cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oxidation kinetic modelling of Fe-based oxygen carriers for chemical looping applications: Impact of the topochemical effect

Abstract Chemical looping is a promising technology for fossil fuel utilization due to its high fuel conversion efficiency with in-situ CO2 capture capability. Metal oxide are used as oxygen carriers (OCs) and circulate between a fuel reactor and an air reactor to perform reduction and oxidation reactions, respectively. In general, OC exiting the fuel reactor is not reduced fully to its metallic state due to many factors including carbon deposition and OC deactivation. Therefore, the effect of the initial reduction state on the OC oxidation in the air reactor is a significant parameter for consideration in developing the oxidation kinetic model. The objective of this work is to develop a physically significant kinetic model that applies to the oxidation of both initially fully and partially reduced OC with air. For this study, 1.5 mm Fe-based OC particle supported with TiO2 was used as the model OC particle due to its complex multistep reaction nature. The oxidation kinetics were experimentally investigated in a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). Results indicate a significant difference in the oxidation rate profile for the OCs when oxidized from an initially fully reduced compared to an initially partially reduced state. Elemental mapping via energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) reveals a shrinking-core type topochemical pattern across the OC particle, which was identified to be the cause of the dependency of kinetics on the initial reduction state. A generalized kinetic model was developed based on the observed shrinking-core behavior without presuming any rate-determining steps and experimentally validated over a broad range of temperatures (800–1000 °C) and oxygen concentrations (5, 7, 10, and 15 mol%). Impacts of particle porosity, size, and core-shell structure on the OC oxidation kinetics were analyzed in the developed oxidation kinetic model to suggest methods of improving the oxidation rate of the OC without modifying the chemical composition.
Virtual Interviews May Fall Short for Pediatric Surgery Fellowships: Lessons Learned From COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2.

Abstract Background As a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, many Pediatric Surgery Fellowship programs were forced to convert their normal in-person interviews into virtual interviews. This study sought to determine the perceived value of virtual interviews for Pediatric Surgery Fellowship. Methods An anonymous survey was distributed to the applicants and faculty at a university-affiliated, free-standing children's hospital with a Pediatric Surgery fellowship program that conducted one of three interview days using a virtual format. Results All applicants who responded to the survey had at least one interview that was converted to a virtual interview. Faculty (75%) and applicants (87.5%) preferred in-person interviews over virtual interviews; most applicants (57%) did not feel they got to know the program as well with the virtual format. Applicants and faculty felt that virtual interviews could potentially be used as a screening tool in the future (7/10 Likert) but did not recommend they be used as a complete replacement for in-person interviews (3.5-5/10 Likert). Applicants were more likely than faculty to report that interview type influenced their final rank list (5 versus 3/10 Likert). Conclusions Faculty and applicants preferred in-person interviews and did not recommend that virtual interviews replace in-person interviews. As the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic continues, more virtual interviews will be necessary, and innovations may be necessary to ensure an optimal interview process. Type of study Survey. Level of evidence N/A.
Neoliberal multilingualism and “humanitarian connections”: discourses around parents’ experiences with a Mandarin Chinese immersion school

Few studies have investigated the discourses and ideologies around parents’ enrollment decisions in Chinese-English immersion contexts, and how these discourses and ideologies affect their involvem...
Don't Blame Hippocrates for Low Enrollment in Clinical Trials.

“Facts don’t come with their own meaning attached.” Tzvetan Todorov (2003) Alex John London (2021) is frustrated by the commonly encountered situation of doctors thinking that they know what is bes...
Accuracy of 190-keV Virtual Monoenergetic Dual-Energy CT for Determining the Presence or Absence of Intravitreal Silicone Oil.

OBJECTIVE. We hypothesized that intravitreal silicone oil would show attenuation similar to that of fat on dual-energy CT 190-keV virtual monoenergetic images (VMIs) with high frequency and that th...
Trait mindfulness and the mental and physical health of caregivers for individuals with cancer.

Abstract Introduction Mindfulness plays a role in one's mental and physical health outcomes. The aims of this study were to examine the relationship between trait mindfulness and the (1) psychological functioning, (2) health behaviors, (3) and physical health of caregivers for individuals diagnosed with cancer. Methods An observational cross-sectional study was conducted with family caregivers of individuals diagnosed with cancer. Caregivers were recruited for the study during oncology appointments with their loved ones at twelve academic and community oncology centers located in western Pennsylvania. Caregivers completed a battery of questionnaires and examinations assessing sociodemographic characteristics, trait mindfulness, depression, perceived stress, caregiver stress, sleep, diet, physical activity, tobacco use, alcohol use, blood pressure, and BMI. Demographic and cancer-related information was collected from the individuals whom caregivers supported and the medical chart. Linear, logistic, and ordinal regression were performed. Results Of the 77 caregivers, the mean age was 64 (S.D.=10.7); 60% identified as female; 97% identified as White; the response rate was 72.6%. Regression analyses indicated that caregivers who reported higher levels of trait mindfulness reported significantly lower levels of depression (β= -0.35, SE= 1.13, 95% CI= -5.95, -1.43, p=.002), better caregiver quality of life (β= -0.422, SE=2.17, 95% CI= -13.03, -4.38, p Conclusions Findings indicated that higher levels of trait mindfulness are associated with positive mental and physical health outcomes for caregivers. Future research would benefit from further examining mindfulness-based interventions and their impacts in mitigating the negative toll of caregiving in the context of cancer.
Disruptions to Abortion Care in Louisiana During Early Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objectives. To examine changes in abortions in Louisiana before and after the COVID-19 pandemic onset and assess whether variations in abortion service availability during this time might explain observed changes. Methods. We collected monthly service data from abortion clinics in Louisiana and neighboring states among Louisiana residents (January 2018-May 2020) and assessed changes in abortions followin pandemic onset. We conducted mystery client calls to 30 abortion clinics in Louisiana and neighboring states (April-July 2020) and examined the percentage of open and scheduling clinics and median waits. Results. The number of abortions per month among Louisiana residents in Louisiana clinics decreased 31% (incidence rate ratio = 50.69; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 50.59, 0.79) from before to after pandemic onset, while the odds of having a second-trimester abortion increased (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 51.91; 95% CI = 51.10, 3.33). The decrease was not offset by an increase in out-of-state abortions. In Louisiana, only 1 or 2 (of 3) clinics were open (with a median wait >.2 weeks) through early May. Conclusions. The COVID-19 pandemic onset was associated with a significant decrease in the number of abortions and increase in the proportion of abortions provided in the second trimester among Louisiana residents. These changes followed service disruptions. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print June 29, 2021: e1-e9. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306284).
Interconception Care and Safe Sleep: Adapting the IMPLICIT Toolkit for Pediatrics.

BACKGROUND A woman’s health in the interconception period has an impact on birth outcomes. Pediatric visits offer a unique opportunity to provide interconception care (ICC). Our aim was to screen and provide interconception and safe sleep screening, counseling, and interventions for 50% of caregivers of children METHODS Two pediatric clinics implemented the March of Dimes’ Interventions to Minimize Preterm and Low Birth Weight Infants Through Continuous Improvement Techniques (IMPLICIT) toolkit, in addition to standardized safe sleep assessments. A quality improvement learning collaborative was formed with a local “infant mortality champion” leading quality improvement efforts. Monthly webinars with the clinic teams reviewed project successes and challenges. Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications was used to document adaptations. RESULTS For each individual IMPLICIT domain, clinics screened and provided needed interventions for ICC and safe sleep in >50% of eligible encounters. Over the course of the quality improvement learning collaborative, the number of caregivers screened for at least 4 of the 5 IMPLICIT domains increased from 0% to 95%. CONCLUSIONS To successfully implement the IMPLICIT toolkit in pediatrics, adaptations were made to the existing model, which had previously been used in family medicine clinics. Pediatricians should consider providing ICC as an innovative way to impact infant mortality rates in their community. Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications can be used to systematically describe the adaptations needed to improve the fit of IMPLICIT in the pediatric clinic, understand the process of change and potential application to local context.
The Intensity Axis of Symmetry

The previous chapter reviewed existing shape and image description methods and identified the symmetric axis and the intensity stack as the most promising methods in these respective categories. This chapter defines a new image shape description called the intensity axis of symmetry (IAS) which shares the advantages of both these methods. This is accomplished by describing simultaneously the shape of the whole collection of level curves which comprise the image. A discussion of the important descriptive properties of the IAS then follows.
Mission Creep, Mission Impossible, or Mission of Honor? Consumer Behavior BDT Research in an Internet Age

Mission Creep, Mission Impossible, or Mission of Honor? Consumer Behavior BDT Research in an Internet Age
A novel ultrasound imaging technique for portable and high speed imaging

In this work, a novel technique for ultrasound imaging named Computational Ultrasound has been developed. The computational ultrasound imaging operation involves sending and receiving unfocused echo pulses which are spatio-temporally apodized with random binary sequences. The single channel of acquired RF data is then decoded using convex optimization to obtain the image. The proposed system reduces or eliminates side lobes and speckle noise while providing good image quality only for a fraction of the cost and area of a conventional ultrasound system. Simulations show that computational ultrasound can successfully image sub-wavelength features at the expense of image quality.
The gene encoding proline dehydrogenase modulates sensorimotor gating in mice

Hemizygous cryptic deletions of the q11 band of human chromosome 22 have been associated with a number of psychiatric and behavioural phenotypes, including schizophrenia. Here we report the isolation and characterization of PRODH, a human homologue of Drosophila melanogaster sluggish-A (slgA), which encodes proline dehydrogenase responsible for the behavioural phenotype of the slgA mutant. PRODH is localized at chromosome 22q11 in a region deleted in some psychiatric patients. We also isolated the mouse homologue of slgA (Prodh), identified a mutation in this gene in the Pro/Re hyperprolinaemic mouse strain and found that these mice have a deficit in sensorimotor gating accompanied by regional neurochemical alterations in the brain. Sensorimotor gating is a neural filtering process that allows attention to be focused on a given stimulus, and is affected in patients with neuropsychiatric disorders. Furthermore, several lines of evidence suggest that proline may serve as a modulator of synaptic transmission in the mammalian brain. Our observations, in conjunction with the chromosomal location of PRODH, suggest a potential involvement of this gene in the 22q11-associated psychiatric and behavioural phenotypes.
Temporal interactions in the cat visual system. II. Suppressive and facilitatory effects in the lateral geniculate nucleus.

Extracellular responses were recorded from single neurons in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of the cat during presentation of pairs of brief visual stimuli identical to those that produce orientation-selective paired-pulsed suppression in the visual cortex. LGN neurons also show paired-pulse suppression, but the suppression is not orientation selective, and it occurs only for short interstimulus intervals (ISIs; usually less than 200 msec). At longer ISIs, most LGN neurons show a period of facilitation. Thus, the paired-pulse suppression in the LGN cannot account for that seen in the visual cortex. Paired-pulse suppression in the LGN was found to be enhanced by stimulation of the receptive field surround. LGN neurons also showed a second type of suppression, termed “offset suppression,” which consisted of a more long-lasting suppression of spontaneous activity following the offset of an excitatory visual stimulus. The suppression of spontaneous activity was accompanied by a reduction of the antidromic excitability, assessed by stimulating LGN axons within the cortex or optic radiation. Unlike paired-pulsed suppression, offset suppression was not enhanced by increased stimulation of the receptive field surround. Paired-pulse suppression and offset suppression are most likely due to different mechanisms because they have different time courses and depend differently on the spatial properties of the stimuli. Functionally, paired-pulse suppression may be related to the reduced visual sensitivity that accompanies eye movements, while offset suppression may serve to enhance temporal contrast.
Risk management in construction project management

Abstract By adopting risk management, savings potentials can be realized in construction projects. For this reason, for project managers as well as real estate developers, a consideration of the risk management process is worthwhile. The risk management process comprises 6 process steps, which will be discussed in greater detail below. The integration of a risk management system in construction projects must be oriented to the progress of the project and permeate all areas, functions and processes of the project. In this, particular importance is attached to the risks in the personnel area, for, particularly for enterprises providing highly qualified services, specialized employees are essential for market success.
The bacteriophage T4 gene mrh whose product inhibits late T4 gene expression in an Escherichia coli rpoH(σ32) mutant

Abstract In an Escherichia coli rpoH mutant (affecting σ 32 , heat-shock sigma factor) infected at high temperatures with wild-type T4 phage, late T4 transcription and consequently progeny production are dramatically impaired. This defect is due, in part, to insufficient activity of σ 70 [Frazier and Mosig, J. Bacteriol. 170 (1988) 1384–1388], which is necessary to indicate early T4 transcription. Unexpectedly, however, we found that, in this rpoH host, late T4 transcription is also impaired when the temperature is raised from 30 to 42°C late after infection, when T4 transcription is directed by the T4-encoded sigma factor, σ gp 55 . Here, we show that a T4 gene that we call mrh (modulates rpoH), located at 14 kb on the T4 map, is responsible for the inhibition of late T4 transcription in the rpoH mutant host. T4 deletion mutants that lack the mrh gene can produce progeny in the rpoH host, but the Mrh protein, provided in trans from a plasmid-borne mrh gene, inhibits this growth. We have cloned and sequenced this T4 gene and synthesized the Mrh protein in a T7 RNA polymerase-dependent expression system. The M r of the Mrh protein deduced from the nucleotide sequence is 13419. Gene mrh is cotranscribed with several other, yet unidentified genes, both from an early promoter downstream from the late soc gene (encoding the small outer capsid protein) and from the late soc promoter further upstream. The mrh transcript initiated at the late promoter requires antitermination downstream from soc at a palindromic sequence that could fold into a stable hairpin containing a CUUCGG loop and that terminates most, if not all, transcripts initiated from early promoters further upstream [Macdonald and Mosig, EMBO J. 3(1984) 2863–2871].
Synthetic discriminant function (SDF) hardware optical realization with real-world nonideal optical and optoelectronic devices

A new method is proposed to correct the nonlinear distortion of a practical hardware optical implementation system. The on-line optical-computer feedback technique and off-line digital iterative algorithm are used to correct the correlation matrix of a SDF and the input-output vector respectively. As a result, a optimum SDF with very good correlation S/N, minimum peak variance, is obtained. Experiments demonstrate that this method is very effective for correcting the nonlinear distortion of a real-world nonideal optical and optoelectric system, so it could be applied to 3D distortion invariant real-time optical correlation filtering and optical pattern recognition.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
People with Disabilities—the Same, but Different: Implications for Health Care Practice

Despite the author’s experiences as a nurse and parent of a young adult with physical disabilities, the author had much to learn about the culture surrounding disability. The contemporary fiminority-groupfl model for disability replaces a medical model that views people with disabilities in need of remediation. Disability rights advocates often criticize health professionals, citing erroneous assumptions and failure to understand the perspectives of disabled persons. The author illustrates applications for clinical practice by health professionals with excerpts from a qualitative study that explored the spiritual experiences of adults with physical disabilities and family members as well as their responses to lived experience with disability.
Guinier analysis for homogeneous dielectric spheres of arbitrary size

Abstract We show that Guinier analysis of the scattered light intensity from a sphere of radius R and refractive index m yields a radius of gyration that is in general larger than the true, geometric value. Moreover, the ratio of these two quantities is a roughly universal function of the phase shift parameter ρ=2kR|m−1| where k=2π/λ, with λ being the optical wavelength. These universal curves are oscillatory and very similar to, but 180° out of phase with, the behavior of the total scattering efficiency. Reasons for these behaviors are proposed and their significance for optical particle sizing are discussed.
The sensitivity of sub-Saharan precipitation to Atlantic SST

The climate model of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (Hansen et al., 1983) is used to study the sensitivity of sub-Saharan rainfall to Atlantic Ocean SST. Initial changes of SST in the South Atlantic Ocean on March 1st are shown to reduce the June–August sub-Saharan precipitation totals using the model version with an interactive ocean that updates SST. Evidence is offered in support of theories that link Sahel drought with anomalously warm SST in the eastern South Atlantic and the study compares the model's response to spatially coherent SST anomalies with the response to random SST perturbations. The physical processes whereby SST and sea-level pressure synoptics influence the African summer monsoon are discussed in reference to the simulations. Predictibility of Sahel summer rainfall based on spring SST patterns or spring atmospheric circulation patterns is implied by the results. The SST/Sahel drought links are discussed for projections of future climate characteristics.
Using Peripheral Processing and Spatial Memory to Facilitate Task Resumption

Theories accounting for the process of primary task resumption following an interruption have focused on the suspension and retrieval of a specific goal (Altmann & Trafton, 2002). The ability to recall the spatial location of where in the task one was prior to being interrupted may also be important. We show that being able to maintain a spatial representation of the primary task facilitates task resumption. Participants were interrupted by an instant message window that either partially or fully occluded the primary task interface. Reaction time measures show that participants were faster at resuming in the partial occlusion condition. In addition, eye track data suggest that participants were more accurate at returning to where they left off, suggesting that they were able to maintain a spatial representation of the task and use this information to resume more quickly.
Full Circle in Dahomey

On May 7, 1970 the Fourth Dahomean Republic was inaugurated following a series of developments that snatched political stability from the jaws of civil anarchy, turned back the clock ten years, and gained the small West African state two questionable distinctions: the continent's first collegiate presidency and Africa's first head of state to bounce back to power after being toppled by the military. As secession and civil war threatened the country following the aborted March 1970 elections, Dahomey had just completed a tortuous tenyear cycle of acute instability, during which every possible combination of political forces had tried and failed to govern the country. The political triumvirate of Dahomey--Ahomadegbe, Maga, and Apity--maintained a tight electoral stranglehold over their respective tribal fiefs in Abomey, the North, and Porto Novo, buttressed by their traditional claims to legitimacy. Intense regionalism and ethnic exclusiveness, dating to the precolonial era and perpetuated by the French administration, mitigated against the emergence of durable interregional political alliances. The period 1958-1965 was characterized by shifting coalitions between the three leaders that collapsed almost as soon as they were created as a result of continuous intrigues, plots, and jockeying for sole power (for a detailed analysis of this period, see Thompson 1963, Decalo 1968).
Suppression of human natural killer activity by delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol

Press, Inc., New York. 6. Greenwald, R. A. (1979). Oxygen radicals and connective tissue. J. Rheumatol. 8(2): 185-196. 7. Grgaard, B. et al, (1982). Effects of ischemia and oxygen radicals on mucosal albumin clearance in intestine. Am. J. Physiol. 242:448-454. 8. Johnson, K. J. and P. A. Ward (1981). Role of oxygen metabolites in immune complex injury of lung. J. Immunol. 126:2365-2374. 9. Johnson, K. J. and P. A. Ward (1982). New concepts in the pathogenesis of immune complex induced tissue injury. Lab. lnvest. 47(3):218-233. 10. Johnson, K. J. and P. A. Ward (1982). Acute and progressive lung injury with phorbol myristate acetate. Am. J. Pathol, 107:29-35. 11. Johnson, K. J. et al. (t984). Acute lung injury in rat caused by immunoglobulin A immune complexes. J. Clin. Invest. 74:358-369. 12. Johnson, K, J. et al. Mediation of lgA induced lung in the rat: role of macrophages and reactive oxygen products. Lab. Invest., in press. 13. Kiehanoff, S. J. (1980). Oxygen metabolism and the toxic properties of phagocytes. Ann. Intern. Med. 93:480-489. 14. McCormick, J. R. et al. (1981). The effect of superoxide dismutase on pulmonary and dermal inflammation. Am. J. Pathol. 102:55-6t. 15. Perez, H. D. and I. M. Goldstein (1980). Generation of a chemotactic lipid from arachidonic acid by exposure to a superoxide generating system. Fed. Proc. 39:1170-1174. 16. Romson, J. L. et ai, (1983). Reduction of the extent of ischemic myocardial injury by neutrophil depletion in the dog. Circulation 67:1016-1023. 17. Root, R. K. and M. S. Cohen (1981). The microbicidal mechanisms of human neutrophils and eosinophils. Rev. Inf. Dis. 3:565-598. 18. Till, G. O. et al. (1982). Intravascular activation of complement and acute lung injury. Dependency on neutrophils and toxic oxygen metabolitcs. J. Clin. Invest. 69:1126-1135. 19. Till, G. O. et ai. (1983). Oxygen radical dependent lung damage following thermal injury of rat skin. J. Trauma 23:269-277. 20. Valentine, J. S, (1979). The chemical reactivity of superoxide anion in aprotic versus protic media: a review, pp 659-677. In W. S. Caughey (ed.) Biochemical and clinical aspects of oxygen. Academic Press, Inc., New York. 21. Varani, J. et al. (1985). Pulmonary endothelial cell killing by human neutrophils. Possible involvement of hydroxyl radical. Lab. Invest. 53:656663. 22, Ward, P. A, et al. (1983). Evidence for the role of hydroxyl radical in complement and neutrophil-dependent tissue injury. J. Clin. Invest. 72:789-799. 23. Willson, R, L. (1979). Hydroxyl radicals and biological damage in vitro: what relevance in vivo?, pp 19-42. hi Oxygen free radicals and tissue damage, Ciba Foundation Symposium 65. Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam.
Attachment and Depression Differentially Influence Nicotine Dependence among Male and Female Undergraduates: A Preliminary Study.

The authors surveyed a convenience sample of 208 undergraduate students who reported that they smoked cigarettes. The primary hypothesis they tested was whether gender predicted nicotine dependence. They further tested whether depression and attachment would mediate or moderate this relationship. Hierarchical regression analyses with social desirability and smoking stage of change entered as covariates indicated that women exhibited greater nicotine dependence than men did (p < .01). Lower attachment scores fully mediated this relationship, whereas elevated depression scores moderated the relationship. These findings suggest that depression and the inability to bond with peers may promote nicotine dependence among young female students.
A note on the comparison of digestion by New World camels, sheep and ponies

Digestion trials were conducted with four ponies, two sheep and two New World camels (one llama and one guanaco) given alfalfa pellets and a complete pelleted hay-grain diet. The New World camels were significantly more efficient in the digestion of dry matter, neutral-detergent fibre, acid-detergent fibre and cellulose than the sheep or ponies.
The airborne expendable bathythermograph

Abstract The Airborne Expendable Bathythermograph (AXBT) system is described. Results of extensive calibrations and field tests are presented. It is shown that with proper calibration these devices are a useful oceanographic research tool with temperature accuracies of a few tenths of a degree Celsius.
Long-term outcomes and quality of life after intestine transplantation.

Purpose of reviewOver the past decade intestine transplantation has been accepted as standard therapy for patients with life-threatening complications of parenteral nutrition. For patients without life-threatening complications, continued therapy with parenteral nutrition has been standard despite s
Correlations between developmental ornithine decarboxylase gene expression and enzyme activity in the rat brain

The rise and decline in cerebral ODC activity during specific stages of development has been attributed to cytoplasmic intermediates which regulate ornithine decarboxylase activity. Here we examine whether transcriptional regulation contributes to the production of the developmental profiles of ODC activity. Postnatal cerebellar and neocortical tissue were obtained from Long-Evans hooded rats at postnatal days (PND) 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 90 and probed for ODC and actin gene expression, by Northern analysis. Our results indicate that ODC gene expression in the cerebellum was elevated at PND 5 and 10 followed by a gradual drop to the adult low levels by PND 20. By contrast, high levels of ODC gene expression in the neocortex were seen at PND 5 with an abrupt decrease at day 10 to low adult levels. The expression of the ODC gene in the neocortex follows closely the pattern for the ODC enzyme activity; however, it tends to remain elevated longer in the cerebellum. The levels of actin gene expression exhibited a distinct developmental profile in the postnatally developing cerebellum. However, actin mRNA levels remained unchanged in the neocortex, consistent with the prenatal development of this region. Our findings suggest that ODC gene expression may play an important role in the production of the ontogenetic patterns of ODC activity.
Tuberculosis and HIV: a global menace exacerbated via sex trafficking.

Summary Objective Global tuberculosis (TB) elimination requires recognition and management of TB/HIV co-infected individuals, including those in marginalized and/or understudied populations. We sought to examine the prevalence of TB among repatriated sex trafficked Nepalese girls and women in whom a high HIV prevalence was previously reported. Methods We reviewed case records for cases of TB among 287 sex trafficked girls and women repatriated to a single, rehabilitation non-governmental organization in Kathmandu, Nepal between 1997 and 2005. TB case detection was based on sputum smear results for acid-fast bacilli, radiographs, or histories, as reported in medical tests and/or case records. Results There were 17 cases of TB that developed after rescue within the sample of girls and women who were aged 7–32 years when they were trafficked. The majority of cases (70%) were likely pulmonary TB. Nearly 9 in 10 individuals who developed TB were HIV co-infected. Conclusions Although preliminary in nature, our findings highlight the need for more comprehensive exploration of TB prevalence within sex trafficked populations, particularly in light of the large numbers of individuals who are sex trafficked in South Asia, the high prevalence of HIV documented in this group, and the risk of transmission of TB from and to others.
The guinea pig cochlear AE2 anion exchanger: cDNA cloning and in situ localization within the cochlea.

Abstract This study has characterized the repertoire of the anion exchanger (AE) family members expressed within the guinea pig organ of Corti, the auditory neuroepithelia. Both AE2 and AE3 cDNAs were present, but AE1 cDNA was not detected. The more abundant AE2 was sequenced and its expression characterized in the cochlea. The 3888 base pairs (bp) AE2 sequence, compiled from multiple clones, includes 150 by of upstream non-coding sequence and 3717 by of open reading frame encoding a protein of 1238 amino acids. Immunoblot of cochlear homogenate revealed a single AE2-immunoreactive band of M r 180 kDa. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analysis localized AE2 expression to several tissues and cell types within the guinea pig inner ear, including superior half of the spiral ligament and within the interdental cells lining the spiral limbus. However, AE2 was not clearly detected in the outer hair cells (OHC) of the organ of Corti by either immunohistochemistry or in situ hybridization. The results of these studies imply a physiologic role of AE2 in the cochlear homeostasis, but do not support its role as a potential `motor protein' in mediating the in vitro-observed voltage-gated, ATP-independent OHC motility.
Vitrectomy for large vitreous opacity in retinitis pigmentosa.

Abstract PURPOSE: To describe a patient with bilateral retinitis pigmentosa and visually disabling vitreous opacities, who benefited from vitrectomy in both eyes. METHODS: A 37-year-old man with retinitis pigmentosa and severely constricted visual fields developed a large, dense, vitreous floater and visual obscuration in the right eye. Subsequently, diffuse vitreous opacification and visual obscuration developed in the left eye. RESULTS: Bilateral pars plana vitrectomy relieved the patient's visual obscurations. Electron micrographs of the excised vitreous opacity from the left eye showed collagen fibrils and cellular debris. CONCLUSION: Visually significant vitreous opacities may develop as a complication of retinitis pigmentosa. The visual impact of such opacities may be magnified by its superimposition on limited visual fields. Vitrectomy may be of benefit in such cases.
Motivational Interviewing Training for Juvenile Correctional Staff in California: One Year Initial Outcomes

This study reports initial results of a program designed to train California corrections staff (n = 576) in motivational interviewing (MI), a method of communication that is based on a client-centered, collaborative style. After three days of training, participants made significant gains in terms of knowledge of MI principles and reflective listening skills. Results also indicated that motivation to use MI at baseline was not related to higher scores on the other measures, suggesting that trainees do not have to be motivated toward MI to learn and demonstrate skill gain. Implications of these findings, and their limitations, are discussed.
Effects of EGR and its constituents on HCCI autoignition of ethanol

The thermodynamic and chemical effects of real EGR, simulated EGR, and individual EGR constituents (N2, CO2, and H2O) on the HCCI autoignition processes of ethanol have been investigated experimentally and computationally. The results for ethanol were compared in detail with existing data for gasoline, iso-octane, PRF80, and PRF60. The data show that addition of EGR retards the autoignition timing for all five fuels when the intake temperature is maintained constant. However, the amount of retard is dependent on the specific fuel type, with ethanol showing the lowest sensitivity to the addition of clean simulated EGR gases. The response to EGR can be explained by quantifying the various underlying mechanisms. The results show that the single-stage ignition fuel ethanol is quite sensitive to the reduction of compression heating that occurs with EGR due to the higher heat capacity of the EGR gases compared to air. This high sensitivity to the cooling effect of EGR is similar to that of gasoline and iso-octane, which also are single-stage ignition fuels under these conditions. On the other hand, ethanol is very insensitive to the reduction of O2 concentration associated with the addition of EGR. Both of these characteristics relate to ethanol’s molecular stability – it does not react much until just before the hot-ignition point is reached. Consequently, ethanol has a low intermediate-temperature heat-release rate, which leads to a low temperature-rise rate prior to hot ignition, and therefore a high sensitivity to the cooling effect of EGR. Also, the relative lack of intermediate-temperature heat release prevents [O2] from having much influence on the temperature rise prior to hot ignition, leading to a low sensitivity of the autoignition timing to changes of [O2]. Finally, both H2O and trace species have significant ignition-enhancing effects for ethanol that to some degree counteract the retarding effect of EGR.
In vitro studies of intestinal permeability and hepatic and intestinal metabolism of 8-prenylnaringenin, a potent phytoestrogen from hops (Humulus lupulus L.)

The absorption potential and metabolism of 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN) from hops (Humulus lupulus L.) were investigated. 8-PN is a potent estrogen with the potential to be used for the relief of menopausal symptoms in women. Monolayers of the human intestinal epithelial cancer cell line Caco-2 and human hepatocytes were incubated with 8-PN to model its intestinal absorption and hepatic metabolism, respectively. The apparent permeability coefficients for 8-PN in the apical-to-basolateral and basolateral-to-apical directions of a Caco-2 monolayer were 5.2 ± 0.7 × 10−5 and 4.9 ± 0.5 × 10−5 cm/s, respectively, indicating good intestinal absorption via passive diffusion. Both glucuronide and sulfate conjugates of 8-PN were detected in the Caco-2 cell incubations. The 4′-O-glucuronide was the predominant Caco-2 cell metabolite, followed by 7-O-sulfate and 4′-O-sulfate. Both phase I and phase II metabolites of 8-PN were formed by human hepatocytes. The 7-O-glucuronide was the most abundant hepatocyte metabolite, and no sulfate conjugates were detected. Incubations with various cDNA-expressed UDP-glucuronosyltransferases indicated that the isozymes UGT1A1, UGT1A6, UGT1A8, and UGT1A9 were responsible for glucuronidation of 8-PN. Although orally administered 8-PN should be readily absorbed from the intestine, its bioavailability should be reduced significantly by intestinal and hepatic metabolism.
Improved procedure for the purification of an iodinated protein: beta nerve growth factor.

An improved procedure for the isolation of iodinated β Nerve Growth Factor (125I-βNGF) has been devised. Use of Centricon microconcentrators (Amicon) has allowed the facile and efficient recovery of ultrapure125I-βNGF in high yields. Centricon microconcentrators are supplied with two molecular weight cutoffs of 10 K and 30 K daltons. βNGF is a basic protein with a molecular weight of 26 K daltons. It is therefore possible to filter the125I-βNGF through the 30K filter (30 K Filtrate) leaving behing any aggregates or reactants greater than 30 K while the125I-βNGF can be retained and concentrated on the 10 K filter (10 K Retentate). Any free125I is easily removed, passing through the 10 K filter and then being discarded. In this way125I-βNGF can be easily purified.
Low Frequency Guided Plate Wave Propagation in Fiber Reinforced Composites

The use of composite materials has increased steadily during the past two decades, particularly for aerospace, underwater and automotive structures. This is largely because many composite materials exhibit high strength-to-weight and stifihess-to-weight ratios, which make them ideally suited for use in weight-sensitive structures. The elastic properties of composite materials may be significantly different in specimens manufactured under the same general specifications and the bulk material properties may be different from those of the lamina. The elastic properties degrade as a result of aging, environmental and other effects (e.g., matrix cracking) resulting in overstress and eventual failure of the material. The elastic properties determine the performance of the material and it is necessary to assure the conformance of these properties with design requirements. Conventional destructive techniques for determining the elastic stiffness constants can be costly and often inaccurate. This is particularly true for the through-the-thickness properties. Nondestructive determination of these properties offers a better alternative for material characterization and for assuring structural performance.
Free łukasiewicz and hoop residuation algebras

Hoop residuation algebras are the {→, 1}-subreducts of hoops; they include Hilbert algebras and the {→, 1}-reducts of MV-algebras (also known as Wajsberg algebras). The paper investigates the structure and cardinality of finitely generated free algebras in varieties of k-potent hoop residuation algebras. The assumption of k-potency guarantees local finiteness of the varieties considered. It is shown that the free algebra on n generators in any of these varieties can be represented as a union of n subalgebras, each of which is a copy of the {→, 1}-reduct of the same finite MV-algebra, i.e., of the same finite product of linearly ordered (simple) algebras. The cardinality of the product can be determined in principle, and an inclusion-exclusion type argument yields the cardinality of the free algebra. The methods are illustrated by applying them to various cases, both known (varieties generated by a finite linearly ordered Hilbert algebra) and new (residuation reducts of MV-algebras and of hoops).
Effect of temperature and salinity on the energetics of juvenile gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus): implications for nursery habitat value

Abstract Gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus) encounter a wide range of temperatures and salinities in nearshore and estuarine juvenile habitats. The energetic response of juvenile gray snapper to temperature and salinity was measured in laboratory experiments to determine the influence of these physicochemical factors on the potential value of different juvenile nurseries. Maximum consumption and growth rates of juvenile (25–50 mm SL) gray snapper were determined in 12-day trials at 20 temperature/salinity combinations representing conditions in juvenile habitats. Ad libitum feeding level of individual fish was measured daily. Maximum weight specific feeding rate increased significantly with temperature and salinity; however, the effect of salinity was much less than that of temperature. Linear growth rate and specific growth rate both increased with temperature, and salinity did not have a significant effect on either. Gross growth efficiency (K1, growth×consumption−1*100) increased with temperature and was significantly lower at high salinities, indicating increased energetic costs. The higher K1 at lower salinities has several implications for juvenile gray snapper in low salinity habitats: (1) they would need less food to achieve the same somatic growth as juveniles in high salinity habitats; (2) they would have higher growth at limited ration levels as compared to high salinity habitats; and (3) they would have less impact on prey populations than higher salinity habitats assuming similar gray snapper densities.
Reactions of aliphatic thiyl radicals in the solid state: photoisomerization of trans-4,5-dihydroxy-1,2-dithiacyclohexane and oxidation of dithiothreitol.

A description of free-radical reactions in the solid state is important for some processes causing long-term stability problems of natural and synthetic products. Recent studies revealed that, in the solid state, mercaptooctadecanethiyl radicals, C18H37S•, do not abstract a hydrogen atom from mercaptooctadecane, C18H37SH, but yield perthiyl radicals, C18H37SS•, via a net sulfur transfer (Faucitano et al. ChemPhysChem 2005, 6, 1100−1107). Here, we demonstrate that such a sulfur transfer is not a general phenomenon of thiyl-radical reactions in the solid state, providing experimental evidence for a solid-state hydrogen-transfer reaction between a dithiyl radical, generated through the photolysis of trans-4,5-dihydroxy-1,2-dithiacyclohexane (DTTox), and dithiothreitol. The photolysis of crystalline solid deposits of DTTox yields two isomers of 2,3-dihydroxy-1-mercaptotetrahydrothiophene with a combined quantum yield of ΦF = 0.39 ± 0.02. This quantum yield was increased to ΦF = 0.87 ± 0.13 when the solid depo...
Autofocus for 3D imaging with multipass SAR

The emergence of 3D imaging from multipass radar collections motivates the need for 3D autofocus. While several effective methods exist to coherently align radar pulses for 2D image formation from a single elevation pass, further methods are needed to appropriately align radar collection surfaces from pass to pass. We propose one such method of 3D autofocus involving the optimization of a coherence factor metric for the dominant scatterers in an image scene. This method is demonstrated using a diffuse target from a multipass collection of circular SAR data.
Validation of diffuse optical tomography using a bi-functional optical-MRI contrast agent and a hybrid MRI-DOT system

Since diffuse optical tomography (DOT) is a low spatial resolution modality, it is desirable to validate its quantitative accuracy with another well-established imaging modality, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this work, we have used a polymer based bi-functional MRI-optical contrast agent (Gd-DTPA-polylysine-IR800) in collaboration with GE Global Research. This multi-modality contrast agent provided not only co-localization but also the same kinetics, to cross-validate two imaging modalities. Bi-functional agents are injected to the rats and pharmacokinetics at the bladder are recovered using both optical and MR imaging. DOT results are validated using MRI results as "gold standard"
A frequency domain existence proof of single-molecule surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

The existence of single-molecule surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SMSERS) is proven by employing a frequency-domain approach. This is demonstrated using two isotopologues of Rhodamine 6G that offer unique vibrational signatures. When an average of one molecule was adsorbed per silver nanoparticle, only one isotopologue was typically observed under dry N2 environment. Additionally, the distribution of vibrational frequencies hidden under the ensemble average is revealed by examining the single-molecule spectra. Correlation with transmission electron microscopy reveals that SMSERS active aggregates are composed of multiple randomly sized and shaped nanoparticles. At higher coverage and in a humid environment, adsorbate interchange was detected. Using 2D cross correlation, vibrational modes from different isotopologues were anti-correlated, indicating that the dynamic behavior was from multiple molecules competing for a single hot spot. This allows hot-spot diffusion to be directly observed without analy...
Experimental histoplasmosis and blastomycosis in young pups

Young pups exposed to soil seeded with Histoplasma capsulatum and Blastomyces dematitidis were very susceptible to infection. Of those exposed to H. capsulatum, 88·5% dying 3 weeks or more after contact, yielded positive cultures from various tissues. In compariosn, 57% positive cultures were obtained from the pups dying 3 weeks or more after exposure to Blastomyces dermatitidis. The accumulated percentage of positive cultures obtained from all pups dying in the H. capsulatum group was 75·0% compared to 48·9% in the B. dermatitidis group. After 17 weeks about 95% of the pups died that were exposed to H. capsulatum compared to about 76% at this time exposed to B. dermatitidis.
Part 2: Analytical modeling of regular planar polygon tube hydroforming as a special case of symmetric multi-nose tube hydroforming

Abstract Part 2 of this series of papers presents an analytical model for regular planar polygon tube hydroforming (THF) as a special case of the analytical model for symmetric multi-nose tube hydroforming. The governing equations derived for multi-nose THF in Part 1 were evaluated by taking the limit of die geometric variables, resulting in a new set of governing equations for regular polygon THF. The model was validated using finite element analysis and a THF experiment, where good agreement was obtained. The model is able to predict field variables such as stresses and strain distribution, thinning rate distribution, and deformed shape at a particular pressure.
Design and analysis of two‐phase studies with binary outcome applied to Wilms tumour prognosis

Two-phase stratified sampling is used to select subjects for the collection of additional data, e.g. validation data in measurement error problems. Stratification jointly by outcome and covariates, with sampling fractions chosen to achieve approximately equal numbers per stratum at the second phase of sampling, enhances efficiency compared with stratification based on the outcome or covariates alone. Nonparametric maximum likelihood may result in substantially more efficient estimates of logistic regression coefficients than weighted or pseudolikelihood procedures. Software to implement all three procedures is available. We demonstrate the practical importance of these design and analysis principles by an analysis of, and simulations based on, data from the US National Wilms Tumor Study.