cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Progressive Nature of Social and Economic Rights in Kenya: a Delayed Promise?

This paper evaluates the steps taken towards the progressive realization of social and economic rights (SER) in Kenya. It aims to provide a better understanding of SER and the obligations of the state under international, regional, and national law. It further elucidates the components of progressive realization. Additionally, it identifies the guiding principles of measuring progressive realization and recommendations to develop tools that would monitor progressive realization. Recognition of SER faces many challenges as they are considered as second class rights that are not equal to civil and political rights considered as first-generation rights. The most enduring challenge for SER is that it interferes with the concept of the separation of powers and the political question doctrine by enabling courts to interfere in matters considered to be under the purview of the legislative and executive branch. The paper uses a desktop review of international, regional, and national legal instruments as well as comparative evaluation of SER jurisprudence from a host of jurisdictions. The concept of progressive realization is a goal in the ICSECR, Kenya’s Constitution, and other Constitutions with the implication that SER would be implemented over a period of time. Jurisprudence from other jurisdictions is evaluated to determine the lessons learned by Kenya. The paper demonstrates that progressive realization and implementation of SER are still work in progress before they are finally anchored into mainstream human rights, just like political and civic rights. In conclusion, progressive realization of SER imports an immediate obligation by Kenya having ratified the three human right bodies (ICSECR, UNCRC, and CRPWD) pursuant to Article 2(5)(6) of the Constitution to expeditiously move towards the realization of SER. There is a further presumption that the country would refrain from retrogressive measures and instead adopt the minimum content approach in the implementation of SER.
The 2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guidelines on the Management of Blood Cholesterol in Diabetes.

The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines recently published its 2018 recommendations on management of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) in people with diabetes. For primary prevention, moderate-intensity statin therapy is recommended for those aged 40-75 years, with a preference for high-intensity statin treatment for older subjects and for those with higher estimated risk or risk-enhancing factors following a patient-clinician discussion. Statin therapy may be reasonable in adults 75 years of age where there is less evidence for benefit. For people with diabetes and established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, high-intensity statin therapy is recommended. The majority of these subjects have very high risk, and an LDL-C goal of <70 mg/dL is recommended. If this target is not achieved, ezetimibe and/or a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor may be added.
Transcription Strikes Back: Clinical Utility of Lung Adenocarcinoma Subtypes.

Using transcriptional profiling, three robust subtypes of nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer were defined, independently of initiating oncogenic driver events. Subtype-specific differential sensitivity to MEK1/2 inhibitors was reported and an interaction between the mucinous subtype, STK11/LKB1 genomic alterations, and inferior clinical outcomes with atezolizumab in the OAK clinical trial was identified.See related article by Daemen et al., p. 1162.
Demographic Changes in US Trampoline-Related Injuries From 1998 To 2017: Cause For Alarm

Background Recreational sports facilities with trampolines have become increasingly popular, and trampoline-related injuries incurred have been increasing. The goal of this study was to determine impact of recreational sports facilities on trampoline-associated injuries. Methods An epidemiological study was performed using data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). All patients in the NEISS database coded for trampoline injury were included. Statistical analyses were performed comparing home trampoline injuries (HTIs) and recreational sports facilities-related trampoline injuries (RSIs) for standard …
Dynamic strategies offer potential to reduce lethal ship collisions with large whales under changing climate conditions

Abstract Dynamic ocean management (DOM), a type of marine spatial planning in which management decisions are updated in response to changing environmental, biological, or socioeconomic conditions, holds promise for balancing tradeoffs between conservation and marine resource use. However, as climate change continues to drive unprecedented oceanic changes, it is critical to evaluate how such tradeoffs may vary under different environmental regimes to ensure management strategies remain robust. To address this need, we explored blue whale ship strike management scenarios in the Southern California Bight, USA, an area that currently uses voluntary vessel speed reductions to mitigate risk of lethal ship collisions. We compared two simulated DOM strategies – a ‘daily strategy’ that implemented speed reductions in response to whale habitat conditions on a daily basis, and a ‘seasonal strategy’ that implemented speed reductions in response to whale habitat conditions on a seasonal basis – with a ‘fixed strategy’ that implemented speed reductions for a fixed time period each year, irrespective of environmental conditions. We evaluated the capacity of these strategies to balance tradeoffs between whale conservation and shipping activities over a 17-year study period. Critically, we assessed these tradeoffs before, during, and after a record marine heatwave to evaluate the relative utilities of these strategies during anomalous ocean conditions. Over the 17-year study period, seasonal and daily DOM strategies achieved a 6.4–10.7% improvement in expected whale protection from lethal collision, respectively, without the need for additional vessel speed reductions, as compared to the fixed strategy. The benefit of DOM strategies has grown in the last decade and was accentuated during and after the marine heatwave event, with the daily DOM strategy seeing a 16.2% increase in whale protection compared to the fixed strategy in the five years prior to the event, versus a 26.5% increase in the five years during and after the event. Such results indicate that dynamic ocean management is a valuable strategy for coping with anomalous environmental conditions, which will become increasingly important as the climate continues to change. Moreover, our study emphasizes the importance of assessing tradeoffs between conservation goals and human activities over a range of environmental conditions in order to evaluate the robustness of management strategies to climate change.
Elderly trauma mortality in a resource-limited setting: A benchmark for process improvement.

Abstract Introduction As life expectancy improves globally, the burden of elderly trauma continues to increase. Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to have the most rapid growth in its elderly demographic. Consequently, we sought to examine the trends in characteristics and outcomes of elderly trauma in a tertiary care hospital in Malawi. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of adult patients in the trauma registry at Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in Lilongwe, Malawi from 2011-2017. Patients were categorized into elderly (≥ 65 years) and non-elderly (18-64 years). Bivariate analysis compared the characteristics and outcomes of elderly vs. non-elderly patients. The elderly population was then examined over the study period. Poisson regression modeling was used to determine the risk of mortality among elderly patients over time. Results Of 63,699 adult trauma patients, 1,925 (3.0%) were aged ≥ 65 years. Among the elderly, the most common mechanism of injury was falls (n = 725 [37.7%]) whereas vehicle or bike collisions were more common in the non-elderly (n = 15,967 [25.9%]). Fractures and dislocations were more prevalent in the elderly (n = 808 [42.0%] vs. 9,133 [14.8%], p Conclusion At KCH, the proportion of elderly trauma patients is slowly increasing. Although healthcare resource utilization has increased over time, the overall trend in mortality has not improved. As the quality of care for the most vulnerable populations is a benchmark for the success of a trauma program, further work is needed to improve the trend in outcomes of the elderly trauma population in Malawi.
The Intersection of Anoikis Resistance and Fatty Acid Metabolism in Cancer

Anoikis resistance is an essential adaption of cancer cells to metastasize effectively. Normally, the detachment of epithelial cells from the extracellular matrix induces cellular stressors, including nutrient-deprivation and oxidative stress, and this elevated cellular stress leads to apoptosis. In contrast, cancer cells often have an increased capacity to adapt to cellular stressors, and these adaptations include metabolic reprogramming to account for the changing nutrient microenvironment. Thus, metabolic plasticity and anoikis resistance cooperate to promote disease progression. For instance, high grade serous ovarian carcinoma, when disseminating with the peritoneal cavity, must resist anoikis to colonize distant sites, and these sites are often fat-rich environments. Consistently, a whole genome-wide screen in ovarian cancer cells uncovered and reinforced the hypothesis that cancer cells enhance fatty acid oxidation activity to avoid anoikis and successfully colonize a secondary site. Targeting metabolic reprogramming and fatty acid oxidation is a feasible approach to inhibit cancer progression. Emphasizing ovarian cancer as a model system, this chapter will focus on the metabolic pathway, fatty acid oxidation, as a means of overcoming nutrient-deprivation induced stress to promote anoikis resistance. Further, the chapter will focus on the pathways involved in fatty acid oxidation regulation and strategies to attenuate metabolic plasticity and promote anoikis.
EDITORIAL: Learning Technologies in the Era of a Global Pandemic

Since early 2020, learning technologies have been tested by millions of students, teachers, and parents from all levels of education throughout the globe. many educators discussed learning losses, the inability of online learning to mimic real life learning environments, technological glitches, or the boring user interface of Zoom meetings. On the other hand, if the COVID-19 pandemic had happened 20-25 years ago, students would have completely lost touch with their peers and would not have attended any school for more than a year. In this issue, we have two interesting articles that will guide us as we evaluate the value of digital learning. Both articles show that digital learning and new technologies have potential for advancing the quality of learning in our schools.
Thyroid disease in relation to breast cancer

A controversy exists in regard to thyroid function and breast cancer. Hypothyroidism has been suggested as being either protective from breast cancer or predisposing to the disease. It has been hypothesized that a deficiency in circulating thyroid hormones may hypersensitize the mammary glandular epithelium toward prolactin and estrogens, thus aiding the development of breast neoplasia. On the other hand, thyroid hormone replacement therapy has been connected with an increased risk of breast cancer, but this has been contested. At this time the American Thyroid Association recommends that, if indicated, hypothyroid patients should take their thyroid hormone medication. Hyperthyroidism has been associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer. Also, in hyperthyroid patients with inoperable breast cancer, the malignant growth is thought to be slowed. However, this, too has been disputed. Moreover, hyperthyroidism has been connected with the development of breast cancer in premenopausal women. At present no role of thyroid hormone in the pathobiology of breast cancer can be defined. It seems that the "thyroid-breast cancer controversy" can only be resolved by a prospective study preferably on postmenopausal women correlating thyroid (T3, T4, PBI), pituitary (TSH, TRH, Prolactin), and adrenocortical (androgens) function tests with the clinical examination of thyroid, breast, and genital apparatus and determination of the estrogen status (vaginal smear, plasma estrogens) as well.
Strain Measurements at Cryogenic Temperatures

Experimental stress analysis of complex structures has progressed substantially with the improvement of methods of strain measurement. In particular the use of the bonded strain gage has permitted the determination of strain distributions in parts of closed structures that are not readily accessible, has enabled the recording of dynamic as well as static strains, has yielded measurements well into the plastic region, and ha s extended the scope of strain measurements to extreme environments.
Elegy for a Metaphor: Dogwood/Pear Tree

at the Paradise Theatre you named the cellist with the fanatical fingers of the plumber, the exorcist, and though the gimmickry at wrist and kneecap could lift the seance table, your voice was real in the gait and laughter of Uncle Henry, who could dance on either leg, wooden or real, to the sound of the troop train megaphone, catching the fine pitch of a singer on the athletic fields of Virginia.
Christian Realism and Immigration Reform

Drawing upon President Barack Obama’s admiration of Reinhold Niebuhr’s work, this Essay outlines a Protestant, Christian realist approach toward immigration policy, with specific focus on the role of the executive in providing providential leadership. Embracing realism in its political, moral, and theological dimensions, Christian realism offers a pragmatic, yet optimistic, alternative to secular liberalism’s faith in reason by striving instead to adhere to God’s guidance on matters, taking into account the fundamentally flawed nature of man. The specific policy prescriptions described here mirror the twin virtues of Christian realism by promoting the hope in pursuit of the peaceable kingdom and the humility to acknowledge the fallibility of man in crafting the less-than-perfect, penultimate answer. Opportunities for exercising effective executive leadership will be discussed, from negotiating the proper role of states and localities to the promotion of comprehensive immigration reform, preferring immigrant integration to stringent law enforcement as the better means to further hospitality to the stranger.
Role of Enzyme-Enzyme Interactions in the Regulation of Gluconeogenesis EFFECT OF FATTY ACIDS, TRICARBOXYLIC ACID CYCLE INTERMEDIATES, AND DINITROPHENOL ON THE RATE OF INACTIVATION ON d-FRUCTOSE 1,6-DIPHOSPHATASE BY KIDNEY MITOCHONDRIA

Abstract Mitochondria isolated from rat kidney inactivated the soluble gluconeogenic enzyme, d-fructose 1,6-diphosphatase, when they were incubated with the purified enzyme in the presence of ATP, magnesium, and cysteine. The addition of malate, α-ketoglutarate, pyruvate, succinate, myristate, palmitate, stearate, arachidate, or oleate to the reaction mixture decreased the rate of inactivation of d-fructose 1,6-diphosphatase, whereas the addition of 2,4-dinitrophenol or pentachlorophenol increased the amount of enzyme inactivated. The highest rates of inactivation were obtained when ADP was added in place of ATP. The rate of conversion of the enzyme to an inactive form increased with increasing concentrations of adenine nucleotide and mitochondria. The oxidation of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates and fatty acids increases the ratio of ATP to ADP inside the mitochondria, and this high ratio appears to inhibit the activity of the regulatory system. The 2,4-dinitrophenol, on the other hand, lowers the ratio of ATP to ADP in the mitochondria by uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation and thereby increases the activity of the inactivating system. The administration of fatty acids and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates stimulate gluconeogenesis in vivo, and the results of the present study indicate that this effect may be due, in part, to the inhibition of a regulatory enzyme system present in mitochondria "which inactivates d-fructose 1,6-diphosphatase" when an oxidizable substrate is present to maintain a high ratio of ATP to ADP in the mitochondria.
Visualizing coronary atherosclerosis in vivo: thinking big, imaging small.

Over the past decade, a keen interest has developed in the imaging of atherosclerosis in patients in vivo. One approach is the direct intracoronary visualization with ultrasound, angioscopy, or more recently, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Another, more practical approach is non-invasive imaging
Probing the chemical stability of an electrically conductive material as a function of the degree of band filling

Abstract The reductive electrochemistry and chemical stability of the soluble polymer μ-oxo-(tetra-t-butylphthalocyaninato)germanium, a known electrically conductive material in the solid state, was characterized using a variety of electrochemical techniques. Controlled potential coulometry (CPC), cyclic (CV), rotating disk (RDE), rotating ring-disk (RRDE), and differential pulse (DPV) voltammetry data suggest that the polymer assembly can be reduced to any fractional oxidation state ranging from O to 1 − and remains chemically stable. The redox response is a broad continuous process occurring over a 1250 mV range. The observed voltammograms are relatively featureless compared to conventional electroactive couples and polymers, but have the characteristics of a nernstian (thermodynamically reversible) process. At a degree of reduction greater than 100% (one electron added per phthalocyanine site), the polymer fragments quantitatively into electroactive monomer units via an “ECE-type” mechanism. The potential and rate of fragmentation can be determined qualitatively by using modified RRDE measurements in conjunction with digital simulations. A rate constant of $ 0.2 s−1 was obtained for the decomposition reaction. Comparison between the polymer and the dihydroxy(tetra-t-butylphtha-locyaninato) germanium monomer results allows for a quantitative description of the polymer voltammetry.
Resistance to the Satiety Action of Leptin Following Chronic Central Leptin Infusion is Associated with the Development of Leptin Resistance in Neuropeptide Y Neurones

Leptin regulates food intake and body weight by acting primarily in the hypothalamus. In humans and rodents, obesity is associated with hyperleptinaemia, suggesting a possible state of leptin resistance. Thus, to begin to examine the mechanisms of leptin resistance, we developed a rat model in which chronic central leptin infusion results in the development of resistance to leptin's satiety action. Adult male rats were infused chronically into the lateral cerebroventricle with leptin (160 ng/h) or phosphate-buffered saline via Alzet pumps for 28 days, followed by artificial cerebrospinal fluid infusion for 3 weeks. After the initial decrease in food intake, rats developed resistance to the satiety action of leptin, and withdrawal of the chronic leptin infusion resulted in hyperphagia. During leptin infusion, body weight was gradually decreased to reach a nadir on day 12, and thereafter, body weight was sustained at a reduced level throughout the entire 28-day infusion, despite normalization in food intake. Body weight was mostly normalized by day 22 postleptin. Since neuropeptide Y (NPY) neurones are one of the targets of leptin signalling in the hypothalamus, we next examined whether the development of resistance to the satiety action of leptin was due to altered NPY gene expression. On day 3-4 of infusion, hypothalamic NPY mRNA levels, as determined by RNAse protection assay (RPA), were significantly decreased in leptin treated rats compared to controls. By contrast, on day 16 of infusion, NPY mRNA levels in the leptin treated group had returned to control levels. In situ hybridization study confirmed the results obtained with RPA and showed further that the effect of chronic leptin infusion on NPY mRNA levels was restricted to the rostral and middle parts of the arcuate nucleus. Overall, the finding that the action of continuous leptin exposure on NPY neurones was not sustained suggests that NPY neurones may be involved in the development of leptin resistance to the satiety action of leptin in the hypothalamus.
Geometrical Assessment of Ocular Exposure to Envirmmental UV Radiation -Implications for Ophthalmic Epidemiology

Epidemiological studies of the influence of environmental ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in the development of cataract, pterygium, droplet keratopathies and age-related macular degeneration have produced inconsistent findings. The lack of consistent results may be due largely to either incomplete or erroneous estimates of outdoor UV exposure dose. Geometrical factors dominate the determination of UVR exposure of the eye. The degree of lid opening limits ocular exposure to only those rays entering at angles near the horizon. Clouds redistribute overhead UVR to the horizon sky. Mountains, trees and building shield the eye from direct sky exposure. Most ground surfaces reflect little UVR. The result is that the highest UVR exposure occurs during light overcast where the horizon is visible and ground surface reflection is high. By contrast, exposure in a high mountain valley with green foliage results in a much lower ocular dose. Other findings of these studies show that retinal exposure to light and UVR in daylight occurs largely in the superior retina.
Travel-time magnetoseismology: Magnetospheric sounding by timing the tremors in space

[1] This letter introduces the idea of timing the arrival of magnetic impulsive signals at different locations to infer the density distribution of magnetospheric plasma. Tamao's model of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) wave propagation is used as the underlying principle of this method. The methodology is similar to timing the arrival of seismic signals to understand the Earth's interior. A test of this idea on a sudden impulse event shows that the results are in good agreement with an empirical plasma density model as well as with the density estimated independently by the field line resonance method.
Unexplainable strong flow cytometric and CDC B cell positive crossmatches attributed to the “prozone phenomenon” of a DSA to DQA1∗05:05

Aim To resolve Positive Allo Flow cytometric and CDC B cell crossmatches in the absence of any detectable strong DSAs Patient A 53 year old male who had received a kidney from a Sibling had Graft Failure. Ten years later requiring a second transplant. The Patient was Negative for HLA-Class I antibodies, with high Class II PRA with several DR, DQB and DQA antibodies consistently with fluctuating MFI. Materials and methods The recipient and donors were typed for all HLA Loci A, B, C, DRB1, DQA1, DQB1, DRB3/4/5, DPA1 and DPB1 using r-PCR-SSOP. The antibody assays were carried out by solid phase assays on Luminex platform. Results T cell flow crossmatches were Negative, B cells showed a median channel shift (MCS) of 350 in undiluted and 405 in 1:4 diluted serum samples (cut-off for B cell positivity >78). The CDC B cell crossmatch also was strongly positive. Only DSA was DQA1∗05:05 with an MFI of 2200 which persisted with fluctuating MFI. Phenotypic bead analysis showed high Class II PRA with possible DR 11 and DR52/53 DSAs along with potential antibodies towards DQA1∗05; DQA1∗03—and the donor was a DQA∗05:05. Phenotypic beads analysis indicated a possible skewed DSA towards DQA∗05:05. Single antigen bead assay on diluted serum samples indicated strong prozone as shown by the MFI of DQA1∗05:05 antibody in undiluted, 1:5 and 1:10 diluted sera 2172; 9226; and17,641 respectively. Conclusions The observed high MCS Flow B cell and strong CDC B Cell cross matches were due to high levels of DQA1∗05:05 DSA which was not appreciated for its full strength in the initial SAB assay in undiluted serum due to the prozone phenomenon of high antibody concentration. The possibility of “Prozone Phenomenon” should be considered if strong cross match reactivity is observed when undiluted serum showed “Low levels or No DSA”in highly sensitized patients.
Desiring biracial whites: cultural consumption of white mixed-race celebrities in South Korean popular media

Contextualizing the rise in white mixed-race celebrities and foreign entertainers from the perspective of the globalization of Korean popular culture, this article aims to look at how Korean media ...
The Adolescent Dental Health Project: Access to Oral Health Care for Low-Income Adolescents

The Adolescent Dental Health Project was collaboratively developed with Dentistry and Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at Children9s National Medical Center (CNMC) in Washington, DC to address Healthy People 2010, Objective 12-21: “to increase the proportion of low-income children and adolescents who receive any preventive dental services.” This was a pilot project, incorporating descriptive analysis because little information was available about general dentists9 office policies and access to care for adolescents. Healthy adolescents cannot access CNMC pediatric dental department services because of age restriction and limitations of size and staff. The purpose of the research was to determine general dentists9 office policies for provision of dental services for low-income adolescents in Washington, DC, and any barriers existing for accessing care. Dental professionals9 perception of adolescents was also examined. IRB approval was granted. The stakeholders, adolescents, conducted phone surveys to 100 randomly selected general dental offices in Washington, DC. Data regarding participation with Medicaid, various insurances, sliding scale, and free care were collected. Professionals9 perception of adolescents was a subjective assessment by the teens. Data were primary categorical (binary or dichotomous and multicategorical) and analyses including frequencies and bivariate tests of Fisher9s Exact Test were conducted using STATA SE Version 8.0 (2003). Initial interpretation of data revealed 83% of all dental offices were located in the Northwest (NW) quadrant of Washington DC, leading researchers to investigate if there was a bivariate association between financing of care and location. No statistically significant difference was found regarding financial options between NW and other city quadrants. However, one variable, office location, may be the strongest barrier for adolescents to access care. No conclusive evidence regarding professionals9 perceptions of adolescents was determined. This research project was funded through an Aetna Foundation community grant.
Myoglobin as an efficient electrocatalyst for nitromethane reduction.

Xenobiotic metabolizing heme enzymes are thought to take a crucial part in the activation of a variety of carcinogens, including nitro compounds, through catalytic electron-transfer reactions, especially under anaerobic conditions. Myoglobin (Mb), as a model heme enzyme, is found to act as an efficient electrocatalyst for the reduction of nitromethane in thin surfactant films on pyrolytic graphite electrodes. The electrocatalytic process is characterized by cyclic voltammetry. The Mb−FeII−nitrosomethane complex, a possible intermediate in the catalysis, is characterized spectroscopically in the surfactant film on indium tin oxide electrodes. Bulk electrolysis indicates the formation of mainly methylhydroxylamine as an end aqueous product. A rationale for the catalysis invokes the highly reduced FeI state of myoglobin in surfactant film; the latter engages in efficient inner-sphere electron transfers to the nitro compound coupled to proton transfers.
Nitrous oxide elevates local anesthetic seizure threshold

Abstract The median intravenous convulsant dose (CD50) of lidocaine in awake unoperated cats breathing air was 7.65 mg/kg. In acute experiments on cats ventilated with nitrous oxide and having noninvasive extradural cortical recording electrodes, the lidocaine CD50 was 11.43 mg/kg—an elevation of the CD50 in air-breathing animals of nearly 50%. When cortical as well as depth (limbic) electrodes were placed in cats ventilated with nitrous oxide the lidocaine CD50 was 12.55 mg/kg. This too was some 50% greater than the 8.16 mg/kg CD50 in awake cats with chronically implanted cortical and limbic electrodes. Nitrous oxide or unidentified intraoperative factors (or both) alter CNS responses to local anesthetics. Cats with chronically implanted electrodes appear to respond normally.
Reticulation equivalency in the extended bond graph notation

Abstract The extended bond graph notation was developed to concisely represent the energic behavior of physical systems best described by arrays of vector- and tensor-valued variables. In many cases these reticulations are not unique; that is, more than one extended bond graph reticulation can be used to represent the same energic information. Reticulations of this type are said to belong to a family of equivalent reticulations. Two types of equivalency are discussed in this paper: energic equivalence and causal equivalence. These two types of equivalency are illustrated through the development of equivalent scalar and vector-array reticulations for a boundary value problem in finite elasticity. In addition, the notion of a “macro” reticulation is introduced. A “macro” reticulation serves as a template for all other members of a reticulation family. These other members are then obtained through formal variable mapping procedures
Failure analysis of fractured dams during earthquakes by DEM

A comprehensive study on the dynamic behaviour of the fractured Koyna dam during earthquakes is performed using the distinct element method (DEM). The extensional functions of earthquake input and hydrodynamic simulation have been incorporated into the current program. The method of choosing the damping by the properties of each part of the system, mesh dependency and ground motion amplification are discussed in detail. Results show that the safety of the dam is ensured if the crack shape is horizontal or upstream-sloped; however, it is very dangerous if the crack slopes downstream. The whole failure processes of the two possible failure modes of the cracked dam, i.e. overturning or sliding of the top separated block during earthquakes under abnormal conditions, are also simulated. Some important phenomena such as the bounce of the top block and the relationship of the sliding and overturning are examined in detail.
Reactive thermomechanical processing of intermetallic materials

Intermetallic materials have long attracted the serious attention of scientific and industrial organizations. This is primarily due to their attractive properties, which include high-temperature oxidation and corrosion resistance, low density, and high-temperature strength. Major drawbacks that have so far restricted the application of such materials include the high energy used in their synthesis and production in the final component shape. The thermomechanical processing of intermetallic materials often requires the heating of the work piece to temperatures in excess of 1000 °C. This paper presents results from recent research into new reactive thermomechanical approaches that can produce intermetallics at operating temperatures several hundred degrees lower than those currently used. The main findings suggest that these processes may provide benefits in terms of low energy, consolidation, microstructure refinement, and homogenization.
The Why and How--Commitment and Leadership.

This writer reviews the back ground of current concepts of leadership, some ideas from the research, and som suggestions for practice. They should, he believes, provide a foundation for leadership ...
Communication in the classroom: Power and motivation

The goal of the present study was to determine which power bases and Behavior Alteration Techniques have positive, negative, and no association with student motivation toward studying course content. In addition, teacher immediacy and teacher use of affinity‐seeking techniques were examined for their potential to off‐set possible negative effects on student motivation resulting from teachers’ use of power and BATs to control mundane student behaviors in the classroom. To replicate previous work and place this study within the context of that work, both cognitive and affective learning also were examined. Results are summarized in the context of this and the previous studies in this series.
Extensions of the Jacobi identity for relative untwisted vertex operators, and generating function identities for untwisted standard modules: The A(1)1-case

Abstract In this paper, which extends the author's previous work [6] on relative Z 2 -twisted vertex operators and twisted standard A (1) 1 -modules, the Jacobi identity for relative untwisted vertex operators, discovered by Dong and Lepowsky, is extended to multi-operator identities in the case of the A (1) 1 -lattice. Particular coefficients of these identities (coefficients of monomials in some of the formal variables of the identities) give generating function identities for untwisted standard A (1) 1 -modules. This procedure (together with Husu [6], Sections 2 and 3) discloses the analogy (from the point of view of relative vertex operators) between the constructions of twisted and untwisted standard A (1) 1 -representations. Moreover, exhibiting relative multioperator identities and extracting coefficients of these identities at once, this procedure shows a method to improve and simplify the Z 2 -twisted counterpart procedure of constructing generating function identities for Z 2 -twisted standard A (1) 1 -modules in Husu (to appear), Section 3.
Superficial mucosal ulceration and the pathogenesis of acute appendicitis

Abstract Review of the appendixes and clinical histories of patients with acute appendicitis has revealed that superficial mucosal ulcers can be demonstrated frequently, particularly early in the disease and often before dilatation of the organ is demonstrable. These data support the concept that the primary lesion in acute appendicitis is superficial mucosal ulceration and is not related to obstruction of the appendiceal lumen.
Diet and nutritional status of Ameridians: a review of the literature

This paper reviews and evaluates the available data on diet and nutritional status of Amerindians living in the tropical forests of Amazonia. The diets of most Amerindians are based on cassava and plantains/bananas, with high quality protein coming from fish, game and invertebrates. The composition of Amerindian diets is known for only a few groups. In these groups the dietary intake of households and adults appears to be adequate in energy and protein. However, the high bulk, low caloric density of the diets suggests that they are not concentrated enough for children. Anthropometric data is available for a number of groups. Adults are small in size, but nutritional status assessed in terms of weight-for-height is generally good. Children are small for their age, and in some groups more than 10% would be classified as undernourished on the basis of weight-for-height, and/or clinical signs.
Preparation of orthorhombic YBa2Cu3O7−δ by spray-drying formate solutions

Abstract A simple, low cost process has been developed for the preparation of orthorhombic YBa2Cu3O7−δ superconducting powder by spray-drying formate solutions. Yttrium oxide, cupric oxide and barium carbonate are dissolved in formic acid and spray-dried. The spray-dried powder is “charred” at 95°C prior to calcination to avoid undesirable melting and/or dissolution. The charred powder is calcined to produce phase-pure, superconducting YBa2Cu3O7−δ product. Superconducting powder can also be prepared from acetate solutions.
Effects of amount of relative novelty on children’s choice behavior

Sixteen preschool children each had four 1-min (familiarization) trials with two toys, identical except for color, from each of two different sets of toys. On each trial, S chose one of the two toys. Sixteen other children had 16 familiarization trials with each toy set. Alternations of choice on successive trials significantly exceeded chance in both groups. On a special task trial (fifth or 17th trial) for each toy set, S could choose one or both familiar toys or a third novel toy which was damaged. Frequency of choice of the novel toy was higher in Group 16 than in Group 4, but not significantly so. In both groups, however, a significantly greater proportion of Ss chose the novel toy than did Ss in a third group who had no familiarization trials preceding the task trial.
The utility of 4-dimensional computed tomography for preoperative localization of primary hyperparathyroidism in patients not localized by sestamibi or ultrasonography.

Background To determine the sensitivity and clinical application of 4-dimensional computed tomography (4D CT) for the localization of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism when ultrasonography (US) and sestamibi scans (STS) are negative. Methods We compiled a database of 872 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism who underwent parathyroid operation by a single surgeon from January 2003 to September 2013. Seventy-three patients who failed to have positive localization by US or STS were identified. Thirty-six underwent operation without a preoperative 4D CT, and 37 underwent operation after 4D CT. Results In patients not localized by US or STS, 4D CT was 89% sensitive in localizing an abnormal parathyroid gland when reviewed blindly by a radiologist specializing in endocrine localization studies, yielding a positive likelihood ratio of 0.89 and positive predictive value of 74%. Sensitivity, positive likelihood ratio, and positive predictive value for correct gland lateralization were 93%, 0.93, and 80%. The average size of parathyroid glands removed after preoperative localization by 4D CT was 404 mg and 0.57 cm 3 (SD = 280, 0.64), compared with 259 mg and 0.39 cm 3 (SD = 166, 0.21) in patients not localized by 4D CT. A focused, unilateral exploration was performed in 38% of patients with preoperative localization by 4D CT compared with 19% of patients without 4D CT (χ 2 = 3.0, P = .041). Conclusion 4D CT provided a positive localization in a clinically substantial number of patients not able to be localized by US or STS, which enabled an increased rate of successful, focused, unilateral operations compared with patients who did not undergo a 4D CT.
Electrochemical characterization and determination of N-acetylpenicillamine thionitrite

Abstract Square-wave voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry are used to investigate the electrochemistry of N -acetylpenicillamine thionitrate. Thionitrites have been proposed as intracellular intermediates in organic nitrate-induced mammalian vasodilatation. Although these intermediates have been demonstrated indirectly, no sensitive direct determinations have been developed. The electrochemical behavior of this thionitrite at mercury and vitreous carbon electrodes in buffered aqueous media is here described. At mercury, below pH 6.0 one reversible anodic wave and one irreversible cathodic wave are seen. On solid electrodes, only the irreversible wave is present. A determination for thionitrite based on the irreversible cathodic wave is presented. When square-wave voltammetry is used, the current response is linear with concentration in the range of 1–200 μg l −1 (40 μM−1.5 mM). N -Acetylpenicillamine does not interfere.
Fractional angular momentum, fractional charge, and oscillators

The monoaxial torsional pendulum's angle Θ relative to the lab is free real, neither mod 2π nor 4π. Hence the conjugate angular momentum is alsofree real, even quantum mechanically. If the 1/2kΘ2 potential is relaxed at large Θ to 2πN periodicity, then the quantum of angular momentum is partially reestablished, to fractionalħ / N. If the pendulum were built by tensor product from designated constituent atoms, addition of angular momentum would deny the foregoing; however, the tie to atoms is as a collective mode instead. Similarly, theL-C oscillator hasfree real electric charge Q onone plate of the capacitor: The other plate, accommodating —Q, is here “the lab” or “ground”; observability ofcurrent breaks superselection of charge. These comments should alternatively develop from a Born-Oppenheimer approximation.
Assessing outcomes for dysphonic patients.

This study was designed to evaluate a disease-specific outcome measure for patients with selected voice disorders and to relate this instrument to a standardized quality of life measurement. In addition, the study attempts to document the degree of handicap for dysphonia patients globally, between different vocal pathologies, and in comparison to other chronic diseases. In this prospective, observational study, 260 adult patients evaluated for alterations of voice completed a general quality of life measure (the Medical Outcomes Trust Short Form 36-Item[SF-36]) and a voice-specific instrument (Voice Handicap Index [VHI]) pretreatment. The highest correlation was between the social functioning score of the SF-36 and the total score of the VHI and the physical, emotional, and functional subscales (p < 0.001) of the VHI. Significant correlation was also obtained for the SF-36 domains mental health (p < 0.01), general health (p < 0.01), and role functioning emotional (p < 0.017) with the three VHI domains and the total VHI score. Patients had significantly lower scores than the general U.S. population in five of the eight domains of SF-36. Patients with vocal fold paralysis had the highest level of pretreatment disability as measured on both the VHI and SF-36 among voice patients. The patients with dysphonia had a lower level of physical functioning than the patients with chronic sinusitis (p < 0.01), reflecting a greater handicap. In addition, the dysphonia group had lower levels of social functioning than the angina (p < 0.01) and sciatica (p < 0.01) groups and a lower score for mental health than the angina group (p < 0.01). The SF-36 correlates with the VHI in the domains of social functioning, mental health, and role functioning emotional. The baseline handicap for voice disorders represents a significant disability even in comparison to conditions such as angina pectoris, sciatica, and chronic sinusitis.
The Utility of Measures of Self-Efficacy for the Holland Themes in African American and European American College Students

Three inventories of self-efficacy or confidence with respect to the six Holland themes were compared in samples of European American and African American college students. Results indicated that t...
Identification of Cytokinins in Young Wheat Spikes (Triticum aestivum cv. Chinese Spring)

Cytokinins in young wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Chinese spring) spikes (2–15 mm) were isolated by immunoaffinity chromatography. High-performance liquid chromatography-radioimmunoassay and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry indicated that major cytokinins present weretrans-zeatin, ribosyl-trans-zeatin, ribosyldihydrozeatintrans-zeatin-9-glucoside, and the glucosides oftrans-zeatin, ribosyl-trans-zeatin, andtrans-zeatin-9-glucoside. Dihydrozeatin,iso-pentenyladenosine, andiso-pentenyladenine were also present but at lower concentrations.
Neurogenic Differentiation 1 Directs Differentiation of Cytokeratin 19–Positive Human Pancreatic Nonendocrine Cells into Insulin-Producing Cells

Abstract Background It has been reported that the human pancreatic nonendocrine fraction, which remains after islet isolation, can be differentiated toward beta cells. However, the optimal method to accomplish this goal has not been established. In this study, we introduced the human neurogenic differentiation 1 (NeuroD1) gene into human nonendocrine pancreatic epithelial cells (NEPECs) and promoted insulin-producing cells in vitro. Methods The human pancreatic nonislet fractions were obtained from brain-dead donors and cultured in suspension for 2-3 days followed by culture with G418 for 4 days. These cells (NEPECs) were then plated on dishes. The NEPECs spread into a cell monolayer within 7 days and all of the cells were cytokeratin-19 (CK19) positive. Seven days after plating, plasmids encoding human NeuroD1 gene under human CK19 promoter were transfected 3 times every other day (termed NEPEC+ND). Seven days after starting induction, these cells were characterized. Results Seven days after starting the induction of human NeuroD1, NEPEC+ND strongly expressed NeuroD1 and insulin mRNA. The ratio of NeuroD1-positive cells in NEPEC+ND was significantly higher than in NEPEC. Human insulin-positive cells in NEPEC+ND were also significantly greater than in NEPEC. Human insulin and C-peptide levels in culture medium in NEPEC+ND were significantly higher than in NEPEC. Conclusions These findings demonstrated that human NeuroD1 under control of the CK19 promoter can induce the differentiation of CK19-positive NEPECs into insulin-producing cells.
Accelerated development of collapsing glomerulopathy in mice congenic for the HIVAN1 locus

HIV-1 transgenic mice on the FVB/NJ background (TgFVB) are a well validated model of HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN). A mapping study between TgFVB and CAST/EiJ (CAST) strains showed this trait to be influenced by a major susceptibility locus on chromosome 3A1–A3 ( HIVAN1 ), with CAST alleles associated with increased risk of disease. We introgressed a 50 Mb interval, encompassing this HIVAN1 locus, from CAST into the TgFVB genome (TgFVB-HIVAN1 CAST congenic mice). Compared to the TgFVB strain, these congenic mice developed an earlier onset of proteinuria, a rapid progression to kidney failure, and increased mortality. A prospective study of these congenic mice also showed that they had a significantly greater histologic and biochemical evidence of glomerulopathy with one-third of mice developing global glomerulosclerosis by 6 weeks of age. An F2 cross between TgFVB and the congenic mice identified a significant linkage (LOD=3.7) to a 10 cM interval within the HIVAN1 region between D3Mit167 and D3Mit67 resulting in a 60% reduction of the original interval. These data independently confirm that a gene on chromosome 3A1-A3 increases susceptibility to HIVAN, resulting in early onset and rapid progression of kidney disease. These mice represent a new model to study the development and progression of collapsing glomerulopathy.
Synthesis, structure, electric, and magnetic properties of CaNiN

The authors report the synthesis and physical properties of the new ternary nitride CaNiN, prepared by the reaction of Ca{sub 3}N{sub 2} and Ni in N{sub 2} gas at 1,000{degree}C. The structure, determined by the method of x-ray powder diffraction, is tetragonal (P4{sub 2}/mmc) with a = 3.5809(2) {angstrom}, c = 7.0096(3) {angstrom}, and Z = 2. While the structure is a simple but uncommon one, with all atoms occupying fixed special positions, it features interesting - Ni-N-Ni-N - linear chains. Conductivity and magnetic measurements show that CaNiN is metallic and paramagnetic.
Reproductive response of Aphelinus perpallidus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) to age of its parent and density of its host, Monellia caryella (Homoptera: Aphidae).

The aphid parasite, Aphelinus perpallidus (Gahan), was exposed to different densities, (0.125, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.0 aphids per cm2)of its host, Monellia caryella (Fitch). Aphid density and fecundity of unmated and mated A. perpallidus were significantly related. Mated females produced both male and female offspring, whereas unmated females produced only males. Adult parasite emergence was not significantly affected by host density. There was no significant difference in emergence between mated and unmated females. Significantly more male parasites emerged at all densities. Parental age of unmated or mated A. perpallidus females did not significantly affect parasite fecundity or emergence. Fecundity and emergence were significantly higher with unmated females. Mated females produced significantly more male progeny. These data indicate that mated A. perpallidus females from 0 to 14 d old must be used and exposed to aphid density levels of 0.50–0.75 aphids per cm2 to obtain enough parasitism in order to have higher production of female progeny.