ON GRAPH EMBEDDINGS. WE DESCRIBE AND DISCUSS SEVERAL SUCH RESULTS.
Touching the Third Rail: Explaining the Failure of Bush's Social Security Initiative

Although President George W. Bush mentioned Social Security and the need to “modernize” the popular social insurance program in his first and reelection campaigns for the presidency, many were surprised that it featured as one of his most important goals just two days after the election. Given that most reporters and congressional leaders recognized the “risks” and were circumspect about his chances of success, this article examines Bush's decision to make Social Security “privatization” a major legislative initiative in his second term. Using the garbage can model of agenda setting as proposed by Kingdon, the study looks at why the president decided to move this issue, long known as the “third rail” of U.S. politics, to the top of his agenda. It also questions why—if he indeed had new political capital to spend—he spent it on Social Security and why the effort for reform was virtually dead just ten months later.
Bundle branch reentry ventricular tachycardia: an investigation of the circuit with resetting.

Bundle Branch Reentry VT. We describe a patient with bundle branch reentry ventricular tachycardia with 1:1 VA conduction in whom resetting was performed while obtaining simultaneous recordings from the right ventricular apex (V) and His-bundle electrogram. Both the tachycardia return cycle and the V-His interval demonstrated an increasing reset response, while the His-V interval demonstrated a flat reset response. These reset responses are consistent with a partially excitable gap localizing to the V-His portion of the bundle branch reentry circuit.
Binding and activation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors in pituitary and gonadal cells

Publisher Summary Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) binds to specific high-affinity receptors in rat pituitary gonadotrophes, testicular Leydig cells, and ovarian cells. Following the binding, GnRH stimulates phosphatidylinositol (PI) turnover and recent reports suggest that the first substrate to be acted upon by GnRH in the pituitary and ovary is phosphatidylinositol 4,5-triphosphate (PIP 3 ). The early effect of GnRH includes the production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP 3 ) and the release of intracellular Ca 2+ as suggested in other systems. A recent report demonstrated that GnRH stimulates the release of inositol phosphates from hemipituitaries. GnRH translocates pituitary protein kinase C from the cytosol to the membrane, and several cytosolic proteins have been shown to be phosphorylated by pituitary protein kinase C. Diacylglycerol and phorbol ester (known activators of protein kinase C) stimulate pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) release and inhibit gonadotropin-induced steroidogenesis in cultured granulosa cells. Moreover, diacylglycerol or phorbol ester acts synergistically with Ca 2+ ionophore A23187 and will reconstitute artificially GnRH action on LH release. It is suggested that the biphasic response of pituitary gonadotrophs to GnRH might be mediated by Ca 2+ mobilization and protein kinase C activation, either sequentially or synergistically. GnRH-induced phospholipid turnover also involves the release of free arachidonic acid (AA).
Advancing Discussion of Federal Faith-Based Social Service Policies Through Overview and Application of Established Health Services Research Models

Since the 1990s, federal policies have allowed public funds to support social services provided through pervasively faith-based organizations (FBOs). Public and academic discourse on these policies tends to be marked by limited data, narrow scope, and the lack of an appropriate analytic framework to adequately consider and critique the merits of the policies, as social workers are compelled to do. The goals of this study are to identify, and preliminarily apply, an established policy analysis model appropriate for use with FBO policy in order to progress discussion. Health service researchers Aday, Begley, Lairson, and Balkrishnan (2004) provide a theoretically based policy analysis framework, which is appropriate for this task and for use by social workers. Their effectiveness, efficiency, and equity policy analysis model is presented along with data and analysis intended to help frame and progress productive discussions on FBO policies within and beyond the profession.
Medical exposures in youth and the frequency of narcolepsy with cataplexy: a population-based case-control study in genetically predisposed people

Epidemiological observations suggest that exposures in youth may trigger narcolepsy in genetically predisposed individuals. In this population-based case-control study, we sought to identify all prevalent cases of narcolepsy with cataplexy aged 18-50 years as of 1 July 2001, in King County, Washington. The 45 eligible cases who were DQB1*0602-positive were compared with 95 controls with this allele, identified through random-digit dialing and buccal smears. Cases and controls were interviewed in person about physician-diagnosed infectious and non-infectious illnesses, immunizations, head trauma and parasomnias or psychiatric problems during youth. Narcolepsy with cataplexy was more frequent in African-Americans and in poorer households. Adjusting for these factors, the condition was 5.4-fold more common [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.5-19.1] among people reporting a physician-diagnosed strep throat before the age of 21 years. No other significant associations with childhood diseases, immunizations or head trauma were found. However, prevalence was increased 16.3-fold (95% CI = 6.1-44.1) in subjects who reported having had 'night terrors'. Strep throat may be related to narcolepsy with cataplexy in genetically susceptible individuals. The association with night terrors could simply reflect early symptoms of narcolepsy, or they could be a prodromal sign of disturbed sleep physiology.
Efficacy of vaccination with plasmid DNA encoding for HER2/neu or HER2/neu-EGFP fusion protein against prostate cancer in rats

Despite early diagnosis and improved therapy, 31,500 men will die from prostate cancer (PC) this year. The HER2/neu oncoprotein is an important effector of cell growth found in the majority of high-grade prostatic tumors and is capable of rendering immunogenicity. The antigenicity of this oncoprotein might prove useful in the development of PC vaccines. Our goal is to prove the principle that a single DNA vaccine can provide reliable immunity against PC in the MatLyLu (MLL) translational tumor model. The parental rat MatLyLu PC cell line expresses low to moderate levels of the rat neu protein. To simulate in vivo human PC, MatLyLu cells were transfected with a truncated sequence of human HER2/neu cDNA cloned into the pCI-neo vector. This HER2/neu cDNA sequence encodes the first 433 amino acids of the extracellular domain (ECD). MatLyLu cells were also transfected with the same HER2/neu cDNA sequence cloned into the N1-terminal sequence of EGFP reporter gene to produce a fusion protein. The partial ECD sequence of HER2/neu includes five rat major histocompatibility (MHC)-II-restricted peptides with complete human-to-rat cross-species homology. The HER2/neu protein overexpression was documented by Western Blot analysis, and the expression of fusion protein was monitored by confocal microscopy and fluorimetry. Vaccination with a single injection of HER2/neu cDNA protected 50% of animals against HER2/neu-MatLyLu tumors (P<0.01). When the tumor cells were engineered to express HER2/neu-EGFP fusion protein, the antitumor immunity was enhanced, as following vaccination with HER2/neu-EGFP cDNA, 80% of these rats rejected HER2/neu-EGFP-MatLyLu (P<0.001). Both vaccines induced HER2/neu-specific antibody titers. Rats vaccinated with EGFP-cDNA rejected 80% of EGFP-MatLyLu tumors and, interestingly, 40% of HER2/neu-MatLyLu tumors. None of the cDNA vaccines induced immunity against parental MatLyLu cells. Our data clearly demonstrate that a single injection of HER2/neu-EGFP cDNA is a very effective vaccine against PC tumors expressing the cognate tumor-associated antigen (TA). The antitumor immunity is significantly more pronounced if the tumors express xenogeneic HER2/neu-EGFP fusion protein as opposed to only the syngeneic HER2/neu oncoprotein. Our data suggests that the HER2/neu-EGFP-MatLyLu tumor is a potential animal tumor model for investigating therapeutic vaccine strategies against PC in vivo and demonstrates the limitations of a cDNA vaccine only encoding for MHC-II-restricted HER2/neu-ECD sequence peptides.
A new type of grid.

A new type of grid is discussed. It is anticipated that it will have the same primary transmission as and will eliminate scatter more efficiently than a conventional linear grid of equal thickness and lead content. The construction of the new type of grid is similar to a conventional one except that the lead strips are arranged in zigzag rather than linear pattern. Geometrically ideal ‘‘zigzag’’ and linear grids were constructed and their performance tested. The scatter transmitted by the ideal zigzag grid was one‐half that of the comparable ideal linear grid. The implications regarding the improved scatter‐eliminating capabilities of a practical zigzag grid are discussed.
A nuclear physics program and experimental needs

Abstract This paper reviews work on the properties of the neutron, of strong interactions of neutrons, and of weak interactions of neutrons, identifying how and where the experiments can be improved, and the needs that these suggest for a new high flux reactor.
Treating Psychophysiologic Insomnia With Biofeedback

• After evaluating 165 insomniacs, 48 psychophysiologic insomniacs were randomly assigned to one of the following four groups: electromyographic (EMG) feedback, combined EMG and theta feedback, sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) feedback, and no treatment (control). Sleep evaluations by home logs and in the laboratory were done before and after biofeedback and nine months later. No feedback group showed improved sleep significantly more than did the controls. The amount of feedback learning correlated significantly with sleep improvement for the SMR group but not for the other groups. Initial tension of the insomniacs correlated positively with sleep improvement for the EMG group, but negatively with sleep improvement for the SMR group. Those treated with the biofeedback that seemed appropriate for their specific deficiencies showed significant sleep improvements, while those who received inappropriate feedback did not. Appropriate biofeedback methods may be effective for specific types of insomnia, but these procedures offer no panacea for all poor sleep.
The dynamics of a forced coupled network of active elements

Abstract This paper presents the derivation and analysis of mathematical models motivated by the experimental induction of contour phosphenes in the retina. First, a spatially discrete chain of periodically forced coupled oscillators is considered via reduction to a chain of scalar phase equations. Each isolated oscillator locks in a 1:2 manner with the forcing so that there is intrinsic bistability, with activity peaking on either the odd or even cycles of the forcing. If half the chain is started on the odd cycle and half on the even cycle (“split state”), then with sufficiently strong coupling, a wave can be produced that can travel in either direction due to symmetry. Numerical and analytic methods are employed to determine the size of coupling necessary for the split state solution to destabilize such that waves appear. Taking a continuum limit, we reduce the chain to a partial differential equation. We use a Melnikov function to compute, to leading order, the speed of the traveling wave solution to the partial differential equation as a function of the form of coupling and the forcing parameters and compare our result to the numerically computed discrete and continuum wave speeds.
Smooth or sparsely spined cells with myelinated axons in rat visual cortex.

Abstract Golgi impregnated multipolar and bitufted neurons with smooth or sparsely spined dendrites and myelinated axons from rat visual cortex have been examined by light microscopy and by a combined light- and electron-microscopic technique. There is a morphological continuum between the multipolar and bitufted varieties of neurons and such cells occur throughout layers III through VI. In general the neurons with the smallest cell bodies have the least complex dendritic trees. In the electron microscope the bitufted and multipolar cells have a similar morphology. Their nuclei have some folding of the nuclear envelope and the rough endoplasmic reticulum is well developed. The many ribosomes, both lying free and attached to cisternae, make the perikaryal cytoplasm quite dark. Symmetric and asymmetric synapses are present over the surfaces of the cell body and dendrites and the origins of some of the axon terminals forming these synapses is considered. The axons of all the neurons examined by the combined light- and electron-microscopic techniques stop being impregnated where the axons enter their myelin sheaths. Reasons are given for considering that these neurons, like the similar neurons with unmyelinated axons, use γ-aminobutyrate as transmitter and so are inhibitory in function.