cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Criminal Responsibility

Unlike traditional clinical assessments that are usually concerned with present functioning, forensic assessments of criminal responsibility focus on a defendant's actions and mental states that may have occurred days, weeks, months, or years ago. This chapter considers the basic doctrines of criminal liability. Specific attention is given to mental state issues relevant to culpability: negation of mens rea, provocation/passion, extreme mental or emotional disturbance, voluntary and involuntary intoxication, imperfect self-defense, and duress. The history of the insanity defense, including its development, changes, and recent reforms, is discussed. Those ethical issues and conflicts that frequently arise when clinicians conduct retrospective forensic mental state evaluations are reviewed. A generic model for conducting forensic assessments, with specific application to evaluating defendants' mental states at the time of the offense, is presented. The structure of mental state at the time of the offense assessments is described, including the need to review third-party information and the administration of appropriate psychological testing. Keywords: criminal liability; diminished capacity; extreme emotional disturbances; insanity; intoxication and criminal responsibility; mens rea; Rogers criminal responsibility assessment scales
Transfers and Bailouts: Institutions for Enforcing Local Fiscal Discipline

The growing importance of local and provincial governments as providers of public services and the importance of those services for the overall performance of the national economy has led to a careful re-examination of how public resources are allocated by decentralized governments. While the Tiebout model promises efficient local resource allocations, the conditions necessary for such outcomes—many local governments, fully informed and costlessly mobile households, no spillovers, residential head taxes—are rarely met in practice. Lacking a sufficient number of competitive local governments, however, other institutional safeguards must be found. Four such institutions are identified here. First, a stable central government managed by nationally elected political parties or presidents capable of making (second-best) efficient interpersonal redistributions of income while at the same time denying inefficient intergovernmental transfers and /or access to non-resident taxation. Second, a mature banking system and fully integrated national capital markets to minimize the economic consequences of a single government's failure to repay its local debts. Third, informed and sophisticated municipal bond and local land markets capable of evaluating local services and finances so as to shift back onto local residents the full economic consequences of inefficient local government fiscal choices. Fourth, a politically independent judiciary capable of enforcing constitutional rules for spending and tax assignment, local debt repayment, and balanced local budgets. Efficient central governments and efficient land and capital markets are seen here as necessary institutional pre-conditions for an efficient local public sector.
Estrogen and breast cancer: can less mean more?

Reproductive risk factors such as nulliparity, early menarchy and late menopause reflect a well-established association between estrogen exposure and breast cancer risk over time. However, not all ...
B cells and CD4-CD8- T cells are key regulators of the severity of reactivation histoplasmosis

The fungus, Histoplasma capsulatum, produces a persistent infection. Reactivation histoplasmosis is largely a result of impaired immunity, but the perturbations associated with escape of the fungus from host defenses remain ill-defined. We analyzed a murine model of reactivation to elucidate the host defects that permit reactivation. C57BL/6 mice were infected intranasally and, 42 days later, they were depleted of CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells. Elimination of these cells, but not either alone, produced a persistent infection over several weeks. Neutralization of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, or both did not induce reactivation. Endogenous IL-10 exacerbated reactivation. Depletion of T cells in B cell(-/-) mice induced a markedly higher burden in organs when compared with wild type. However, the infection remained persistent. Elimination of CD4(+) cells alone or neutralization of cytokines increased the fungal load. The persistent infection was not dependent on gammadelta T cells or NK cells. Elimination of Thy-1.2(+) cells in mice given mAb to CD4 and CD8 transformed reactivation into a progressive, lethal infection in B cell(-/-) and wild-type mice, but the tempo of progression was accelerated in the former. The data reveal the complex control by the host to prevent reactivation of this fungus.
Purification of and production of an antibody against a 63,000 Mr stimulus-sensitive phosphoprotein in Paramecium.

In vivo labeling of Paramecium cells with 32Pi most heavily labels a minor 63-kDa protein that undergoes a rapid, Ca2+-dependent dephosphorylation when the cell is stimulated to release. This stimulus-sensitive phosphoprotein was isolated and purified to apparent homogeneity. A polyclonal affinity purified antibody made against the purified protein recognizes both the phosphorylated and dephosphorylated forms of the protein. The phosphorylated 63-kDa protein is found in the cytosolic fraction; it is slightly acidic with two isoelectric forms at pI 5.8 and 6.2 and probably exists as a monomeric 60-65-kDa polypeptide in the native state. The labeled phosphoamino acid of the protein is phosphoserine. The affinity purified antibody recognizes a third isoelectric form at pI 6.3 that appears unlabeled. The specificity of the antibody was confirmed by showing that it immunoprecipitates the correct protein, i.e. the stimulus-sensitive 63-kDa phosphoprotein. The availability of purified 63-kDa protein as well as an antibody against it will now allow molecular, biochemical, and immunocytochemical studies into the role of this protein in the mechanism of exocytosis.
Abstract interpreters for free

In small-step abstract interpretations, the concrete and abstract semantics bear an uncanny resemblance. In this work, we present an analysis-design methodology that both explains and exploits that resemblance. Specifically, we present a two-step method to convert a smallstep concrete semantics into a family of sound, computable abstract interpretations. The first step re-factors the concrete state-space to eliminate recursive structure; this refactoring of the state-space simultaneously determines a store-passing-style transformation on the underlying concrete semantics. The second step uses inference rules to generate an abstract state-space and a Galois connection simultaneously. The Galois connection allows the calculation of the "optimal" abstract interpretation. The two-step process is unambiguous, but nondeterministic: at each step, analysis designers face choices. Some of these choices ultimately influence properties such as flow-, field- and context-sensitivity. Thus, under the method, we can give the emergence of these properties a graphtheoretic characterization. To illustrate the method, we systematically abstract the continuation-passing style lambda calculus to arrive at two distinct families of analyses. The first is the well-known k-CFA family of analyses. The second consists of novel "environment-centric" abstract interpretations, none of which appear in the literature on static analysis of higher-order programs.
Tropical Tropospheric Temperature and Precipitation Response to Sea Surface Temperature Forcing

During an El Nino event, there are substantial tropospheric temperature anomalies across the tropics associated with sea surface temperature (SST) warming in the central and eastern Pacific. The typical spatial scale for teleconnection response of tropospheric temperature tends to be large. On the other hand, the precipitation response exhibits strong compensation between positive response over warm SST anomalies and a complex negative response remotely. The tropical spatial averages of tropospheric temperature and precipitation thus yield an interesting contrast in behavior. Anomalies of tropical averaged precipitation for 3-month averages appear quite scattered in relation to tropical SST anomalies, while the tropical mean tropospheric temperature obeys an approximately linear relationship to SST. This different behavior of tropical mean precipitation and tropospheric temperature in relation to SST is examined in detail using observational data, GCM simulations and idealized experiments with the quasi-equilibrium tropical circulation model (QTCM). Theoretical understanding is provided through a simple analytical model, which suggests that the integral constraint on tropical average precipitation is dominated by dry static energy transport into or out of the tropics. Convection acts to keep tropospheric temperature in quasi-equilibrium (QE) with boundary layer moist static energy, which is in turn held toward SST by surface fluxes. To maintain QE, the tropical average convective heating (i.e., precipitation) anomalies react to oppose any processes that tend to cool the tropical troposphere. Thus, while tropical average tropospheric temperature is closely related to SST, unrelated heating or cooling anomalies such as those due to the tropical-midlatitude transports can create large scatter in tropical average precipitation anomalies.
A numerical model of the large-scale solar wind in the outer heliosphere

We present a solar wind model developed primarily for the study of cosmic ray modulation in the heliosphere. The model is steady-state in the corotating frame, the wind speed is assumed to vary with heliomagnetic latitude, slower wind is taken near the current sheet. A wavy sheet will lead to dynamical effects: corotating interaction regions (CIR) and merged interaction regions (MIR) arise in a natural way. As a simplifying approximation, the wind speed is kept radial, so the calculation is basically 1-dimensional including plasma density, pressure, bulk speed, and the azimuthal component of the magnetic field. Calculations are carried out for various tilt angles of the neutral sheet illustrating various phases of the solar cycle. Possible cosmic-ray effects are discussed.
SUSTAINED NEURAL ALTERATIONS IN ANXIOUS YOUTH PERFORMING AN ATTENTIONAL BIAS TASK: A PUPILOMETRY STUDY

BACKGROUND: Biased attention patterns have been observed at early (16-500 ms poststimulus onset) and intermediate (1,500-4,000 ms post-onset) time points in anxious youth, but it is unclear whether a more sustained form of neural attentional bias, persisting well beyond the time frame of stimulus presentation and behavioral response, is also apparent. We investigated early, intermediate, and sustained forms of bias using behavioral measures and pupillary reactivity, an index of cognitive and affective load, to gain insight into potential neurocognitive targets for early intervention. METHOD: Twenty nonanxious youth and 74 youth with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), separation anxiety disorder (SAD), and/or social phobia (SP) completed a dot-probe task, which requires participants to respond to a dot replacing either a neutral or fearful face. Emotional faces were presented for short/early (200 ms) or intermediate (2 s) intervals and followed by a sustained (up to 10.5 s) poststimulus interval. Pupil dilation, gaze direction, and reaction times (RTs) were measured during task completion. RESULTS: Early and intermediate vigilance patterns in RTs and an avoidant pattern in gaze direction were observed in all participants irrespective of anxiety. Sustained pupil dilation in anxious youth was observed on trials in which the dot replaced fearful faces, along with an inflexible pattern of pupillary responding in comparison to controls. CONCLUSION: Sustained cognitive-affective load following emotional face viewing is altered and inflexible in anxious youth. These prolonged alterations extend well beyond the time frame of behavioral attentional bias and may indicate inflexible and insufficient sustained cognitive control. Early interventions targeting these alterations could improve long-term mental health trajectories. Language: en
Quantifying the impact of time‐varying baseline risk adjustment in the self‐controlled risk interval design

Purpose The self-controlled risk interval design is commonly used to assess the association between an acute exposure and an adverse event of interest, implicitly adjusting for fixed, non-time-varying covariates. Explicit adjustment needs to be made for time-varying covariates, for example, age in young children. It can be performed via either a fixed or random adjustment. The random-adjustment approach can provide valid point and interval estimates but requires access to individual-level data for an unexposed baseline sample. The fixed-adjustment approach does not have this requirement and will provide a valid point estimate but may underestimate the variance. We conducted a comprehensive simulation study to evaluate their performance. Methods We designed the simulation study using empirical data from the Food and Drug Administration-sponsored Mini-Sentinel Post-licensure Rapid Immunization Safety Monitoring Rotavirus Vaccines and Intussusception study in children 5–36.9 weeks of age. The time-varying confounder is age. We considered a variety of design parameters including sample size, relative risk, time-varying baseline risks, and risk interval length. Results The random-adjustment approach has very good performance in almost all considered settings. The fixed-adjustment approach can be used as a good alternative when the number of events used to estimate the time-varying baseline risks is at least the number of events used to estimate the relative risk, which is almost always the case. Conclusions We successfully identified settings in which the fixed-adjustment approach can be used as a good alternative and provided guidelines on the selection and implementation of appropriate analyses for the self-controlled risk interval design. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Astrobee: Developing a Free Flying Robot for the International Space Station

Astronaut time will always be in short supply, consumables (e.g., oxygen) will always be limited, and some work will not be feasible, or productive, for astronauts to do manually. Free flyers offer significant potential to perform a great variety of tasks, include routine, repetitive or simple but long-duration work, such as conducting environment surveys, taking sensor readings or monitoring crew activities. The "Astrobee" project is developing a new free flying robot system suitable for performing Intravehicular Activity (IVA) work on the International Space Station (ISS). This paper will describe the Astrobee project objectives, initial design, concept of operations, and key challenges.
Crisis & Decline in Bunyoro: Population & Environment in Western Uganda 1860–1955 – By Shane Doyle “Girl Cases”: Marriage and Colonialism in Gusiiland, Kenya, 1890–1970 – By Brett L. Shadle

“Girl Cases”: Marriage and Colonialism in Gusiiland, Kenya, 1890–1970 . By Brett L. Shadle . ( Portsmouth, N.H. : Taylor & Francis , 2006 . Pp. xliii, 256 . $29.95 .) The two books under review mak...
Experimental Evidence for Atmospheric Neutrino Oscillations: MACRO, Soudan 2, and the Future

In this note I will summarize the most recent results from the MACRO and Soudan 2 experiments. Despite their limited statistics compared with SuperKamiokande these experiments provide strong confirmatory evidence, with completely different systematics, of atmospheric neutrino oscillations. I will briefly mention the additional information that the current generation of running experiments may provide and the important role atmospheric neutrinos can continue to play in the exploration of the neutrino sector.
Factory automation: a controls course for every university

The majority of new control engineering positions is now in manufacturing and involves programmable logic controllers (PLCs). The paper describes two courses developed at the University of Missouri-Rolla to satisfy this demand. Both courses present the subject of programming PLCs with an emphasis on the design of the programs. Both courses contain an integral laboratory component that solidifies the concepts presented in the lectures. The philosophy and pedagogical features of the two courses are first described, followed by the structure of the lecture and the laboratory exercises.
X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy of Metal, Metal Oxide, and Carbon Electrode Surfaces Chemically Modified with Ferrocene and Ferricenium.

Abstract Monomolecular and multilayers of ferrocene derivatives have been deposited on or bonded to electrodes and examined by XPS. In many cases the preparation leaves the modified surface in an oxidized, ferricenium state. Evidence supporting this and possible oxidative mechanisms is discussed.
TEAD-1 overexpression in the mouse heart promotes an age-dependent heart dysfunction.

TEA domain transcription factor-1 (TEAD-1) is essential for proper heart development and is implicated in cardiac specific gene expression and the hypertrophic response of primary cardiomyocytes to hormonal and mechanical stimuli, and its activity increases in the pressure-overloaded hypertrophied rat heart. To investigate whether TEAD-1 is an in vivo modulator of cardiac specific gene expression and hypertrophy, we developed transgenic mice expressing hemagglutinin-tagged TEAD-1 under the control of the muscle creatine kinase promoter. We show that a sustained increase in TEAD-1 protein leads to an age-dependent dysfunction. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed decreases in cardiac output, stroke volume, ejection fraction, and fractional shortening. Isolated TEAD-1 hearts revealed decreased left ventricular power output that correlated with increased βMyHC protein. Histological analysis showed altered alignment of cardiomyocytes, septal wall thickening, and fibrosis, although electrocardiography displayed a left axis shift of mean electrical axis. Transcripts representing most members of the fetal heart gene program remained elevated from fetal to adult life. Western blot analyses revealed decreases in p-phospholamban, SERCA2a, p-CX43, p-GSK-3α/β, nuclear β-catenin, GATA4, NFATc3/c4, and increased NCX1, nuclear DYKR1A, and Purα/β protein. TEAD-1 mice did not display cardiac hypertrophy. TEAD-1 mice do not tolerate stress as they die over a 4-day period after surgical induction of pressure overload. These data provide the first in vivo evidence that increased TEAD-1 can induce characteristics of cardiac remodeling associated with cardiomyopathy and heart failure.
Electromyographic Response of the Labial Muscles during Normal Liquid Swallows Using a Spoon, a Straw, and a Cup

In this investigation, surface electromyographic (EMG) recordings were used to make qualitative and quantitative analyses of labial muscle activity during three swallowing tasks, incorporating the use of various drinking implements. EMG was recorded from four quadrants of the perioral region and from the submental muscle complex in 11 normal adult females. Swallowing tasks included liquid extraction from a spoon, a straw, and a cup and posterior bolus propulsion of a 5 ml, thin liquid. Average EMG values obtained during a maximal lip compression task were used to normalize labial muscle responses for each subject thus allowing between-subject comparisons. Variable activity patterns were noted in the perioral muscles once the lips were contacted by a drinking implement. Subjects used a greater percentage of maximal labial muscle activity to remove liquid from an implement than to swallow the liquid. A greater level of EMG was recorded in the lips during straw usage as compared with spoon or cup usage. Significant intrasubject and intersubject variability in labial function occurred during liquid removal using a drinking implement and during the oral swallow in these normal subjects.
A simple and scalable route to wafer-size patterned graphene

Producing large-scale graphene films with controllable patterns is an essential component of graphene-based nanodevice fabrication. Current methods of graphene pattern preparation involve either high cost, low throughput patterning processes or sophisticated instruments, hindering their large-scale fabrication and practical applications. We report a simple, effective, and reproducible approach for patterning graphene films with controllable feature sizes and shapes. The patterns were generated using a versatile photocoupling chemistry. Features from micrometres to centimetres were fabricated using a conventional photolithography process. This method is simple, general, and applicable to a wide range of substrates including silicon wafers, glass slides, and metal films.
Pharmacist participation in infection prevention: An innovative approach to monitoring compliance with the Five Moments for Hand Hygiene in a large academic medical center

Using pharmacy residents as covert observers, we evaluated compliance with hand hygiene and contact precautions among 101 unique health care workers on entrance, exit, and inside rooms of patients with known or suspected Clostridium difficile infection. Overall compliance rates with hand hygiene upon entering and exiting patient rooms were 63.4% and 69.3%, respectively. However, there was a lack of hand hygiene inside patient rooms for the observed opportunities.
Pharmacodynamics of intravenous ranitidine after bolus and continuous infusion in patients with healed duodenal ulcers.

Fifteen adult men who had histories of duodenal ulcer disease were studied for 24 hours during treatment with varying intravenous doses of ranitidine (50 mg every 8 hours, 100 mg every 12 hours, 6.25 mg/hr continuous infusion, and 10 mg/hr continuous infusion) and placebo. Gastric pH was monitored under fasting conditions by means of an indwelling pH sensitive electrode. The continuous infusion regimens provided the most constant level of acid suppression. A “breakthrough” decrease in gastric pH began at approximately 6 PM at the 6.25 mg/hr dose level. The drop in pH at the 10 mg/hr dose level was less impressive. Ranitidine, 100 mg every 12 hours, resulted in better acid suppression than the regimen of 50 mg every 8 hours. A gastric pH ≥ 4 was achieved 35 to 50 minutes after the start of administration for all regimens. The median effective concentration (EC50) of ranitidine was approximately 45 ng/ml. Continuous infusion regimens, with a dosage adjustment for the time of day, may be the optimal dosage regimen for patients requiring continuous protection from gastric damage by hydrochloric acid. Bolus loading doses are not required to speed the onset of effect in the clinical setting. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1989) 46, 545–551; doi:10.1038/clpt.1989.184
Now that we all know that primary prevention in mental health is great, whatis it?

This article reviews recent evidence documenting the efficacy of primary prevention approaches in mental health and calls attention to several different ways in which that concept has been used: a) the current, widely espoused, risk detection-disorder prevention model, pivoting around initial identification of risk factors for adverse psychological outcomes; and b) a more inclusive, challenging, life-span-oriented wellness enhancement model, based on the view that psychological wellness per se may provide significant protection against the likelihood of major psychological disorder. The author considers points of overlap between these two models as well as important differences in their underlying conceptualizations, defining strategies, and contexts of support. The article depicts a disorder prevention approach as one aspect of a more comprehensive, life-span oriented, wellness enhancement approach, and argues for more central roles and support for both models within a changing overall mental health matrix. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography (Gd-MRA) of thoracic vasculature in an animal model using double-dose gadolinium and quiet breathing

Objective. To evaluate a gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography (Gd-MRA) imaging protocol for the assessment of thoracic vessels using double-dose gadolinium and quiet breathing. An animal model was used to simulate imaging in infants and young children. Material and methods. Six baboons (Papio anubis), mean weight 5.7 kg, were sedated and intubated. After the injection of double-dose Gd-DTPA (0.2 mmol/kg) through a peripheral vein, a coronal spoiled 3D gradient-echo volume acquisition was obtained during quiet breathing. Two radiologists reviewed the images for visualization of aortic arch, brachiocephalic vessel origins, pulmonary arteries (central, upper lobe and descending branches), and pulmonary veins (upper and lower). Results. Visualization was excellent for the aortic arch, brachiocephalic vessel origins, and pulmonary arteries, including the hilar branches. Visualization was excellent for the lower and right upper pulmonary veins and fair for the left upper pulmonary vein. There was excellent agreement between radiologists. Conclusion. Imaging of thoracic vessels with Gd-MRA using double gadolinium during quiet breathing was effective in our animal model. The advantages of this technique include a short imaging time and depiction of vascular segments – branches of pulmonary arteries and intraparenchymal segments of pulmonary veins – not optimally visualized with other non-invasive imaging techniques.
Stimulation of transcription and translation by aurin tricarboxylic acid in mitochondrial lysates from Ehrlich ascites cells

We have prepared a submitochondrial fraction from Ehrlich ascites tumor cell mitochondria which shows transcription and translation activities. The antibiotic aurin tricarboxylic acid (ATA) at low concentrations induces both RNA and protein synthetic activities of the mitochondrial lysate by several fold. At high concentrations, however, ATA inhibits the translation activity but continues to stimulate the transcription activity in a dose dependent manner up to 0.5 mM concentration tested. The lysate system transcribes endogenous DNA yielding RNA species resembling control mitochondrial RNA and synthesizes authentic cytochrome oxydase I and cytochrome oxidase II subunits.
Microzooplankton grazing impact in the Bering Sea during spring sea ice conditions

Abstract Microzooplankton grazing impact on phytoplankton in the Bering Sea during spring was assessed in 2008, 2009 and 2010 using two-point dilution assays. Forty-nine experiments were completed in a region encompassing shelf to slope waters, including the 70 m line along the edge of the shelf. A variety of conditions were encountered, with a concomitant range of trophic states, from pre-bloom low chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) −1 during heavy ice cover to late spring open water diatom blooms with Chl-a up to 40 μg l −1 . Microzooplankton biomass was dominated by large heterotrophic dinoflagellates and ciliates. Both athecate and thecate dinoflagellates, as well as some species of ciliates, fed on diatom cells and chains. Other types of protists, notably thecate amoebae and parasitoid flagellates, were also observed preying on diatoms. Total microzooplankton biomass ranged from 0.1 to 109 μg C l −1 and was positively related to Chl-a concentration. Significant rates of microzooplankton herbivory were found in 55% of dilution experiments. Maximum grazing rate was 0.49 d −1 , and average grazing rate, including experiments with no significant grazing, was 0.09±0.10 d −1 . Phytoplankton intrinsic growth rates varied from slightly negative growth to >0.4 d −1 . Microzooplankton grazing was significant in both non-bloom and bloom conditions, averaging 46±75% of phytoplankton daily growth. Based on the amount of phytoplankton carbon consumed, we estimated potential microzooplankton community growth rates of up to 1.3 d −1 . Our results confirm the importance of protist grazers in planktonic food webs of high latitude ecosystems. We also conclude that our finding of significant grazing by microzooplankton on spring blooms in the Bering Sea does not support theories about phytoplankton bloom formation based on escape from grazing, due either to predation resistance or to slow growth of herbivorous protists at cold temperature.
A microprocessor-based tissue displacement monitor for in vitro quantification of knee capsule deformation

Abstract The advantages of utilizing a microprocessor design kit as a central element in custom laboratory instrumentation are demonstrated in the design of a real-time, multiple point, tissue displacement monitor. The tissue sample to be monitored is submerged in a saline bath, through which perpendicular electric fields are alternately generated. Analog displacement data are generated by differentially amplifying the voltage between each of 4 sense electrodes attached to the tissue surface, and a reference electrode, positioned on the tissue surface central to the sense electrodes. The microprocessor unit is used to control field generation, to multiplex the sensing electrode signals through the analog signal processing electronics, and, after analog-to-digital conversion, to scale and interface the digital displacement data to a host processor.
Development and Assessment of the Social Issues Advocacy Scale.

This article describes the development and the initial psychometric evaluation of the Social Issues Advocacy Scale in two studies. In the first study, an exploratory factor analysis (n = 278) revealed a four-factor scale, accounting for 71.4% of the variance, measuring different aspects of social issue advocacy: Political and Social Advocacy, Confronting Discrimination, Political Awareness, and Social Issue Awareness. The second study (n = 509) supported the structure. Results indicated excellent internal reliability and associations with another social advocacy scale, political interest, and multicultural empathy, but not with self-esteem and life satisfaction; all of which provided initial evidence of construct and discriminant validity.
Meteorological factors and risk of scrub typhus in Guangzhou, southern China, 2006–2012

Scrub typhus is becoming the most common vector born disease in Guangzhou, southern China. In this study, we aimed to examine the effect of weather patterns on the incidence of Scrub typhus in the subtropical city of Guangzhou for the period 2006–2012, and assist public health prevention and control measures. Scrub typhus reported cases during the period of 2006–2012 in Guangzhou were obtained from National Notifiable Disease Report System (NNDRS). Simultaneous meteorological data including temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, sunshine, and rainfall were obtained from the documentation of the Guangzhou Meteorological Bureau. A negative binomial regression was used to identify the relationship between meteorological variables and scrub typhus. Annual incidence rates of scrub typhus from 2006 to 2012 were 3.25, 2.67, 3.81, 4.22, 4.41, 5.12, and 9.75 (per 100 000) respectively. Each 1°C rise in temperature corresponded to an increase of 14.98% (95% CI 13.65% to 16.33%) in the monthly number of scrub typhus cases, while a 1 hPa rise in atmospheric pressure corresponded to a decrease in the number of cases by 8.03% (95% CI −8.75% to −7.31%). Similarly, a 1 hour rise in sunshine corresponded to an increase of 0.17% or 0.54%, and a 1 millimeter rise in rainfall corresponded to an increase of 0.05% or 0.10%, in the monthly number of scrub typhus cases, depending on the variables considered in the model. Our study provided evidence that climatic factors were associated with occurrence of scrub typhus in Guangzhou city, China. Temperature, duration of sunshine, and rainfall were positively associated with scrub typhus incidence, while atmospheric pressure was inversely associated with scrub typhus incidence. These findings should be considered in the prediction of future patterns of scrub typhus transmission.
The impact of obesity on the outcomes of 1,153 critically injured blunt trauma patients

Background: Several small series have had mixed conclusions regarding the impact of obesity on outcomes of trauma patients. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate a large cohort of critically injured patients to better understand the influence of obesity on the outcomes of patients after severe blunt trauma. Methods: Retrospective review using the trauma registry and intensive care unit (ICU) database of all blunt trauma patients admitted to the ICU at our urban, Level I trauma center over a 5-year period (1998-2003). Obese patients (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ) were compared with non-obese patients (BMI < 30 kg/m 2 ). Results: There were 1,153 blunt trauma patients admitted to the ICU during the study period, including 283 (25%) obese (mean BMI = 35 ± 6 kg/m 2 ) and 870 (75%) non-obese (mean BMI = 25 ± ± 3 kg/m 2 ) patients. There was no difference between groups regarding age, sex, Injury Severity Score, or admission vitals. Obese patients had fewer head injuries (42 versus 55%; p = 0.0001) but more chest (45 versus 38%; p = 0.05) and lower extremity (53 versus 38%; p < 0.0001) injuries. There was no difference in the need for laparotomy, thoracotomy, or craniotomy. Obese patients suffered more complications (42 versus 32%; p = 0.002). Although there was only a trend toward higher mortality in obese patients (22 versus 17%; p = 0.10), stepwise logistic regression revealed obesity as an independent risk factor for mortality (odds ratio, 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-2.3; p = 0.03). Among survivors, obese patients required longer stays in the hospital (24 ± 21 versus 19 ± 17 days; p = 0.01), the ICU (13 ± 14 versus 10 ± 10 days; p = 0.005), and 2 more days of mechanical ventilation (8 ± 13 versus 6 ± 9 days; p = 0.07). Conclusion: Obese patients incur different injuries after severe blunt trauma than their non-obese counterparts. Despite sustaining fewer head injuries, obese patients suffer more complications, require longer stays in the hospital, more days of mechanical ventilation, and obesity is independently associated with mortality.
A23187-mediated Cd2+ uptake by highly stable, polymerized metal-sorbing vesicles

Abstract Vesicles formed from the polymerizable phospholipid, 1,2-diacyl- sn -glycero-3-( N -2(methacryloyloxy)ethyl)-phosphocholine, and the crosslinker, 1,2-dihydroxyethylene-bis-acrylamide, exhibit significantly enhanced stability relative to egg phosphatidylcholine (PC) vesicles. As evidenced by absorbance measurements, methacrylate PC vesicles with a 1 : 75 crosslinker-to-lipid molar ratio retain their integrity in up to 20% (v/v) ethanol as opposed to 2+ (in the absence of ionophore) for up to 15 mM octyl glucoside. Furthermore, the crosslinked-polymerized vesicles show enhanced stability under osmotic stress. These inprovements in vesicle robustness are attained without dramatic loss in A23187-mediated Cd 2+ permeability. The initial Cd 2+ permeability of crosslinked-polymerized (1 : 75 crosslinker-to-lipid molar ratio) and egg PC vesicles, with A23187 as ionophore, measured 6.0 × 10 −5 and 9.8 × 10 −5 cm s −1 , respectively.
Phase II trial of saracatinib (AZD0530), an oral SRC-inhibitor for the treatment of patients with hormone receptor-negative metastatic breast cancer.

Abstract Background SRC activation is associated with cell migration, proliferation, and metastasis. Saracatinib is an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) selective for SRC. We performed this trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of saracatinib monotherapy in patients with estrogen receptor (ER) – and progesterone receptor (PR) – metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Patients and Methods Patients who had undergone ≤ 1 previous chemotherapy regimen for measurable ER – and PR – MBC received saracatinib 175 mg orally daily. The primary endpoint was disease control defined as complete response (CR) + partial response (PR) + stable disease (SD) > 6 months. Secondary endpoints included toxicity and progression-free survival (PFS). Levels of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in response to therapy were measured over time. Results Nine patients were treated on study. After a median of 2 cycles (range 1-3), no patient had achieved CR, PR, or SD >6 months. The median time to treatment failure was 82 days (12-109 days).The majority (89%) of patients discontinued saracatinib because of disease progression. One patient acquired potentially treatment-related grade 4 hypoxia with interstitial infiltrates and was removed from the study. Common adverse events included fatigue, elevated liver enzymes, nausea, hyponatremia, dyspnea, cough, and adrenal insufficiency. Conclusions These efficacy results were not sufficiently promising to justify continued accrual to this study. Based on this series, saracatinib does not appear to have significant single-agent activity for the treatment of patients with ER − /PR − MBC.
Ribosomal binding sites on poliovirus RNA

Abstract Eucaryotic ribosome binding sites on type 1 poliovirus RNA were obtained by isolation of T1 RNase-resistant RNA fragments from 80 S ribosomes that had been bound under conditions specific for initiation of translation and prevented from translocation with sparsomycin. The fragments were analyzed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Three ribosome-protected (RP) oligonucleotides and several non-ribosomal-protein-protected (NP) oligonucletides were analyzed. Secondary T1 digestion of the RP fragments revealed that at least three separate species existed. By comparison of these secondary digests to T1 digests of RNaseIII fragments mapped on the polio RNA, and by electron microscopic observation of ribosomes bound to polio RNA, preferred ribosome binding sites were localized to near 115 bases from the 5′ end, just to the 3′ side of midgenome, and 780 bases from the 3′ end.
A pathway for the biosynthesis of straight and branched, odd- and even-length, medium-chain fatty acids in plants

Pathways and enzymes of fatty acid synthase-mediated, long-even-chain (generally C16-C20) fatty acid synthesis are well studied, and general metabolism involved in short-chain (C4-C7) fatty acid biosynthesis is also understood. In contrast, mechanisms of medium-chain (C8-C14) fatty acid synthesis are unclear. Recent work suggests involvement of chain-elongation-terminating thioesterases in medium-chain fatty acid formation in oilseeds and animals. We have shown that iso- and anteiso-branched and straight, odd- and even-length, short-chain fatty acids esterified in plant-trichome-gland-produced sucrose esters are synthesized by using carbon skeletons provided by modified branched-chain amino acid metabolism/catabolism. The principal enzymes involved are those catalyzing leucine biosynthesis in all organisms and those leading to short-chain alcohols in mutant yeasts and alkyl acids in Clostridium species (products often serving as mammalian pheromones). Here we provide evidence that C10-C12 straight medium-chain and C10-C12 branched medium-chain acyl acids of tomato, C6-C8 straight-chain acyl acids of Petunia, and C6 and C8 branched acyl acids of Nicotiana glutinosa are formed by alpha-ketoacid elongation without participation of fatty acid synthase-mediated reactions or -independent thioesterases. This different metabolism suggests greater integration of amino acid and fatty acid metabolism than previously considered and provides other avenues to study and manipulate not only straight even-length but also odd- and even-length straight and branched medium-chain fatty acid biosynthesis.
Movement of Rotylenchulus Reniformis Through Sand and Agar in Response To Temperature, and Some Observations On Vertical Descent

The movement of vermiform stages of Rotylenchulus reniformis in response to a temperature gradient of 1°C per cm was investigated in 4 cm diam tubes containing 0.75% water agar or moist sand graded to 150-250 μm and 250-425 μm particle sizes. Nematodes previously stored at 30°C exhibited a temperature preferendum, or eccritic temperature, of 30°C and nematodes stored at 17°C exhibited a preferendum of 23°C in both matrices. In sand of 250-425 μm particle size, most nematodes moved 10 cm downward within 17 h. Rapid downward movement occurred regardless of moisture content or moisture gradient direction. Only living nematodes moved downward and 90% of 1,000 live nematodes that were videotaped as they descended in a narrow channel of water descended in a head downward postition.
Depletion forces and flocculation with surfactants, polymers and particles — Synergistic effects

Abstract This paper provides an overview of recent work focused on investigating the depletion interaction in colloidal systems containing multiple depletant species (i.e., more than one system component that contributes to the depletion interaction between dispersed colloidal particles). Experimental studies in systems containing polymer/surfactant and polymer/nanoparticle mixtures clearly show that complexation of the two solutes into a larger depletant can produce a synergistic effect, such that the depletion force is significantly larger than the sum of the forces arising in systems containing only one of the components. For the polymer/nanoparticle system, this synergy leads to much lower polymer critical flocculation concentrations. In addition, computational studies in a system containing charged nanoparticle depletants of two vastly different sizes (e.g., nanoparticles and submicroparticles) predict the formation of a halo of the submicroparticles around the larger dispersed colloids (i.e., microparticles). These studies clearly show that attempting to predict the depletion interaction in mixed depletant systems using measurements or predictions obtained from systems containing only a single depletant can lead to quantitative, and even qualitative, error.
Novel strategies for the treatment and diagnosis of graft-versus-host-disease

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a serious complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The main clinical targets of GVHD are the skin, liver, gastrointestinal tract, and possibly the lung. The standard initial therapy for GVHD includes the use of high-dose steroids, which result in an unsatisfactory complete response (CR) rate of about 40% and the need to develop more effective therapies. The Clinical Trial Network is conducting a four-arm randomized phase II study evaluating prednisone in combination with one of the following four agents: etanercept, mycophenolate mofetil, denileukin diftitox, and pentostatin. Etanercept, an anti-TNF-α antibody, is also being evaluated in combination with steroids in a single-center phase II trial at the University of Michigan because of the role of TNF-α in the pathogenesis of GVHD. TNF-α and a surrogate marker, soluble TNF receptor, are elevated in patients with GVHD as early as 7 days after transplantation and maybe used in the future as a prognostic tool to identify transplant recipients at risk for developing GVHD.
Transmissive and Transflective Blue-Phase LCDs With Enhanced Protrusion Electrodes

An enhanced protrusion electrode is proposed for both transmissive and transflective blue-phase liquid crystal displays. For transmissive displays, the new design increases transmittance while keeping a low operating voltage. For transflective displays, it exhibits high transmittance and reflectance and a well-matched gamma curve with a single cell gap.
In vivo micropuncture of retinal vessels

Micropuncture has proven to be a valuable tool for the local study of vascular parameters in many organ systems; however, it has not been applied to the study of the circulation of the retina. We report here our extension of micropuncture techniques [4] to use in the intact retina of the anesthetized cat. We use extremely sharp micropipettes with tip sizes much smaller than the diameter of erythrocytes to avoid hemorrhage. The micropipette is held by a microdrive which in turn is mounted on a precision goniometric micromanipulator. We micropuncture retinal arteries and veins with diameters ranging from 20 to 130 μm with no apparent damage to the vessel wall and no observed hemorrhage. During micropuncture we routinely inject nanoliter quantities of dyed saline, which we observe flowing in a plume from the micropipette tip within the lumen of the vessel. Micropuncture techniques may be used in the laboratory to study retinal autoregulatory mechanisms by microinfunsion of vasoactive substances and by measuring blood pressure in retinal microvessels. In the clinic micropuncture may be useful for treating disorders such as retinal vascular occlusion.
Hex-square moire patterns in imagers using microchannel plates.

In electronic imaging detectors using microchannel plates, the mismatch between the pixels on a square mesh and the microchannels on a hexagonal mesh produces moire image defects. Theoretical statistical estimates of the sizes of the microposition offsets and the flat field intensity errors are calculated, showing the trade-off between resolution and position accuracy. A distinction is made between moments of spot images and moments of the single-pixel-response functions. As the resolution between the hex and square meshes is improved, the detector resolution is improved, but at the expense of an about 10 percent moire pattern. These moire patterns will not be properly corrected by dividing by the flat field image.
The Role and Place of American Journal of Criminal Justice in the Discipline

The American Journal of Criminal Justice (AJCJ), the peer-reviewed publication of the Southern Association of Criminal Justice (SCJA), has been in publication for 35 years. SCJA has often been viewed as an approachable association to become involved with for young faculty in criminal justice. In addition, based on the findings of this assessment, SCJA’s journal has also been viewed as a desirable starting place for new academics to foray into the world of peer-reviewed publications. This article reviews the 35 year history of AJCJ’s articles and authors by addressing the trends in subjects, methods, authors, and citations to articles in the journal.
Inertial manifolds : the non-self-adjoint case

Abstract In contrast with the existing theories of inertial manifolds, which are based on the self-adjoint assumption of the principal differential operator, in this paper we show that for general dissipative evolutionary systems described by semilinear parabolic equations with principal differential operator being sectorial and having compact resolvent, there exists an inertial manifold provided that certain gap conditions hold. We also show that by using an elliptic regularization, this theory can be extended to a class of KdV equations, where the principal differential operator is not sectorial.
Interaction current contributions to parity non-conserving nuclear γ- transitions

Abstract Parity non-conserving interaction current contributions to nuclear γ- transitions required by gauge invariance are calculated and discussed. Arguments are given that the strangeness conserving currents should contribute to the one pion-exchange parts of the interaction.
Estimating the relationship between calculated financial need and actual aid received using quarter of birth instruments

Abstract When calculating financial need, the FAFSA does not consider the parental income of students who turn 24 years old. This paper uses the student's quarter of birth interacted with the treated cohort to instrument for financial need. Using the interaction mitigates many of the concerns regarding quarter of birth instruments. A dollar increase in financial need is associated with 15 cents in federal grants and 47 cents in loans. However, the relationship between financial need and institutional aid is, on average, small and statistically insignificant. The exception is that institutions with large endowments do allocate more aid to more-needy students.