cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Late Surgical-Site Infection in Immediate Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction.

Background Surgical-site infection causes devastating reconstructive failure in implant-based breast reconstructions. Large national database studies offer insights into complication rates, but only capture outcomes within 30 days postoperatively. This study evaluates both early and late surgical-site infection in immediate implant-based reconstruction and identifies predictors. Methods As part of the Mastectomy Reconstruction Outcomes Consortium Study, 1662 implant-based breast reconstructions in 1024 patients were evaluated for early versus late surgical-site infection. Early surgical-site infection was defined as infection occurring within 30 days postoperatively; late surgical-site infection was defined as infection occurring 31 days to 1 year postoperatively. Minor infection required oral antibiotics only, and major infection required hospitalization and/or surgical treatment. Direct-to-implant patients had 1-year follow-up, and tissue expander patients had 1-year post-exchange follow-up. Results Among 1491 tissue expander and 171 direct-to-implant reconstructions, overall surgical-site infection rate for tissue expander was 5.7 percent (85 of 1491) after first-stage, 2.5 percent (31 of 1266) after second-stage, and 9.9 percent (17 of 171) for direct-to-implant reconstruction. Over 47 to 71 percent of surgical-site infection complications were late surgical-site infection. Multivariate analysis identified radiotherapy and increasing body mass index as significant predictors of late surgical-site infection. No significant difference between the direct-to-implant and tissue expander groups in the occurrence of early, late, or overall surgical-site infection was found. Conclusions The majority of surgical-site infection complications in immediate implant-based breast reconstructions occur more than 30 days after both first-stage and second-stage procedures. Radiotherapy and obesity are significantly associated with late-onset surgical-site infection. Current studies limited to early complications do not present a complete assessment of infection associated with implant-based breast reconstructions or their long-term clinical outcomes. Clinical question/level of evidence Risk, II.
ISOLATED TRICUSPID VALVE SURGERY: NATIONAL TRENDS AND OUTCOMES

Background: Despite guideline recommendations, surgery for isolated tricuspid valve (TV) disease is rarely performed. Existing series report wide variation in operative mortality, between 2-24%. Safety concerns have created a population with an unmet clinical need. Percutaneous repair could provide
Ultraviolet Radiation Effects on Molecules and Cells

The detrimental effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation are well documented, and appear to be mediated largely through its action upon deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The most detrimental effect, of course, is cell killing. Other effects include mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, interference with the synthesis of DNA, ribonucleic acid (RNA), and protein, delay of cell division, and changes in permeability and motility. Except for the production of vitamin D in the skin of man, the beneficial effects of UV radiation are not as well documented (see Section 7.6.).
Robust Control of Turbine Engines Using Distributed Networks with Multiple Time Delays

Industry is moving toward replacing the current centralized approach to turbine engine control with a distributed approach, using digital communications for feedback instead of point-to-point analo...
Sodium Channelopathies of Skeletal Muscle

The NaV1.4 sodium channel is highly expressed in skeletal muscle, where it carries almost all of the inward Na+ current that generates the action potential, but is not present at significant levels in other tissues. Consequently, mutations of SCN4A encoding NaV1.4 produce pure skeletal muscle phenotypes that now include six allelic disorders: sodium channel myotonia, paramyotonia congenita, hyperkalemic periodic paralysis, hypokalemic periodic paralysis, congenital myasthenia, and congenital myopathy with hypotonia. Mutation-specific alternations of NaV1.4 function explain the mechanistic basis for the diverse phenotypes and identify opportunities for strategic intervention to modify the burden of disease.
Remote Proofs of Video Freshness for Public Spaces

We propose the use of trusted and verified social media feeds as visual challenges to increase our confidence that video footage from public spaces is fresh and authentic. Our work is related to recent advances in a growing area dealing with ways to prove physical statements to a digital (or even human) verifier, where a verifier sends a physical (real-world) challenge to the prover and the prover (usually a sensor) takes measurements of the physical property and submits the response to the verifier. Our proposal can be used to automatically verify the video feed from a (possibly untrusted) camera monitoring a public space.
Bank Capital and Bank Stock Performance

Little is known about how bank capital affects bank stock performance. We show that capital does not affect returns unconditionally, but high-capital banks have higher risk-adjusted stock returns (alphas) than low-capital banks in bad times in and out of sample. Trading strategies earn 3.60%–4.44% annually. The results are robust to: using different bad times and capital definitions, alternative asset pricing models, and ex-ante expected returns; controlling for performance-type delistings, short-sale constraints, and trading costs; and dropping the largest or smallest banks. Our results seem to be driven by a “Surprised Investor Channel” rather than by an “Informed Investor Channel.”
Differential Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Two Clinical Cases

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is estimated to affect one in 68 children. Given the increase in both prevalence and awareness of ASD, it is critical to provide accurate and timely diagnosis. However, ASD often co-occurs with other disorders, making diagnosis difficult. The objective of the current case study was to provide two examples of differential diagnosis in ASD and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) observed in an autism clinic. In both cases, the goal was to decide whether each child should be given a diagnosis of ASD, PTSD, or both.
Engagement in an Online Cultural Competency Training.

OBJECTIVES Engagement with online cultural competency training has not been well studied. We examined knowledge, attitudes, and skills differences among medical students, physicians, and other professionals in an online cultural competency education program. METHODS A total of 1745 participants completed up to four online modules aimed at exploring stereotype, bias, diet, and religion among African American patients with hypertension. We examined knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported skills with 17 multiple-choice questions embedded in the 4 modules. Participants received comparative responses with their peers. RESULTS Between 75% and 84% of participants knew the definition of stereotype and <50% knew the definition of bias (47% students, 36% physicians, 33% others, P < 0.001). Most responded that minorities perceive bias (98%-100%) and believe that evidence exists showing that bias affects decision making (62%-69%). Although most perceive that religious and spiritual beliefs affect reaction to illness often (78% students, 68% physicians, 79% others, P < 0.001), few would ask about religious beliefs during a typical encounter (13% students, 16% physicians, 30% others, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS All of the participants struggled to define bias; however, most agreed that minorities perceive bias in the care they receive. We examined usage and interaction with the online content as a dimension of engagement.
An Introductory Course in Quantitative Methods: Computers in the Teaching of Problem Solving to College Students

This paper describes a course on quantitative methods for liberal arts students. The unifying theme of the course is quantitative models. First, the paper presents a conceptual framework for viewing quantitative models. Second, several examples of probabilistic and deterministic models are presented. Third, the role of computer software in helping students to understand models is examined.
Oil, Money, and Our Modern Civilization

The modern world runs on oil and money. Money has no intrinsic value, but it grants access to oil and the energy-intense products derived from oil—that is, a large part of the goods and services of the modern society. Oil and money are linked as cheap energy—mainly oil based—has fueled the economic prosperity of the past century. An appropriate term for the geological and the economic time in which we live in is the oleocene—the age of oil. Although some have said that we live in an information age or a postindustrial age it is clear that our life is based fundamentally on hydrocarbons. Just look around. Oil and gas are, however, finite natural resources that were formed only under very rare and special conditions in the geological past, which means that they are subject to depletion. Today for every gallon used one less remains: it is a simple concept to grasp. Think of a glass of beer (e.g., Guinness stout) in your hand after the bar has run out of beer. You take a sip and there is less in the glass (Fig. 2.1). Of course, you may find another open bar if you are lucky enough. Now think all the beer factories are out of business. Would you drink that beer in your hand as fast as the previous ones? You could import your beer from bars abroad (remember all factories are closed), or go to other countries to have a drink, if you can afford it, of course. Understand this and you can begin to understand our basic situation with respect to oil. This is why our account of the modern economy must begin long before the advent of the international oil companies or the development of the stock exchange market where oil is bought and sold. This is a story about geological processes, and geologists have a different sense of time than most others. So for our story, we have to go back to the dawn of time. Then we can see the very special and almost impossible sequence of events that have led to today’s industrialized human society.
Imaging of primary and metastatic liver tumors.

Recent technical advances in the different cross-sectional modalities used for imaging liver tumors are described, and the techniques are compared and contrasted. Imaging characteristics of the variety of primary and metastatic liver tumors are described, and strategies for the imaging, diagnosing, and staging of liver tumors are suggested. Certain pitfalls exist when interpreting liver studies and the more common sources of these errors are depicted.
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia and immune thrombocytopenia following hematopoietic stem cell transplant: A critical review of the literature.

Autoimmune cytopenias (AIC) post-hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) are rare but exceptionally challenging complication. We conducted a comprehensive literature review and identified a pooled incidence of post-HSCT autoimmune hemolytic anemia and/or immune thrombocytopenia of 2.66% (SE = 0.27) in pediatric patients. Nonmalignant disease, unrelated donor transplant, peripheral or cord blood stem cell source, conditioning regimen without total body irradiation, and presence of chronic graft-versus-host disease were prominent risk factors. Treatment was highly variable, and cytopenias were commonly refractory. AIC represent a significant post-HSCT complication. We report here the incidence, risk factors, and possible biology behind the development of AIC in pediatric post-HSCT patients.
Indirect Negative Impacts of Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) Management on Co-nesting Caspian Terns (Hydroprogne caspia) in Northern Lake Michigan, USA

Hat Island, Lake Michigan, Michigan, USA, is an important historical breeding location for Caspian Terns (Hydroprogne caspia) and other co-nesting species, including Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus). Although a bird sanctuary of the Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Double-crested Cormorant management (egg oiling and killing adults) was allowed on Hat Island in 2010; in 2011 and 2012, management actions were restricted to shooting Double-crested Cormorants from at least 500 m offshore. Because the Double-crested Cormorant colony was spread across much of Hat Island, in 2010, a small area of Double-crested Cormorant nests nearest the Caspian Tern colony was left undisturbed to minimize negative impacts on Caspian Terns. Yet, data indicate that management actions had indirect negative impacts on Caspian Terns. Game camera images show that Caspian Terns experienced more frequent disturbances in 2010 as compared to 2011 and 2012. Furthermore, nest inventories and chick banding, in combination with direct chick re-sighting and camera images, show Caspian Tern reproductive success was lower and the colony was abandoned earlier in 2010, as compared to other years. This illustrates that Double-crested Cormorant control actions can cause unintended consequences to co-nesters, even when those conducting management report no impact, and exemplifies that there should be greater consideration of the impacts on co-nesters prior to management.
Incidental PET/CT Findings of Suspected COVID-19 in a Region of High Prevalence

We describe a case of suspected COVID-19 pneumonia in a 61-year-old male with known primary central nervous system diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who underwent restaging PET/CT during the initial peak of infection of COVID-19 pneumonia within the New York region. At the time of his routine PET-CT to assess for disease progression, typical CT imaging features of COVID-19 pneumonia were identified. Upon further investigation, the patient was asymptomatic, and his infection status remained unknown. He was subsequently lost to follow-up with his COVID-19 status pending.
Selective oxidation of H1-antihistamines by unactivated peroxymonosulfate (PMS): Influence of inorganic anions and organic compounds.

Abstract The rapid and selective peroxymonosulfate (PMS) induced transformation of H1-antihistamines cetirizine (CET) and diphenhydramine (DPH) can be influenced by the presence of common organic and inorganic water constituents. Presence of HCO3– and/or CO32–, which often exhibit powerful inhibition on the advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), can enhance the PMS mediated transformation of CET/DPH. The observed promotion is demonstrated by the changed solution pH through detailed kinetic studies. The impact of halide ions is remarkable, with I– inhibiting the process through consumption of PMS, while Cl– increases slightly the transformation kinetics through the formation and subsequent reactions of HOCl. The CET/DPH degradation in the Br–/PMS system is influenced by the generation of reactive species such as HOBr which leads to different reaction pathways as compared to PMS alone. The results demonstrated the performance of PMS can be tailored through varying the experimental parameters. In addition, the presence of model organic constituents found in water, e.g., humic acid, phenol, pyridine or sorbate, has a minimal effect on the PMS mediated oxidation processes, highlighting the strong application potential of PMS in water treatment.
Robust direct digital-to-biological data storage in living cells.

DNA has been the predominant information storage medium for biology and holds great promise as a next-generation high-density data medium in the digital era. Currently, the vast majority of DNA-based data storage approaches rely on in vitro DNA synthesis. As such, there are limited methods to encode digital data into the chromosomes of living cells in a single step. Here, we describe a new electrogenetic framework for direct storage of digital data in living cells. Using an engineered redox-responsive CRISPR adaptation system, we encoded binary data in 3-bit units into CRISPR arrays of bacterial cells by electrical stimulation. We demonstrate multiplex data encoding into barcoded cell populations to yield meaningful information storage and capacity up to 72 bits, which can be maintained over many generations in natural open environments. This work establishes a direct digital-to-biological data storage framework and advances our capacity for information exchange between silicon- and carbon-based entities. A new DNA data storage technology—data recording in vivo by electrical stimulation (DRIVES)—places CRISPR-based DNA encoding activity under electrochemical control by coupling cellular redox state to CRISPR array gene expression.
The role of cerebrovascular disease in aging and Alzheimer's disease among people with Down syndrome

Abstract Cerebrovascular disease is common in older adults and is associated with cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk. Adults with Down syndrome (DS) have vascular risk profiles that are distinct from individuals in the general population and include lower rates of hypertension and atherosclerosis but higher rates of congenital heart disease, obesity, high cholesterol, and sleep apnea. This chapter reviews emerging concepts and observations about cerebrovascular disease from autopsy and neuroimaging studies of older adults with DS. Autopsy studies confirm high rates of cerebral amyloid angiopathy and hemorrhagic lesions. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies are consistent with postmortem observations in showing high rates of cerebral microbleeds that are likely due to cerebral amyloid angiopathy. In addition, MRI studies in DS highlight evidence of ischemic disease such as white matter intensities and brain infarcts as well as other potential consequences of cerebrovascular disease such as white matter microstructural abnormalities and enlarged perivascular spaces. These abnormalities increase with a clinical diagnosis of AD. The moderators and mediators of the observed postmortem and neuroimaging evidence of cerebrovascular disease have not been studied comprehensively. Further study of the mechanisms leading to cerebrovascular disease in adults with DS will provide insight into the neurobiology of cognitive aging and AD in people with DS and in the general population, as well as highlight potential novel therapeutic avenues.
A Lightweight Exoskeleton-Based Portable Gait Data Collection System.

For the controller of wearable lower-limb assistive devices, quantitative understanding of human locomotion serves as the basis for human motion intent recognition and joint-level motion control. Traditionally, the required gait data are obtained in gait research laboratories, utilizing marker-based optical motion capture systems. Despite the high accuracy of measurement, marker-based systems are largely limited to laboratory environments, making it nearly impossible to collect the desired gait data in real-world daily-living scenarios. To address this problem, the authors propose a novel exoskeleton-based gait data collection system, which provides the capability of conducting independent measurement of lower limb movement without the need for stationary instrumentation. The basis of the system is a lightweight exoskeleton with articulated knee and ankle joints. To minimize the interference to a wearer’s natural lower-limb movement, a unique two-degrees-of-freedom joint design is incorporated, integrating a primary degree of freedom for joint motion measurement with a passive degree of freedom to allow natural joint movement and improve the comfort of use. In addition to the joint-embedded goniometers, the exoskeleton also features multiple positions for the mounting of inertia measurement units (IMUs) as well as foot-plate-embedded force sensing resistors to measure the foot plantar pressure. All sensor signals are routed to a microcontroller for data logging and storage. To validate the exoskeleton-provided joint angle measurement, a comparison study on three healthy participants was conducted, which involves locomotion experiments in various modes, including overground walking, treadmill walking, and sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit transitions. Joint angle trajectories measured with an eight-camera motion capture system served as the benchmark for comparison. Experimental results indicate that the exoskeleton-measured joint angle trajectories closely match those obtained through the optical motion capture system in all modes of locomotion (correlation coefficients of 0.97 and 0.96 for knee and ankle measurements, respectively), clearly demonstrating the accuracy and reliability of the proposed gait measurement system.
Responses of Fungi to Nutrient-Limiting Conditions and to Inhibitory Substances in Natural Habitats

Fungi, as heterotrophic microorganisms, coexist with numerous other microorganisms, with whom they must compete for a share of nutrients. Since such nutrients, particularly energy substrate, are often in short supply, adaptive traits have evolved that enhance survival (Lockwood, 1977). Moreover, numerous organic metabolic products are produced as a result of microbial degradation of various substrates. These, together with various mineral components of a habitat, also may affect microorganisms, including fungi. In this review we attempt to discuss the responses of fungi to nutrient competition with other microorganisms and to the presence of inhibitory substances that occur in natural environments.
Moral coherence processes: constructing culpability and consequences

We review recent research in moral psychology that demonstrates a fundamental human motivation for a morally coherent world, that is, a world in which the moral qualities of actors and actions match the moral qualities of the outcomes they produce. The striving for moral coherence explains many seemingly contradictory patterns of judgment found in the moral reasoning literature, such as the general tendency for people to reverse engineer descriptive beliefs to fit desired prescriptive conclusions. Many recent phenomena in the moral reasoning literature demonstrate coherence-based reasoning, among them, the construction of morally culpable agents, the construction of victims and harms, and altered beliefs about the effectiveness and consequences of policies with moral implications.
Photophysics of small α-dicarbonyls

The triplet kinetics of glyoxal-h 2 and -d 2 neat crystals have been studied by the method of microwave-saturation recovery and microwave-induced delayed phosphorescence. In all cases studied the spin level closely associated with the carbonyl direction is the most radiative. The populating rates, however, show a rich diversity among the various x-traps. This is interpreted by having minute distortions of the trap-molecules out of planarity. A large spin-dependence on the deuterium effect of non-radiative decay is reported and an explanation is suggested. A resolved proton hyperfine structure is observed for glyoxal-h 2 at zero field. Preliminary results on zero-field proton ENDOR are presented.
Development of Peyronie’s Disease with the Use of a Vacuum Constriction Device

AbstractVacuum constriction devices are generally considered to be a safe, effective, noninvasive means of producing erections in impotent men. However, long-term study of the effect of subatmospheric pressure on penile structures and vasculature has not been performed. We report the development of Peyronie’s disease in a patient after 4 years of complication-free vacuum constriction device use.
Stockholder Rights and Carl Icahn

In August of 2005, Carl C. Icahn announced to the press that he wanted Time Warner to spinoff (or more accurately to sell) its cable unit and then to repurchase $20 billion of its stock. The Icahn group owned less than 3 percent of Time Warner's outstanding stock (about 122,000,000 shares). Earlier in August, Time Warner had announced a $5 billion stock buyback. It also planned to sell at least 15 percent of its cable unit. During 2004, Time Warner issued debt with maturities ranging from 3 to 40 years and interest rates ranging from 5.625% to 10.15%. On the day of Icahn's announcement, the Time Warner stock went up by $.26. The August 21, 2005 issue of The New York Times had the following quotation (p. 2, BU): "Instead of being called a corporate raider, I'm an activist." He claimed that he was involved in a shareholder-rights campaign. Earlier in the year (April-May) he successfully forced Kerr-McGee to sell oil reserves (in August 2005, they sold) and to repurchase shares by threatening a proxy fight for a board seat. He made the same threat to Time Warner. In this paper, we want to investigate the likely effect of Icahn's demands on the other shareholders and how Icahn can hope to reap economic rewards from his activities. The third issue is whether or not Icahn's activities of this nature are socially desirable.
Vascular protective effects of Angiotensin Receptor Blockers: Beyond Blood pressure.

AT1R blockers (ARBs) represent a major class of antihypertensive medications. They are considered first line treatment for essential hypertension. Moreover, ARBs are the cornerstone treatment for other cardiovascular diseases especially in patients with diabetic and renal comorbidities. Clinical and experimental evidence have documented the beneficial actions of ARBs beyond the blood pressure lowering effect. Ischemic diseases such as stroke and proliferative retinopathy are characterized by hypoxia-driven release of angiogenic growth factors [2] . However, revascularization of the ischemic areas is inadequate, resulting in impaired neuro-vascular function. ARBs have been shown to exhibit vascular protective and pro- or anti-angiogenic effects depending on the tissue/cell type and disease condition under study [3] . Our group has demonstrated the vascular protective effects of ARBs and candesartan, in particular, in models of ischemic stroke and retinopathy. The positive impact of candesartan was mainly via enhancing the proangiogenic state and stimulation of reparative angiogenesis. This commentary aims to highlight the recently identified pathways that took place as result of directly blocking AT1 receptor or indirectly by possible activation of AT2 receptor in the context of the published literature.
Manipulation of PKC isozymes by RNA interference and inducible expression of PKC constructs.

Abstract Protein kinase C (PKC), a family of serine/threonine kinases, plays an important role in apoptosis. Several members of the PKC family act as substrates for caspases. In addition, PKCs can also regulate caspase activation and cell death by apoptosis. The cleavage of PKCs separates the regulatory domain from the catalytic domain. The full‐length, the catalytic domain, and the regulatory domain of PKC family members may have distinct function in apoptosis. Delineating the role of protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes in apoptosis has been challenging because of the lack of selective inhibitors of PKC isozymes and difficulty in generating stable cell lines expressing pro‐apoptotic PKC isozymes. In this chapter, we describe the use of RNA interference (siRNA) technology and tetracycline‐inducible expression of PKC isozymes to study their function in apoptosis.
Developing individual freedom to act

Empowerment, a term often misunderstood, is a synergistic process of individual development through which the base of influence in an organization is enlarged. Individual empowerment requires that the philosophy of the organization, principally enacted through its administrative system, support employees in accomplishing organizational goals. Support comes from effective and efficient managerial allocation of organizational resources. Two different organizational philosophies are presented and discussed in terms of their impact on empowerment: organizational resource conservation and organizational resource integration. Differences between the philosophies are explained through a conceptual model of preventing failure versus assuring success. Implications of each philosophy for the practice of management in knowledge organizations are discussed. These implications are based on the assumption that managerial behaviors determine how successful will be the process of empowerment.
CoSMoS: Conserved Sequence Motif Search in the proteome

With the ever-increasing number of gene sequences in the public databases, generating and analyzing multiple sequence alignments becomes increasingly time consuming. Nevertheless it is a task performed on a regular basis by researchers in many labs. We have now created a database called CoSMoS to find the occurrences and at the same time evaluate the significance of sequence motifs and amino acids encoded in the whole genome of the model organism Escherichia coli K12. We provide a precomputed set of multiple sequence alignments for each individual E. coli protein with all of its homologues in the RefSeq database. The alignments themselves, information about the occurrence of sequence motifs together with information on the conservation of each of the more than 1.3 million amino acids encoded in the E. coli genome can be accessed via the web interface of CoSMoS. CoSMoS is a valuable tool to identify highly conserved sequence motifs, to find regions suitable for mutational studies in functional analyses and to predict important structural features in E. coli proteins.
Deformation‐induced reconstitution and local resetting of mineral equilibria in polymetamorphic gneisses: tectonic and metamorphic implications

A sequence of at least three Al2SiO5-bearing mineral assemblages are preserved in successively overprinted ductile shear zones in the Willimantic window, Connecticut. The ductile deformation, localized at and near the boundary between the Putnam-Nashoba terrane and underlying Avalon terrane is characterized by a network of anastomozing shear zones that outline metre-scale tectonic blocks of migmatitic Kfs + Sil + Gt + Bi + Pg + Qtz + Ilm + Ru gneiss. These assemblages record Acadian or older metamorphic conditions of 6 kbar, 700d C. Mylonitic gneisses in shear zones that define block margins were formed by reconstitution and recrystallization of the migmatitic gneiss. The reconstituted rocks exhibit relict Ky + St + Grt (+Pl + Bt + Qtz + Rt + Ilm) assemblages and require a minimum pressure for the Ky-Str grade metamorphism of 8.5 kbar. Kyanite in block margins is widely replaced by sillimanite, and locally by andalusite, during a period of post-Alleghanian ductile deformation. The interiors of blocks do not record this sequence of polymorphs. The pattern of reconstitution is accounted for by localization of strain along block margins within a regionally extensive terrane-bounding fault zone. Strain provided the activation energy for recrystallization and retrograde mineral reactions. The P-T conditions of post-Alleghanian ductile deformation evolved from 600d C and 6 kbar to 550d C and 3 kbar. The occurrence of Ky + Str-bearing assemblages, overprinting Acadian Kfs + Sil-bearing assemblages and subsequently overprinted by Alleghanian sillimanite- and andalusite-bearing assemblages, along with reset hornblende 40Ar/39 Ar mineral ages from Mississippian to Permian, requires a prograde Alleghanian metamorphism of rocks previously metamorphosed during the Acadian. Thus, mineral assemblages from gneisses in the Willimantic fault zone retain evidence of a protracted tectonothermal evolution that included high-grade Acadian orogenesis, tectonic loading resulting from Alleghanian collision of Avalon with North America, and tectonic exhumation in Permo-Triassic time. The c.3-kbar pressure decrease between prograde and retrograde Alleghanian metamorphic conditions corresponds to 10 km of crust that must have been tectonically excised from the base of the Putnam-Nashoba terrane cover sequence following Alleghanian orogenesis in south-eastern New England.
Placental transfer of thiamine in the human subject: in vitro perfusion studies and maternal-cord plasma concentrations.

Abstract The transfer of thiamine across human placenta has been studied in an in vitro perfusion system. With the maternal and fetal perfusates not recirculated, the transfer index (ratio of clearance of thiamine to that of l -glucose) toward the fetus was 2.09 ± 0.36, suggesting a mediated transport system. In the reverse direction, the transfer rate approximates that expected from simple diffusion (transfer index 0.78 ± 0.25). Stepwise increases in thiamine concentration in the maternal perfusate were associated with parallel increases in transfer rates up to 500 nmol/L. Above that concentration, the rate of increase declined and the transfer index fell. When the maternal perfusate was recirculated and the fetal circulation was kept open, the thiamine concentration rapidly decreased, reaching a plateau in 30 to 40 minutes at a level about 0.1 to 0.2 of the fetal perfusate. In contrast, the concentration within the placenta greatly exceeded those in the perfusates. The observations indicate an effective transport system directed toward the fetus, saturable at low concentrations and capable of establishing a transplacental gradient. Measurement of thiamine concentrations in 20 paired samples of plasma obtained at term demonstrated a mean (± SD) cord:maternal ratio of 2.5 ± 1.4. Differential protein binding was excluded as a cause of the gradient. The in vivo gradient is probably attributable to placental transport.
Public policy for the use of reclaimed water

This article documents the general need to reuse water reclaimed from sewage effluents for beneficial purposes and then considers in detail which specific uses will be most beneficial. The analysis begins by describing five levels of wastewater treatment: primary, secondary, tertiary, advanced, and advanced plus complete treatment. Next, five major uses for reclaimed water are identified: groundwater recharge, industrial use, irrigation, recreational lakes, and direct municipal reuse. Subcategories of reuse falling under each of the five major reuse categories are also identified and discussed. The analysis then proceeds to review significant literature available on health and environmental effects, treatment and distribution costs, and public opinion concerns in relation to each of the five major uses and their related subcategories. The paper concludes with a cumulative numerical analysis of the disbenefits associated with each specific type of reuse summed over the health effects, environmental effects, treatment costs, distribution costs, and public opinion concerns. Uses of reclaimed water for industrial purposes and for irrigation of fodder and fiber crops are found to be most beneficial by the analysis here employed, and use for aquifer recharge and direct municipal reuse are found to be least beneficial.
The Downside of Racial Uplift: meaning of gentrification in an African American neighborhood

In the last 20 years, African Americans have changed both their role in and orientation toward gentrification. Where once it was viewed with suspicion, the strategy of attracting middle class residents to poor, black communities is now gaining popularity—provided the new residents are themselves African American. This article draws from a 2-year ethnographic study of the Douglas/Grand Boulevard neighborhood on Chicago's south side to examine how black advocates of gentrification understand the process and its implications for their neighborhoods. It argues that those who support attracting middle-class blacks to the community see their financial and personal investment as a form of race uplift. This interpretive framework masks intra-racial class differences and minimizes the disproportionate negative impact that gentrification could have on lower-income residents.
Almost certain convergence in double arrays

For double arrays of constants {ani,1≦i≦k n ,n≧1} and i.i.d. random variables X,X i ,i≧1, conditions are given under which the row sums $$\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{k_n } {a_{ni} } X_i \xrightarrow{{{\text{a}}{\text{.c}}{\text{.}}}}0$$ . Both cases k n ↑∞ and k n =∞ are treated. In general, the hypotheses involve a trade-off between moment requirements on X and the magnitude of the {itani}. A Marcinkiewicz-Zygmund type strong law is obtained for the special case $$a_{ni} = {{a_i } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{a_i } {\left( {\sum\limits_{j = 1}^n {a_j^p } } \right)^{1/p} }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {\left( {\sum\limits_{j = 1}^n {a_j^p } } \right)^{1/p} }},a_i > 0,{\text{ }}\sum\limits_{\text{1}}^n {a_j^p \to \infty ,{\text{ 0 < }}p < 2.}$$
It is not just who you know: Dominant knowledge and civic participation

Abstract Civic participation and its role in increasing social capital is touted as a key element in the regeneration of urban communities. This approaches assumes that urban communities are homogenized collective interests and misses the diversity of interests that capitalize on the growth of institutionally supplied social capital brought about through redevelopment projects. This article examines the participatory processes in a Southern California urban community using social and cultural capital frameworks to show that resident participation is a classed and racialized project that privileges those with dominant knowledge, cultural awareness and language skills. The field of contestation, or the political space developed by institutional players for urban regeneration also plays a key role in determining who participates and how decisions are made. While civic participation is presented as a process that is democratic and open to all, this article argues that participation exists within a cultural co...
Rewarming in accidental hypothermia: Radio wave versus inhalation therapy

Anesthetized random-source dogs were cooled by refrigeration (3 C) to a stable core temperature of 25 C, and subsequently were rewarmed with warm, humidified inhalation (43 C, 450 mL of minute ventilation per kilogram) or radio frequency induction hyperthermia (4 to 6 watts/kg). The mean time required for core rewarming to 30 C was 231 ± 3 minutes for warm, humidified ventilation and 106 ± 32 minutes for radio wave therapy ( P
Shortest path stochastic control for hybrid electric vehicles

When a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is certified for emissions and fuel economy, its power management system must be charge sustaining over the drive cycle, meaning that the battery state of charge (SOC) must be at least as high at the end of the test as it was at the beginning of the test. During the test cycle, the power management system is free to vary the battery SOC so as to minimize a weighted combination of fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. This paper argues that shortest path stochastic dynamic programming (SP-SDP) offers a more natural formulation of the optimal control problem associated with the design of the power management system because it allows deviations of battery SOC from a desired setpoint to be penalized only at key off. This method is illustrated on a parallel hybrid electric truck model that had previously been analyzed using infinite-horizon stochastic dynamic programming with discounted future cost. Both formulations of the optimization problem yield a time-invariant causal state-feedback controller that can be directly implemented on the vehicle. The advantages of the shortest path formulation include that a single tuning parameter is needed to trade off fuel economy and emissions versus battery SOC deviation, as compared with two parameters in the discounted, infinite-horizon case, and for the same level of complexity as a discounted future-cost controller, the shortest-path controller demonstrates better fuel and emission minimization while also achieving better SOC control when the vehicle is turned off. Linear programming is used to solve both stochastic dynamic programs. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An Analysis of the Substitution Errors of a Group of Standard English-Speaking Children

Misarticulation of consonants in a sample of 384 standard English-speaking children from grades one through 12 was recorded and classified according to type of error: omission, substitution, or dis...
Microwave Spectroscopy of OH - Ions in the KCl and NaCl Lattices

Microwave resonant absorption has been observed in O${\mathrm{H}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$-doped KCl and NaCl crystals. Several lines were observed from 8-40 GHz by using relatively standard microwave spectroscopic techniques. The zero-field spectra obtained here indicate that the O${\mathrm{H}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ ion experiences a strong ${\mathrm{C}}_{4v}$ potential in addition to the expected octahedral crystal field. The ${\mathrm{C}}_{4v}$ potential probably arises from a shift of the O${\mathrm{H}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ center of mass from the lattice site.
Chromophore-labeled dendrimers for use in single-layer light-emitting diodes

Two novel chromophore-labeled dendrimers are presented and their incorporation into two-component, single layer organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) is described. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra, both in solution and in the solid state, demonstrate that Forster energy transfer from the donor chromophores on the dendrimers periphery to the acceptors located at the core is highly efficient, and affords emission exclusively from the core dyes, either coumarin 343 or a benzene-capped pentathiophene. When these dendrimers are doped into single layer OLEDs, the electroluminescence (EL) is nearly identical to the photoluminescence described above, indicating once again exclusive emission from the core chromophores.
Volcanic deposits in shield fields and highland regions on Venus: Surface properties from radar polarimetry

[1] We compare Arecibo dual-polarization radar image data for Venus to Magellan images and emissivity data to investigate the physical properties of volcanic deposits. Radar waves can easily penetrate smooth mantling layers such as ash, aeolian and crater-derived deposits. If a circularly polarized radar wave refracts into a surface that is smooth at wavelength scales, the vertical component of the wave will be preferentially transmitted, resulting in a net linear-polarized echo component. Arecibo polarimetry data were used to create maps of the degree of linear polarization in the radar echo. We find that some volcanic fields in plains regions on Venus are associated with enhanced linear polarization. These fields sometimes have nearby windstreaks which suggest fine-grained surface material, and we infer that the radar wave is penetrating into mantling deposits that are a few centimeters to ∼1 m thick. Enhanced linear polarization values are also correlated with specific lava flows. These lava flows have emissivity values of 0.80 to 0.84, similar to many other flows on Venus. The enhanced linear polarization may be produced by penetration of the radar wave into very smooth lava flows with internal air gaps. High-reflectivity, low-emissivity areas near the summits of Theia and Tepev Montes also have a linearly polarized echo component consistent with surface penetration by the radar wave. The cause of the high linear polarization in summit regions remains uncertain, but perhaps the radar wave is able to penetrate into high dielectric material in limited cases of very smooth surface texture.
A theoretical study of the hydrates of (H 2 SO 4 ) 2 and its implications for the formation of new atmospheric particles

Abstract Density functional molecular orbital theory was used at the B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,2p)//B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,2p) level of theory to study the hydrates of (H2SO4)2·nH2O for n=0–6. All clusters studied were composed of hydrogen bonded molecular complexes of H2SO4, H2O and contain no double ions. The energetics of the hydration reactions were also calculated. All the reactions producing (H2SO4)2·nH2O (n=0–6) from H2SO4·nH2O and H2SO4 are spontaneous. A chemical mechanism is given to possibly explain the growth of ultrafine (1–30 nm diameter) tropospheric and stratospheric sulfate aerosols.
The business of integrative medicine in a large hospital system

The number of patients seeking complementary and alternative medicines combined with conventional treatments has grown considerably over the past decade. To meet the growing demand, a dedicated oncology integrative medicine program was initiated in the Beaumont Health System to address the needs of this patient population. Due to its resounding success and patient satisfaction, as evidenced by patient utilization and testimonials and physician referrals, the program was expanded across the healthcare system to every medical specialty. This study outlines how the program was implemented and its business model. A number of methods were used to evaluate the feasibility of starting the program and determine the services required. Financial analyses were developed to understand the costs associated with starting the program without financial assistance. In 2006, an Integrative Medicine program was launched in the Beaumont Cancer Institute (Royal Oak, MI). The initial offering for patients was clinical massage; however, the program rapidly expanded. Currently, services include clinical massage, a clinical massage training program, Reiki, guided imagery, acupuncture, and naturopathic medicine. Patients and physicians expressed satisfaction with the increasing number of complementary services offered at the institution, and the services are heavily utilized. In 2012, the program had more than 18,000 patient visits, of which, 10,191 were for clinical massage, 6,515 for acupuncture, and 1,030 for naturopathic medicine. In this study of developing and implementing an Integrative Medicine program in a large healthcare system, it is shown that a successful program could be initiated with the appropriate planning and support from administration. The program is shown to be financially viable, as the Integrative Medicine ( IM ) department has become self-sufficient and no longer requires financial support from other hospital departments, and the numerous testimonials indicate that the program has been rewarding for practitioners, staff, and patients.
Magneto-optical defects in two-dimensional photonic crystals

We analyze the properties of magneto-optical defect states in two-dimensional photonic crystals. With out-of-plane magnetization, the magneto-optical coupling splits doubly-degenerate TE states into two counter-rotating modes at different frequencies. The strength of magneto-optical coupling strongly depends on the spatial overlap of the cavity domain structures and the cross product of the modal fields. The transport property of the resultant nonreciprocal states is demonstrated in a junction circulator structure with a magneto-optical cavity coupled to three waveguides. By a proper matching of the magneto-optical frequency splitting with the cavity decay rate into the waveguide, ideal three-port circulator characteristics with complete isolation and transmission can be achieved, with an operational bandwidth proportional to the magneto-optical constant. The proposed optical circulator in a bismuth-iron-garnet/air photonic crystal is demonstrated with finite-difference time-domain calculations and is compared to an alternative implementation of silicon/air crystal infiltrated with a single bismuth-iron-garnet domain.
Institutions for Social Well-Being: Alternatives for Europe

Institutions for Social Well-Being: Alternatives for Europe, edited by Lilia Costabile. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008. 256 pp. ISBN-13: 9780230538061 (hbk.). US$93.50. This book reframes the t...
Engineering failures exposed by Hurricane Katrina

Abstract This paper addresses the overall design of the engineering works that protect the City of New Orleans from major storm events. It briefly describes the history of the drainage of the city, and discusses the natural and engineered flood-protection structures and strategy for major hurricanes. This is followed by an analysis of the failures of the natural system, as well as failures of the levees, floodwalls, pumping stations, and the absence of flood gates on the canals. The paper concludes that the “design storm” specified by congressionally authorized projects deserves reconsideration, and that engineering design reviews should be reorganized and implemented.