cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Soil amendments promote vegetation establishment and control acidity in coal combustion waste

The effects of adding various soil amendments and a pyrite oxidation inhibitor to aid in the establishment of vegetation and to reduce acid drainage (AD) from coal fly ash and coal reject (FA + CR*) were assessed in an outdoor mesocosm study. Preliminary greenhouse experiments and field observations at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site (SRS) indicated that plants would not survive in this material without altering its physical and chemical characteristics. Samples of mixed FA + CR were obtained from a field site at the SRS. The following treatments were used: Biosolid only (Treatment A), Biosolid + Surfactant (Treatment B), Topsoil + Surfactant (Treatment C), and Biosolid + Topsoil + Surfactant (Treatment D). Leaching was induced due to inadequate rainfall. Loblolly pine seedlings (Pinus taeda) inoculated with ectomycorrhizal fungi — Pisolithus tinctorius (Pt) and Scleroderma cepa (Sc) — were transplanted into each mesocosm tank. Soil solution samplers were installed in each unit at 15 and 41 cm depths. Samples were taken periodically and measured for pH, EC, and other parameters.
Diskussion des Beitrags von Horisberger und Bapst

Der Beitrag von Horisberger beleuchtet viele der Probleme, auf weiche man bei der Untersuchung der Gesundheitsdienste stost, wenn man versucht, die Wirkungen der medizinischen Versorgung unter Verwendung der verfugbaren epidemiologischen, okonomischen und Effektivitatsdaten zu verstehen. Die Schwierigkeiten der Verwendung von Daten, die nicht zur Beantwortung spezifischer Forschungsfragen oder -hypothesen, sondern beispielsweise fur die Verwaltung gesammelt wurden, sind eingehend kommentiert worden und sind die Crux jeglicher Gesundheitsdienstforschung. Dies fuhrt haufig zu kuhnen Vermutungen in bezug auf die Daten, zu komplexen, verwickelten und unvollstandigen Analysen und zu manchmal gewunden formulierten, durch eine Reihe von Einschrankungen begrenzten Ergebnissen. Bei der Durchfuhrung seiner Studie uber die Auswirkungen von Cimetidin auf die peptische Ulkuskrankheit in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland war sich Horisberger offensichtlich dieser Unzulanglichkeit der Daten bewust. Seine Studie liefert einen weiteren Beitrag im Puzzle der Vielzahl von Studien, die alle unser Verstandnis fur den Umfang der Wirkungen einer einzigen Therapie im Arsenal der medizinischen Versorgung verbessern.
Native American Healing and Purification Rituals for War Stress

This chapter addresses certain features of Native American healing practices that have relevance to the treatment of traumatic stress syndromes and other mental states of distress. The major focus will be on American Indian healing practices used for survivors. To those unfamiliar with the ways of American Indian shamans, these practices may seem strange and initially somewhat foreign or even threatening. However, for those willing to learn and be open to experience, there is psychic encounter in ritual that some would term metaphysical or perhaps supernatural. To Native Americans, they are both religious and sacred.
Reproducibility and validity in the clinical diagnosis of the nonfamilial dysplastic nevus: work in progress.

An exciting development in recent years has been the documentation of a clinical syndrome characterized by familial clusters of cutaneous melanoma (CM), with members at risk for CM having multiple atypical moles (Clark et al. 1978; Greene et al. 1978; Lynch et al. 1978; Reimer et al. 1978). Persons affected by the familial dysplastic nevus syndrome (formerly known as the BK mole syndrome) have more than a 100-fold increased risk for the development of CM (Greene 1984).
Dog bite injuries in the USA: prevalence, correlates and recent trends

Dog bite-related injuries are associated with high medical costs. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence, correlates and recent trends in dog bite injuries among male and female individuals presenting to US emergency departments. The prevalence of dog bites was calculated for years 2010–2014 using the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample. Sex-stratified multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted with ‘dog bite’ as the dependent variable and patient and hospital characteristics as independent variables. Overall, the prevalence of dog bite injuries decreased from 2010 to 2014. The prevalence is highest in this sample among male youth. Male individuals diagnosed with an externalising behaviour disorder were more likely to present with a dog bite (OR=1.21, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.30). While the prevalence of dog bites has decreased in recent years, this costly and largely preventable injury remains a concern, especially among youth.
In-Situ Measurement of Tribochemical Processes in Ultrahigh Vacuum

Monitoring chemical reactions occurring at a solid-solid interface is particularly challenging because of the problem of analyzing a buried interface with surface-sensitive spectroscopic techniques. This can, to some extent, be addressed if one of the contacting materials is transparent. In the case of optically opaque materials that are often of the greatest tribological interest, truly in-situ techniques are limited to the detection of gas-phase products formed by rubbing in high vacuum using a mass spectrometer, or by monitoring the contact resistance or friction coefficient variations during sliding. Optical techniques such as infrared spectroscopy can be used when one of the materials is transparent. The results of such in-situ analyses can be corroborated by using so-called pseudo in-situ techniques to analyze the surfaces after rubbing without exposing the samples to the atmosphere. Examples of such techniques are Auger spectroscopy and low-energy electron diffraction. Finally, the use of these approaches is illustrated using a simple model tribochemical reaction consisting of the gas-phase lubrication of copper by dimethyl disulfide.
Do practitioner assessments agree with academic proxies for audit quality? Evidence from PCAOB and internal inspections

Abstract This study investigates the degree of concordance between fifteen measures of audit quality used in academia and two measures of audit process quality determined either by audit firms’ internal inspections or by Public Company Accounting Oversight Board inspections of individual engagements. Using two confidential datasets of these assessments of audit process quality, I find that three of the measures of audit quality used by academics have significant associations with both measures of audit process deficiencies used by auditors and regulators: (i) the propensity to restate financial statements, (ii) the propensity to meet or beat the zero earnings threshold, and (iii) audit fees. Seven academic proxies are significantly associated with only one audit process quality measure, and five have insignificant associations with both practitioner assessments. Overall, the significant associations indicate that practitioners and academics share common ground in identifying low-quality audits. These findings can provide guidance for future studies in selecting audit-quality proxies suitable for different research questions.
The autonomous vehicle parking problem

Abstract Autonomous vehicles (AVs) have no need to park close to their destination, or even to park at all. Instead, AVs can seek out free on-street parking, return home, or cruise (circle around). Because cruising is less costly at lower speeds, a game theoretic framework shows that AVs also have the incentive to implicitly coordinate with each other in order to generate congestion. Using a traffic microsimulation model and data from downtown San Francisco, this paper suggests that AVs could more than double vehicle travel to, from and within dense, urban cores. New vehicle trips are generated by a 90% reduction in effective parking costs, while existing trips become longer because of driving to more distant parking spaces and cruising. One potential policy response—subsidized peripheral parking—would likely exacerbate congestion through further reducing the cost of driving. Instead, this paper argues that the rise of AVs provides the opportunity and the imperative to implement congestion pricing in urban centers. Because the ability of AVs to cruise blurs the boundary between parking and travel, congestion pricing programs should include two complementary prices—a time-based charge for occupying the public right-of-way, whether parked or in motion, and a distance- or energy-based charge that internalizes other externalities from driving.
Pragmatic Idealism: Towards a Probabilistic Framework of Shared Awareness in Complex Situations

Shared awareness is an essential concept in the joint decision-making context. Typically, it is oversimplified and associated with shared information. To share an understanding in totality is to say that there is a sharing of meaning and awareness, not only of information. However, existing shared awareness models fail to explain situations in which two people view the same event but attend to different information or act differently based on the same information. Although several categorization models of shared awareness exist, the models are ad-hoc or inadequate to generalization. This paper presents a theoretical discussion of shared awareness based on its cognitive structure. We apply the pragmatic idealism framework, which provides a theoretical construct where the domain of awareness is an abstraction of reality. This framework supports the existence of multiple incompatible perspectives and understandings. We discuss the ontology of this abstract concept with the mathematical tools of quantum probability theory. We discuss the cognitive processes that transform a simple situation into a complex situation. The presented model of shared awareness includes a quantification of the degree of sharing in complex situations.
Older adult visits to the emergency department for ambulatory care sensitive conditions.

Objectives Ambulatory-care-sensitive conditions (ACSCs) represent emergency department (ED) visits and hospital admissions that might have been avoided through earlier primary care intervention. We characterize the current frequency and cost of ACSCs among older adults (≥65 years of age) in the ED. Methods This study is a retrospective analysis of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) national claims data distributed by the Research Data Assistance Center, a CMS contractor based at the University of Minnesota. We analyzed outpatient ED-based national claims data for visits made by traditional fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare beneficiaries in 2016. ACSCs were identified according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Prevention Quality Indicators criteria, which require that the ACSC be the primary diagnosis for the visit. Analysis was done in Alteryx and R. Results We documented nearly 1.8 million ACSC ED visits in 2016, finding that ≈10.6% of all ED visits by older adult FFS Medicare beneficiaries were associated with an ACSC. ACSC ED visits resulted in admission more often (39.7%) than non-ACSC ED visits (23.9%). Notably, 83% of patients with short-term complications from diabetes were admitted. Conclusions ED visits for a primary diagnosis of an ACSC highlight opportunities to improve access to preventive care, particularly earlier recognition and treatment of patients' deteriorating conditions that could have potentially precluded the need for the ED visit. An opportunity exists to leverage ED-based initiatives during an ACSC ED visit to support appropriate community and care transitions of these high-risk patients.
Feasibility Assessment of Mass Timber as a Mainstream Building Material in the US Construction Industry: Level of Involvement, Existing Challenges, and Recommendations

AbstractMass timber is a promising building material that has been used in Europe for a long time. Structural rigidity, renewable characteristics, and low-carbon footprint have made this material a...
Parallel program performance metrics: a comparison and validation

The authors present a novel technique, called true zeroing, that permits direct, quantitative, and fair comparison of parallel program performance metrics. This technique was applied to three programs that include both numeric and symbolic applications. Three existing metrics, Gprof, Critical Path, and Quartz/NPT, and several new variations were compared. The result of this comparison was that while Critical Path provided the best overall guidance, it was not universally better than the other metrics. Because there is no single universal metric, future parallel performance systems need to support multiple metrics. The authors present a set of recommendations to tool builders based on the experience gained during this case study.
A Scoping Review of Trauma-Informed Curricula for Primary Care Providers.

Background and objectives Traumatic experiences such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction have a lifetime prevalence of 62%-75% and can negatively impact health outcomes. However, many primary care providers (PCPs) are inadequately prepared to treat patients with trauma due to a lack of training. Our objective was to identify trauma-informed approach curricula for PCPs, review their effectiveness, and identify gaps. Methods We systematically identified articles from Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Academic Search Premier, Cochrane, PsycINFO, MedEd Portal, and the STFM Resource Library. Search term headings "trauma-informed care (TIC)," "resilience," "patient-centered care," "primary care," and "education." Inclusion criteria were PCP, pediatric and adult patients, and training evaluation. Exclusion criteria were outside the United States, non-English articles, non-PCPs, and inpatient settings. We used the TIC pyramid to extract topics. We analyzed evaluation methods using the Kirkpatrick Model. Results Researchers reviewed 6,825 articles and identified 17 different curricula. Understanding health effects of trauma was the most common topic (94%). Evaluation data revealed overall positive reactions and improved knowledge, attitudes, and confidence. Half (53%) reported Kirkpatrick level 3 behavior change evaluation outcomes with increased trauma screening and communication, but no change in referrals. Only 12% (2/17) evaluated Kirkpatrick level 4 patient satisfaction (significant results) and health outcomes (not significant). Conclusions Pilot findings from studies in our review show trauma-informed curricula for PCPs reveal positive reactions, an increase in knowledge, screening, communication, and patient satisfaction, but no change in referrals or health outcomes. Further research is needed to examine the impact of trainings on quality of care and health outcomes.
An Introduction to Lie Groups and Lie Algebras

With roots in the nineteenth century, Lie theory has since found many and varied applications in mathematics and mathematical physics, to the point where it is now regarded as a classical branch of mathematics in its own right. This graduate text focuses on the study of semisimple Lie algebras, developing the necessary theory along the way. The material covered ranges from basic definitions of Lie groups to the classification of finite-dimensional representations of semisimple Lie algebras. Written in an informal style, this is a contemporary introduction to the subject which emphasizes the main concepts of the proofs and outlines the necessary technical details, allowing the material to be conveyed concisely. Based on a lecture course given by the author at the State University of New York, Stony Brook, the book includes numerous exercises and worked examples, and is ideal for graduate courses on Lie groups and Lie algebras.
Wilms’ Tumor in Children and Adults

The treatment of Wilms’ tumor represents one of the great achievements in the history of oncology. Named for Max Wilms, who described the tumor in 1899, the prognosis for this most common renal tumor of childhood has steadily improved through innovation and the cooperative efforts of multicenter trials. With nephrectomy alone, 15% of patients could expect to survive in the early 20th century.1 With the advent of radiation therapy, cure rates approached 40%.2 In the latter half of the 20th century, multiagent chemotherapy with vincristine and actinomycin as the mainstays has resulted in cure rates approaching 90% for most Wilms’ tumor patients.3 While multi-center trials have helped define the standard management for Wilms’ tumor, controversies still exist and cure still eludes many patients with high-stage unfavorable histology tumors.
Postoperative Care of the Cardiac Surgical Patient

The subspecialty of interventional cardiology began in 1977. Since then, the discipline of interventional cardiology has matured rapidly, particularly with regards to ischemic heart disease. As a result, more patients are undergoing percutaneous catheter interventional therapy for ischemic heart disease and fewer patients are undergoing surgical myocardial revascularization. Those patients referred for surgical revascularization are generally older and have more complex problems. Furthermore, as the population ages more patients are referred to surgery for valvular heart disease. The result of these changes is a population of surgical patients older and sicker than previously treated.
The B7–CD28 superfamily

The B7-1/B7-2-CD28/CTLA-4 pathway is crucial in regulating T-cell activation and tolerance. New B7 and CD28 molecules have recently been discovered and new pathways have been delineated that seem to be important for regulating the responses of previously activated T cells. Several B7 homologues are expressed on cells other than professional antigen-presenting cells, indicating new mechanisms for regulating T-cell responses in peripheral tissues. Some B7 homologues have unknown receptors, indicating that other immunoregulatory pathways remain to be described. Here, we summarize our current understanding of the new members of the B7 and CD28 families, and discuss their therapeutic potential.
The Extensions of Synergy

Abstract Building brand identity becomes more difficult in a media-saturated culture, making it difficult to get a commercial message through to its audience, and requiring marketers to develop evermore omnipresent devices for reaching consumers. Corporations use synergy as a way of conveying consistent brand messages through multiple venues. Those venues have expanded beyond our conventional notions of the mass media, however, and increasingly rely on physical environments such as theme parks, casinos, and even residential communities to communicate and reinforce brand messages. These places, artificially constructed environmental simulacra, obscure the distinctions normally made between the cinematic world and the real world. The transformation of space into a new advertising medium has significant cultural implications.
Interfacial Properties of C‐Coated Alumina Fiber/Glass Matrix Fiber Composites

Alumina fiber-reinforced/borosilicate glass composites have been fabricated via slurry infiltration and hot-pressing with carbon-coated and uncoated fibers. Composite flexural strength for coated fiber samples was of the order of 263 MPa, by contrast with 118 MPa for the uncoated-fiber samples, which were mechanically weak and brittle. Fiber pullout in excess of 200 microns was noted in 45-percent coated fiber composites, while there was no pullout in the uncoated cases. The work of fracture of the uncoated-fiber composites was the same as the unreinforced matrix glass, but was much higher in the coated-fiber composites, and proportional to fiber content. 19 refs.
Na-Ca exchange: evidence against a ping-pong mechanism and against a Ca pool in ferret red blood cells

To determine the mechanism of Na-Ca exchange, we estimated the ratio of maximum velocity to Michaelis constant for extra-cellular Ca by measuring the rate of Ca uptake at very low extracellular Ca....
The Active Site of the Escherichia coliMutY DNA Adenine Glycosylase

Escherichia coli MutY is an adenine DNA glycosylase active on DNA substrates containing A/G, A/C, or A/8-oxoG mismatches. Although MutY can form a covalent intermediate with its DNA substrates, its possession of 3′ apurinic lyase activity is controversial. To study the reaction mechanism of MutY, the conserved Asp-138 was mutated to Asn and the reactivity of this mutant MutY protein determined. The glycosylase activity was completely abolished in the D138N MutY mutant. The D138N mutant and wild-type MutY protein also possessed different DNA binding activities with various mismatches. Several lysine residues were identified in the proximity of the active site by analyzing the imino-covalent MutY-DNA intermediate. Mutation of Lys-157 and Lys-158 both individually and combined, had no effect on MutY activities but the K142A mutant protein was unable to form Schiff base intermediates with DNA substrates. However, the MutY K142A mutant could still bind DNA substrates and had adenine glycosylase activity. Surprisingly, the K142A mutant MutY, but not the wild-type enzyme, could promote a β/δ-elimination on apurinic DNA. Our results suggest that Asp-138 acts as a general base to deprotonate either the e-amine group of Lys-142 or to activate a water molecule and the resulting apurinic DNA then reacts with Lys-142 to form the Schiff base intermediate with DNA. With the K142A mutant, Asp-138 activates a water molecule to attack the C1′ of the adenosine; the resulting apurinic DNA is cleaved through β/δ-elimination without Schiff base formation.
Surgeons' perceptions and injuries during and after urologic laparoscopic surgery.

OBJECTIVES The biomechanical and mental strains placed on the surgeon while performing laparoscopic procedures are significantly higher compared with open surgical techniques. We undertook this study to assess the prevalence of surgeons' deleterious perceptions or injuries related to laparoscopic urologic surgery. METHODS Members of endourological society were mailed a questionnaire evaluating their laparoscopic experience, total number of standard laparoscopic surgeries (SLS), hand-assisted laparoscopic surgeries (HALS), and robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgeries (RALS) they performed. The subjects reported any neuromuscular or arthritic injuries sustained during laparoscopic surgery, and graded the degree of pain, numbness, and fatigue they experienced. RESULTS A total of 73 urologists completed the questionnaires. The average responder was 44 years old, had completed a median of 117 procedures, and was performing 3 laparoscopic surgeries per week. Neuromuscular or arthritic symptoms during surgery were reported by 22 responders (30%), the most common was finger paresthesia (18%). At the conclusion of HALS, 45% of the surgeons suffered from hand and wrist numbness and 37% reported pain in these areas. A significant association was observed between the risk of sustaining injury during surgery and the total number of laparoscopic procedures performed by the responder (P = 0.016). RALS was the procedure least associated with injuries, and HALS the most. CONCLUSIONS The laparoscopic operating theater is a hostile ergonomic environment. Surgeons' awareness of the common injuries associated with laparoscopic surgery and careful equipment adjustments before surgery are mandatory to minimize injury. Future improvements in instrument design according to ergonomic principles are highly warranted.
Protecting and managing electronic content with a digital battery

The digital battery's per-use pricing model may be our best hope for protecting artists' livelihoods, generating meaningful usage statistics, and ensuring consumer privacy. To protect intellectual properties, we need a digital system that makes unauthorized duplication impossible or at least extremely difficult, tracks each use of a given work while ensuring the user's anonymity, and can be implemented inexpensively and remain transparent to the consumer. The digital battery offers an alternative for tracking and charging for intellectual-property use without alienating users. While consumers object to content that degrades over time, they do not strongly object when, for example, their portable compact disc player quits working because the batteries die. Yet either event results in loss of access to content. Consumers do not view batteries as being intrinsically tied to particular content. Further, batteries are inexpensive and anonymous. A digital battery would resemble a smart card or digital-camera media card. The battery would contain contacts that link the card's processor to a larger system. A digital battery could monitor the use of all types of digital content, including music, video, print, and images. The battery's software could adjust the rate at which the battery drains to reflect the various costs of different media.
Separation of Water-Soluble Proteins from Cereals by High-Performance Capillary Electrophoresis (HPCE)

ABSTRACT Most research concerning grain proteins has concentrated on the gluten storage proteins. The albumins and globulins are the water- and salt-soluble proteins that contain biologically active enzymes and enzyme inhibitors. A free-zone capillary electrophoresis method was developed to separate these proteins. Optimization included sample extraction method, capillary temperature, buffer composition, and additives. The optimal conditions for separation of these proteins was 50 μm i.d. × 27 cm (20 cm to detector) capillary at 10 kV (with a 0.17 min ramp-up time) and 25°C. The optimum buffer was 50 mM sodium phosphate, pH 2.5 + 20% acetonitrile (v/v) (ACN) + 0.05% (w/v) hydroxypropylmethyl-cellulose (HPMC) + 50 mM hexane sulfonic acid (HSA). Sample stability was an issue that was addressed by lyophilizing fresh extracts and redissolving in aqueous 50% ethylene glycol and 10% separation buffer. This method was successfully used in both wheat flour and whole meal samples. Comparisons were made of several ...
Experimental evaluation of antitoxic protective effect of new cholera vaccines in mice.

Abstract Intraperitoneal immunization of mice and subsequent challenge with purified cholera toxin (CT) were employed to evaluate the anti-cholera toxin protective effect of two new oral cholera vaccines, live CVD 103-HgR and killed B subunit—whole cell (BS-WC). CVD 103-HgR vaccine demonstrated 100% protection of mice against 2.25 LD 50 and 70% against 3 LD 50 of CT. Mice immunized with BS-WC vaccine were protected against 2.25 and 3 LD 50 of CT in 88 and 62% of cases, respectively. All three killed parenteral vaccines failed to protect against CT. We suggest this mouse system for preliminary evaluation of the antitoxic protective activity of cholera vaccines.
Scheduling cloud capacity for Time- Varying customer demand

As utility computing resources become more ubiquitous, service providers increasingly look to the cloud for an in-full or in-part infrastructure to serve utility computing customers on demand. Given the costs associated with cloud infrastructure, dynamic scheduling of cloud resources can significantly lower costs while providing an acceptable service level. We investigated several methods for predicting the required cloud capacity in the presence of time-varying customer demand of application environments. We evaluated and compared their performance, using historical data of the Virtual Computing Laboratory (VCL) at North Carolina State University. We show that a simple heuristic, whereby we continuously maintain a fixed reserve capacity, performs better than the other methods.
DIETARY EFFECTS ON BEEF COMPOSITION. 4. Processing and Palatability Attributes

SUMMARY– The influence of dietary regimen of 104 half-sib Angus steers allotted to 1 of 13 combinations of hay, corn silage and corn concentrate, and of slaughter weights of 284 vs. 340 kg and 409 vs. 454 kg (live weight) on processing qualities and palatability of beef was studied. Measurements included postmortem glycolytic activity, water- and fat-binding capacity, textural properties, cooking losses, flavor and juiciness of selected muscles. Results showed that feeding regimens had a greater effect than did slaughter weight on qualities studied. Corn silage in the early dietary regimen of cattle weighing 284 and 340 kg resulted in significantly lower pH values (5 and 45 min post-mortem), higher amounts of glycogen at slaughter and greater water- and fat-binding capacity as compared to hay. Similar effects of early diet were noted for 5- and 45-min pH and water-binding capacity in cattle fed to heavier weights (409 and 454 kg); however, in these animals the early-hay diet resulted in greater muscle glycogen deposition than the early-silage diet. Steaks from animals fed corn silage in the early period were determined to be more tender by both shear values and panel scores and were more juicy and flavorful than those from hay-fed animals. These differences in palatability due to early diet were still evident after the cattle had been fed to heavier (409 and 454 kg) weights. When steers weighing 409 and 454 kg were grouped together, the effects of feeding regimen during the intermediate period were considerably less pronounced than those of the early feeding period.
Analysis of hydrophilic metabolites by high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry using a silica hydride-based stationary phase

A novel silica hydride-based stationary phase was used to evaluate the retention behavior in the aqueous normal-phase (ANP) mode of standards representing three classes of metabolites. The effects on retention behavior of amino acids, carbohydrates and small organic acids were examined by altering the column temperature, and by adding different additives to both the mobile phase and sample solvent. Gradient mode results revealed the repeatability of retention times to be very stable for these compound classes. At both 15 and 30 degrees C, excellent RSD values were obtained with less than 1% variation for over 50 injections of an amino acid mixture. The ability to separate the 19 nonderivatized amino acid standards, organic acids and carbohydrates was demonstrated as well as the potential for this material to separate polar metabolites in complex fluids such as urine.
Interpersonal Predictors of HbA1c in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE —Research suggests that increased collaboration and satisfaction in the patient-provider relationship is associated with better outcomes in patients with diabetes. In adults, an interpersonal style characterized by low trust of others and excessive self-reliance is known as “dismissing attachment style.” We hypothesized that diabetic patients with dismissing attachment style, due to a decreased ability to collaborate with providers and others, would have significantly higher HbA1c levels than patients with secure attachment style. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —From 276 adult tertiary care patients with type 1 diabetes, we obtained mean HbA1c levels over the prior year and assessed patient attachment style, demographics, and clinical characteristics. We used χ2 tests and logistic regression to determine whether attachment style was associated with HbA1c levels. RESULTS —We found that 62% of patients with dismissing attachment style had mean HbA1c levels ≥8% compared with 34% of patients with secure attachment style ( P = 0.002). After adjusting for demographics, diabetes severity, medical comorbidity, and depression, dismissing attachment style remained significantly associated with HbA1c levels ≥8%, compared with secure attachment style (odds ratio 2.5, 95% CI 1.1–6.0). CONCLUSIONS —We have found that dismissing attachment style is associated with a higher risk for poor glycemic control. This has relevance from a population-based perspective because ∼25% of the general population has a dismissing attachment style. Attachment style is easily measured using self-report instruments and may inform clinicians how to work with patients who are less engaged in the health care relationship.
Toxicity following high-dose salvage radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy

OBJECTIVE To assess gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) toxicity in patients treated with salvage radiotherapy (SRT) at doses of 70.2 Gy after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP). PATIENTS AND METHODS Medical records were reviewed retrospectively to identify patients treated with SRT after RRP between January 1999 and December 2005. Of the 62 patients identified, 30 were included for analysis. GI and GU toxicity was assessed using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events and the American Urological Association Symptom Index (AUASI), respectively. RESULTS The median AUASI score of the 17 patients with scores before SRT was 4, of the 24 with scores after SRT was 6, and of the 15 with scores before and after SRT the median increase was 3. Of the 29 patients with GI toxicity data, nine (31%) had diarrhoea after SRT (three after <70.2 Gy and six after 70.2 Gy). In all cases, the diarrhoea was mild (grade 1). Of all patients, 12 (41%) had proctitis after SRT (four after <70.2 Gy and eight after 70.2 Gy); the proctitis was grade 1 in four and grade 2 in eight, with no cases of grade 3 proctitis. There was no statistically significant difference in the median change in AUASI scores and GI toxicity incidence between patients receiving <70.2 or 70.2 Gy of SRT. CONCLUSION High-dose SRT (70.2 Gy) is generally well tolerated with acceptable low-grade GI toxicity and minimal changes in AUASI scores.
Fe(CO3)OH in goethite from a mid-latitude North American Oxisol: estimate of atmospheric CO2 concentration in the Early Eocene “climatic optimum”

Abstract Measured mole fractions (X) and δ13C values of the Fe(CO3)OH component in pedogenic goethite from a mid-latitude Oxisol of Early Eocene age (≈52 Ma B.P.) range from 0.0014 to 0.0064 and −20.1 to −15.4‰, respectively. These values of X imply that concentrations of CO2 gas in the paleosol were ≈7400 to ≈34,000 ppm. δ13C and 1/X are correlated and define a linear, soil-CO2 diffusive mixing line with a positive slope. Such positive slopes are characteristic of mixing of two isotopically distinct CO2 endmembers (atmospheric CO2 and CO2 from oxidation of soil organic matter). From the intercept of the mixing line, it is calculated that the δ 13C value of organic matter in the ancient soil was ≈−28.0‰. The magnitude of the slope implies an Early Eocene atmospheric CO2 concentration of ≈2700 ppm. A simple model for forest soils suggests that a “canopy effect” may cause atmospheric CO2 concentrations deduced from pedogenic minerals to underestimate the actual concentrations of atmospheric CO2. If a significant forest canopy were present at the time of formation of pedogenic goethite in the Ione Fm, the concentration of 2700 ppm calculated for atmospheric CO2 could be slightly low, but the underestimate is expected to be
Preperitoneal herniorrhaphy. Adjunct to prostatic surgery.

Abstract The preperitoneal approach to inguinal hernia repair can easily be applied at the time of open prostatectomy. Our experience with this procedure is reported, and the surgical technique is described. A preperitoneal herniorrhaphy is easy to perform through the same incision as the prostatectomy, avoids opening new surgical spaces, adds little to the operating time, and saves the patient another surgical procedure. Good results have been achieved in that we have had only 3 recurrences in 38 hernias repaired by the preperitoneal approach.
Sexual precocity: an unusual complication of propylthiouracil therapy.

A 2 5/12-year-old girl with hyperthyroidism, who was treated with propylthiouracil, became hypothyroid and developed sexual precocity and menstruated. On reduction of the dose of propylthiouracil she became euthyroid, and the signs of sexual precocity disappeared. This appears to be the first report of a form of the syndrome of “precocious menstruation and galactorrhea in juvenile hypothyroidism” brought about by propylthiouracil therapy.
Violations of personal space by individuals with autism spectrum disorder.

The ability to maintain an appropriate physical distance (i.e., interpersonal distance) from others is a critical aspect of social interaction and contributes importantly to real-life social functioning. In Study 1, using parent-report data that had been acquired on a large number of individuals (ages 4–18 years) for the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange and the Simons Simplex Collection, we found that those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD; n = 766) more often violated the space of others compared to their unaffected siblings (n = 766). This abnormality held equally across ASD diagnostic categories, and correlated with clinical measures of communication and social functioning. In Study 2, laboratory experiments in a sample of high-functioning adults with ASD demonstrated an altered relationship between interpersonal distance and personal space, and documented a complete absence of personal space in 3 individuals with ASD. Furthermore, anecdotal self-report from several participants confirmed that violations of social distancing conventions continue to occur in real-world interactions through adulthood. We suggest that atypical social distancing behavior offers a practical and sensitive measure of social dysfunction in ASD, and one whose psychological and neurological substrates should be further investigated.
Computer simulation of heat transfer during in-package pasteurization of beef frankfurters by hot water immersion

Abstract The objective of this research was to develop methods for simulating the heat transfer process during pasteurization of frankfurter in single layer packages by hot water immersion to inactivate Listeria monocytogenes . A computer simulation program based on finite difference analysis was developed to simulate the temperature distributions within the frankfurter packages. This program was first used to estimate the apparent thermal diffusivity and surface heat transfer coefficients during the heating and cooling of frankfurters. Then this computer program was used to simulate the heat transfer processes during hot water pasteurization of frankfurters. The results of computer simulation indicated that the simulated temperature histories were in close agreement with the experimentally observed curves, both at the center and on the surface of the packages. The computer simulation model was biologically validated with frankfurters surfaced-inoculated with freshly grown L. monocytogenes. The observed bacterial reductions were generally 1–2 logs higher than those calculated by the General Method when the heating time was short. The theoretical calculation was more accurate when the heating time was long and the total inactivation was >5 logs. In general, the result of computer simulation for calculating the log reduction was more conservative than the experimental observations, therefore suitable for designing processes to ensure the safety of products and to reduce the incidence of foodborne listeriosis associated with RTE meats.
Simulated effects of martensite start temperature, thermal conductivity and pore content on end quench cooling rate

Abstract Process modelling, based on finite difference methods, is used to show that the thermal conductivity increases, which typically attend the martensite transformation in steel, affect the cooling rate in the Jominy end quench test. A one-dimensional model, which includes the effects of material property variations, is presented that predicts slightly increased cooling rates with increases in the M s temperature for fully dense steels and significantly increased rates for powder metallurgy (PM) steels. The model is based on earlier studies of the end quench test that initially showed increased cooling rates in PM steels versus fully dense ones and then went on to show water penetration of the pores as a causative mechanism. In the present study, it is shown that by combining a simple theory of this mechanism with the aforementioned M s effects, it is possible to obtain cooling curves that display a marked resemblance to the experimentally observed ones of these earlier studies.
Evaluation of Warm Mix Asphalt Mixtures Containing Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement through Mechanical Performance Tests and an Acoustic Emission Approach

Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and warm mix asphalt (WMA) have become the primary methods for enhancing sustainability in the asphalt industry in recent years. To further enhance sustainability benefits, asphalt producers have begun using RAP and WMA in combination. Research to date has focused on evaluating WMA-RAP mixtures in terms of moisture sensitivity and permanent deformation characteristics as measured in laboratory performance tests. In the present paper, the authors investigate a set of WMA mixtures that encompass a variety of variables, including four WMA additives (Evotherm 3G, Rediset LQ, Sasobit, and Advera) and three RAP contents (0, 15, and 45%). A common belief among practitioners is that the reduced aging in the asphalt binder associated with lower production temperatures in WMA mixtures leaves additional headroom for the incorporation of higher amounts of RAP, which is generally a stiffer, more brittle material. To fully characterize the performance of WMA-RAP mixtures, the authors evaluated the low-temperature, cracking behavior of these mixtures in conjunction with moisture and rutting resistance characterization. They achieved the low temperature testing of WMA-RAP mixtures through the disk-shaped compact tension [DC(T)], indirect tension (IDT) creep compliance, and acoustic emission (AE) tests. Test results showed that chemical additives improved moisture susceptibility according to the AASHTO T 283 standard test and fracture and bulk stress relaxation characteristics using the DC(T) and IDT tests, respectively. The organic Fischer-Tropsch wax-modified WMA mixtures performed the best among the WMA mixtures in terms of rutting resistance. The introduction of RAP led to the increased resistance to permanent deformation and moisture damage. Conversely, RAP reduced thermal cracking resistance according to the low-temperature performance tests in both HMA and WMA. The authors observed the same trend in AE test results as WMA-RAP mixtures exhibited warmer embrittlement temperatures as compared with control mixtures and are therefore expected to be more prone to thermal cracking. On the basis of these findings, thermal cracking resistance remains an issue to be considered in WMA mixtures containing RAP. Additionally, performance testing has shown to be a valuable tool for the evaluation of RAP and WMA mix designs to avoid performance issues in the field.
Columnar recombination: a tool for nuclear recoil directional sensitivity in a xenon-based direct detection WIMP search

A robust signal for sidereal anisotropy in nuclear recoils would support, perhaps more decisively than any other evidence, a discovery claim for a WIMP component of Dark Matter. I present a concept based on columnar recombination in dense xenon gas, sensing nuclear recoil direction relative to a TPC drift field. The central advance is that nuclear recoil directionality information is obtained through a comparison, event-by-event, of the ionization signal and recombination signal that are produced prior to drifting the track ionization. The optimum xenon density for this concept may be near ten bars, unlike conventional techniques that employ track visualization – with severe restrictions on gas density to about 1/10 bar. No restriction is imposed by diffusion during drift, facilitating the realization of a large monolithic room temperature xenon gas Time Projection Chamber at the ton-scale, with unprecedented sensitivity for both directionality and cross-section. Remarkably, the desired operating conditions for 0-νββ 136Xe experiment may be identical.
Pattern of breathing during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: implications for administration of supplemental oxygen.

SUMMARY Cardiopulmonary complications account for half the deaths associated with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The incidence of hypoxia at the time of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy can be greatly reduced by the administration of supplemental oxygen via nasal cannulae. Using dual thermistors in the mouth and nostrils of patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, the present study demonstrates that most patients breathe predominantly via the oral, rather than the nasal, route following intubation of the oesophagus. The implication from the study is that, if supplemental oxygen is to be used in ‘at risk’patients, it would be logical to employ an oral, rather than nasal, route of administration.
Application of a Molecular Dynamics Simulation Method with a Generalized Effective Potential to the Flexible Molecular Docking Problems

We present a new molecular dynamics method using Tsallis effective potential for the flexible docking problems of streptavidin/biotin and protein kinase C/phorbol-13-acetate. With a full flexibility of the ligands and a partial flexibility of the receptor active sites included, the new MD scheme accelerates the docking process significantly, by way of infrequent q-jumping and q-relaxation procedures between a normal potential energy surface and its transformed one by the Tsallis scheme. In the transformation, only the nonbonding interaction terms of an empirical potential energy function were employed. It has been found that the current method can predict the correctly docked structures in quite an effective way. Current results strongly indicate that this new MD method can be a very promising strategy for flexible ligand/flexible receptor docking.
Explicit Yield Model (EYM) for Tolerance Synthesis of Large Scale Complex Assemblies

Tolerance synthesis for complex assemblies is formulated as a probabilistic optimization problem. A main challenge in statistical tolerance synthesis for complex assembly system design is the computation intensity in estimating the conformity probability of Key Product Characteristics (KPCs) or yield of assembled products. In assemblies with multiple KPCs, the yield can only be obtained numerically through simulation techniques such as Monte Carlo (MC) algorithm. The existing tolerance synthesis methods require a large number of yield assessments in optimization. A new approach is developed for yield model approximation based on computer experiment, multivariate distribution transformation (MDT) and regression analysis. An explicit yield function can thus be approximated. Therefore, the widely used gradient-based approaches (such as Sequential Quadratic Programming) can be applied and the intensive computation in direct optimization can be avoided. An industrial case study is presented to illustrate and validate the proposed methodology and compared with the existed tolerance synthesis methods.Copyright © 2006 by ASME