cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Incidence, Outcomes, and Recidivism of Elderly Patients Admitted For Isolated Hip Fracture.

Abstract Introduction Isolated hip fracture (IHF) is a common injury in the elderly after a fall. However, there is limited study on elderly IHF patients' subsequent hospitalization for a new injury, that is, trauma-related recidivism. Methods A retrospective review of the trauma registry at an ACS level I trauma center was performed for all elderly (age ≥ 65 y) blunt trauma patients admitted between 2007 and 2017, with a focus on IHF patients. IHF was defined as a fracture of the femoral head, neck, and/or trochanteric region without any other injuries except minor soft tissue trauma after a fall. Results Of the 4986 elderly blunt trauma admissions, 974 (19.5%) had an IHF. The rate of trauma-related recidivism was 8.9% (n = 87) for a second injury requiring hospitalization. The majority of recidivist (74.7%) and nonrecidivist (66.5%) patients were females. Hospital length of stay was similar at index admission (7 d for recidivists versus 8 d for nonrecidivists). The median interval between index hospitalization and admission for a second injury was 373 d (IQR 156-1002). The most common mechanism of injury at index admission (95.4%) and at second injury-related hospitalization (95.4%) was a low-level fall. Among recidivist patients at second admission, a second hip fracture was present in 34.5% and intracranial hemorrhage in 17.2%. Conclusions After initial admission for an IHF, 8.9% of patients were readmitted for a second injury, at a median time of approximately 1 y, overwhelmingly from a low-level fall. Emphasis on fall prevention programs and at index admission is recommended.
Abstract 5461: B7-H3 regulates NF-kB signaling in cancer cells by modulating the degradation and re-synthesis of IkBα

B7-H3, a B7 homologue, is highly expressed on tumors and tumor vasculature. Although its role as a T cell inhibitor or co-stimulator is still under investigation, high expression of membranous B7-H3 in the tumor compartment is correlated with poor overall survival. NF-kB activation, standing at the intersection between inflammation and cancer, can lead to both the production of cytokines that engage the innate immune system, as well as pro-proliferative signals in cancer. B7-H3 has been shown to enhance and suppress inflammatory signaling by modulating NF-kB. However, the mechanism by which this occurs in cancer cells remains unknown. In this study, we aim to understand how B7-H3 modulates the NF-kB pathway in order to regulate incoming inflammatory signals in cancer cells. The human colon cancer cell line, HCT116, was stably transfected with a transcriptionally-coupled post-translational NF-kB luciferase reporter comprising of the inhibitor of NF-kB, IkBα, fused to firefly luciferase and placed downstream of an NF-kB responsive promoter, kB5. This construct allows for the real-time readout of the degradation of IkBα and NF-kB driven transcriptional re-synthesis of IkBα in response to a stimulus. The reporter cell line was treated with two stimulants, TNFα and flagellin, that activate NF-kB through different pathways and to different degrees with or without treatment with human B7-H3. Treatment of the reporter cell line with B7-H3 alone did not induce IkBα degradation or re-synthesis. However, stimulation of the reporter cell line with TNFα or flagellin in combination with B7-H3 attenuated the degradation of IkBα and its re-synthesis compared to stimulation with TNFα or flagellin alone. Maximal re-synthesis of IkBα when stimulated with TNFα was 8.25 ± 1.51 fold (S.D.) and significantly increased compared to cells additionally treated with B7-H3 (5.83 ± 1.23 fold, p = .01). In addition, peak degradation time of IkBα when cells were stimulated by TNFα was 45 ± 5 min (S.D.), and significantly shorter than when cells were also treated with B7-H3 (61.67 ± 2.89 min, p = .01). Similar trends were observed when cells were treated with both flagellin and B7-H3 compared to stimulation with flagellin alone. These studies show that B7-H3 suppresses the response of colon cancer cells to incoming inflammatory stimuli and attenuates NF-kB signaling by tempering the kinetics and dynamics of IkBα. Citation Format: Sarah Glazer, Seth Gammon, David Piwnica-Worms. B7-H3 regulates NF-kB signaling in cancer cells by modulating the degradation and re-synthesis of IkBα [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5461.
Investigation of the Gas-Sensing Performance of Electrospun TiO 2 Nanofiber-Based Sensors for Ethanol Sensing

This paper presents an investigation on the sensitivity toward ethanol of a gas sensor based on TiO2 nanofibers deposited by electrospinning between interdigitated Pt electrodes. Morphological/structural characterizations by SEM/TEM show the formation of fibers, having a length up to hundreds of $\mu \text{m}$ and a diameter of about 60 nm, constituted of TiO2 nanograins in the brookite phase. The sensitivity was evaluated by measuring, under constant polarization, the electrical current of the oxide nanofibers network at different ethanol concentrations (50, 100, and 150 ppm) and different operating temperatures (350 °C, 400 °C, and 450 °C). The experimental results show that the response increases linearly with increasing both the ethanol concentrations and the operating temperature. In particular, the best performance of the device toward the ethanol sensing is obtained when it works at 450 °C. An equivalent circuit, modeling the electrical behavior in relation with the material microstructure, was proposed by carrying out ac impedance spectroscopy investigation during gas sensing tests.
Emergent Complications of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Abstract Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease resulting in polyarthritis and systemic effects that may result in morbidity and mortality. Objective This review provides the emergency physician with an updated analysis of acute complications seen with RA, as well as an evidence-based approach to the management of these complications. Discussion While the joint characteristics of RA are commonly recognized, the extra-articular manifestations may be overlooked. Of most concern to the emergency clinician is the involvement of the airway, cardiovascular, and pulmonary systems; however, RA can affect all organ systems. In addition, complications can arise from the specific therapies used to treat RA. Certain patient populations can have atypical presentations of the disease or may have an exaggerated response to the medications. An understanding of the involvement of these organ systems and complications can direct physicians to a broader differential that can identify disease processes that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. It is not necessarily the role of the clinician to diagnose RA in its earliest phases or initiate long-term immunosuppressive therapy from the emergency department; however, detection of some of the disease's characteristics can lead to earlier referral to specialists to begin therapy and potentially avoid life-threatening complications. If those problems are encountered in the emergency department, this review aims to provide insight into management of those conditions. Conclusions Prompt recognition of the acute complications of RA is crucial to treat these conditions. This review investigates these issues in a succinct manner for emergency clinicians.
An Academic-Practice Partnership at the University of Washington School of Public Health: The Student Epidemic Action Leaders (SEAL) Team.

In 2015, the University of Washington School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology established the Student Epidemic Action Leaders (SEAL) team to provide public health students with experien...
A novel ergonomic optical coherence tomography probe optimized for supine handheld angiography of young children and infants (Conference Presentation)

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is an extension of OCTA that allows for non-invasive imaging of the retinal microvasculature. OCTA imaging of adult retinal diseases is area of active research in ophthalmology as OCTA can provide insight into the pathogenesis of many retinal diseases. Like these adult diseases, pediatric diseases such as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) have a primarily vascular pathogenesis. However, table top OCTA systems require compliant, seated subjects and cannot be used on infants and young children. In this manuscript we describe the development of a non-contact handheld OCTA (HH-OCTA) probe for imaging of young children and infants in the operating room. The probe utilizes a novel, diverging light on the scanner optical design that provides improved performance over a traditional OCT scanner design. While most handheld OCT probes are designed to be held by the side of the case or by a handle, our operators tend to prefer to grip probes by the tip of the probe for supine imagine. The ergonomics of the HH-OCTA probe were designed to match this grip. The HH-OCTA probe used a 200 kHz OCT engine, has a motorized stage that provides +10 to -10 D refractive error correction, and weighs 700g. Initial OCTA imaging was performed in 9 children or infants during exam under anesthesia. The HH-OCTA images provide visualization of the retinal microvasculature in both normal and pathological eyes.
Open educational resources, student efficacy, and user perceptions: a synthesis of research published between 2015 and 2018

Although textbooks are a traditional component in many higher education contexts, their increasing price have led many students to forgo purchasing them and some faculty to seek substitutes. One such alternative is open educational resources (OER). This present study synthesizes results from sixteen efficacy and twenty perceptions studies involving 121,168 students or faculty that examine either (1) OER and student efficacy in higher education settings or (2) the perceptions of college students and/or instructors who have used OER. Results across these studies suggest students achieve the same or better learning outcomes when using OER while saving significant amounts of money. The results also indicate that the majority of faculty and students who have used OER had a positive experience and would do so again.
How We Know What Not To Think

Humans often represent and reason about unrealized possible actions – the vast infinity of things that were not (or have not yet been) chosen. This capacity is central to the most impressive of human abilities: causal reasoning, planning, linguistic communication, moral judgment, etc. Nevertheless, how do we select possible actions that are worth considering from the infinity of unrealized actions that are better left ignored? We review research across the cognitive sciences, and find that the possible actions considered by default are those that are both likely to occur and generally valuable. We then offer a unified theory of why. We propose that (i) across diverse cognitive tasks, the possible actions we consider are biased towards those of general practical utility, and (ii) a plausible primary function for this mechanism resides in decision making.
Направления, задачи, инструментарий снижения пространственной социально-экономической асимметрии в стратегиях развития регионов

The growth of poverty and spatial asymmetry in the socio-economic development of territories contributes to the growth of social tension and the discontent of people living in these regions. The article presents a comparative analysis of regional strategies for seven constituent entities of the Russian Federation – the Vologda Region, Voronezh Region, Kostroma Region, Krasnoyarsk Territory, the Republic of Bashkortostan, the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the Republic of Tatarstan, based and updated in accordance with the requirements of the Federal Law of the Russian Federation of June 28, 2014 No. 172-FZ «On strategic planning in the Russian Federation». Regions have significant differences in geographical location, raw materials, infrastructure, and income level. The presence in the regions not only of an invariant, but also of a selective list of directions and tasks was revealed. A tool is proposed to reduce the spatial socio-economic asymmetry of the regions of Russia, selected taking into account the experience of the subjects in implementing strategies to smooth out spatial inequality in socio-economic development: a scheme for the development and distribution of productive forces (Voronezh Region): a strategy for the development of economic zones and agglomerations (Republic of Tatarstan ); development strategy of municipal districts and urban districts (Voronezh Region, Republic of Tatarstan); public-private partnership projects (Voronezh Region, Krasnoyarsk Territory, Republic of Tatarstan); geographic information system (Voronezh Region, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Republic of Tatarstan). The proposed strategies will make it possible to increase the effectiveness of measures implemented by the authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.
Environmental and geographic data optimize ex situ collections and the preservation of adaptive evolutionary potential

Maintenance of biodiversity, through seed banks and botanical gardens where the wealth of species genetic variation may be preserved ex situ, is a major goal of conservation. However, challenges can persist in optimizing ex situ collections where trade-offs exist between expense, effort, and conserving species evolutionary potential, particularly when genetic data is not available. Within this context, we evaluate the genetic consequences of guiding population preservation using geographic (isolation-by-distance, IBD) and environmental (isolation-by-environment, IBE) data for ex situ collections where provenance data is available. We use 19 genetic and genomic datasets from 15 plant species to (i) assess the proportion of population genetic differentiation explained by geographic and environmental factors, and (ii) simulate ex situ collections prioritizing source populations based on pairwise geographic or environmental distances. Specifically, we test the impact prioritizing sampling based on environmental and geographic distances may have on capturing neutral, functional or putatively adaptive genetic diversity and differentiation. We find that collectively IBD and IBE explain a substantial proportion of genetic differences among functional (median 45%) and adaptive (median 71%) loci, but not for neutral loci (median 21.5%). Simulated ex situ collections reveal that inclusion of IBD and IBE increases both allelic diversity and genetic differentiation captured among populations, particularly for loci that may be important for adaptation. Thus, prioritizing population collections using environmental and geographic distance data can impact genetic variation captured ex situ. This provides value for the vast majority of plant species for which we have no genetic data, informing conservation of genetic variation needed to maintain evolutionary potential within collections.
Phenotypic Profiling in Subjects Heterozygous for 1 of 2 Rare Variants in the Hypophosphatasia Gene (ALPL).

Context Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a syndrome marked by low serum alkaline phosphatase (AlkP) activity as well as musculoskeletal and/or dental disease. While the majority of subjects with HPP carry a pathogenic variant in the ALPL gene or its regulatory regions, individual pathogenic variants are often not tightly correlated with clinical symptomatology. We sought to better understand the genotype/phenotype correlation in HPP by examining the clinical and biochemical data of 37 subjects with 2 rare variants in ALPL. Methods Through BioVU, a DNA biobank that pairs individuals' genetic information with their de-identified medical records, we identified subjects with 2 rare variants with distinct reported clinical phenotypes (p.D294A and p.T273M). We then performed a manual review of these subjects' de-identified medical records along with computational modeling of protein structure to construct a genetic, biochemical and clinical phenotype for each subject and variant. Results Twenty subjects with the p.D294A variant and 17 with the p.T273M variant had sufficient data for analysis. Among subjects in our cohort with the p.D294A variant, 6 (30.0%) had both clinical bone disease and serum AlkP activity below 40 IU/L while 4 subjects (23.5%) with the p.T273M variant met the same criteria despite the distinct clinical phenotypes of these variants. Conclusions Given the loose genotype/phenotype correlation in HPP seen in our cohort, clinical context is crucial for the interpretation of genetic test results to guide clinical care in this population. Otherwise, over- or under-diagnosis may occur, resulting in misidentification of those who may benefit from additional screening and perhaps pharmacologic intervention.
Optimal timing and assessment of post-operative results following modified Chiari ilium osteotomy for Perthes disease in children.

Objective To explore the surgical designing,optimal timing and assessment of post-operative results for modified Chiari ilium osteotomy in treatment of children Perthes disease.nethods From June 1986 to December 2004,234 children with Perthes disease were operated by the combining procedures of modified Chiari ilium osteotomy,partial synovectomy of hip joint,femur neck drilling decompress,iliopsoas muscle lengthening and detachment of adductor muscles of the femur.Among them 108 cases were regularly followed up more than 3 years.There were 61 males and 47 females,with the mean age of 7 years and 3 months(ranged from 3 years and 2 months to 13 years and 6 months).According to preoperative radiographs,there were 10 e&qe8 for Catterall Ⅰ,31 for Ⅱ,32 for Ⅲ,and 35 for Ⅳ.The long-term post-operative results of 108 children were evaluated according 5-items(clinical presentation,length of limb shortage,percentage of femur capital coverage,shape of femur capital epiphysis and articulo-troehanteric distance)and 10-score system.The score sum≥9 was evaluated as excellent,7-8 as good,5-6 as fair,and less than 4 as bad respectively.Results One hundred and eight patients were followed up 3 to 12 years(average 5 years and eight months).No complications were found such as neurovascular injury.infection,and bone union.The hip intorsion,abduction disturbance,and arthralgia disappeared after operation.The overall rate of good to exceIlent result in Catterall Ⅰ and Ⅱ groups was 90.24%,while that of Catterall Ⅲ and Ⅳ groups was 68.66%.Conclusion This combining procedures of modified Chiari ilium osteotomy can be an alternative appropriately to treat Perthes disease in children,especially good for the early patients. Key words: Child; Legg-Perthes disease; Osteotomy; Ilium
COVID-19 psychological factors associated with pain status, pain intensity, and pain-related interference.

The 2019 novel SARS-CoV2 disease causing COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the world, and those with pain conditions may be at heightened risk for these negative consequences. Given COVID-19...
Sacrifice and Sacred Honor: Why the Constitution is a 'Suicide Pact'

Most legal scholars and elected officials embrace the popular cliche that "the Constitution is not a suicide pact." Typically, those commentators extol the “Constitution of necessity,” the supposition that Government, essentially the Executive, may take any action - may abridge or deny any fundamental right - to alleviate a serious national security threat. The Constitution of necessity is wrong. This article explains that strict devotion to the "fundamental fairness" principles of the Constitution’s Due Process Clauses is America’s utmost legal and moral duty, surpassing all other considerations, even safety, security and survival. Analysis begins with the most basic premises: the definition of morality and why nations must be moral. This article defends Deontology, the philosophy that because they are a priori, moral principles must be obeyed regardless of terrible outcomes. Such is the sacrifice demanded by morality. As most theorists and politicians favor some form of Consequentialism (the theory that the moral answer is the one that produces the most happiness), the defense of pure Deontology is thorough. Next, this work links Deontology directly with the American Revolution by demonstrating that, undeniable political influences and compromises notwithstanding, the Founders were deontologists who asserted in the Declaration of Independence that government is legitimate only if it governs according to eternal moral precepts. They pledged the new Nation’s “sacred honor” to uphold steadfastly the principles of moral government. Aware of their imperfectness, the Founders instructed their successors to improve the moral philosophy underlying the Declaration. The deontology of Immanuel Kant expresses the best general paradigm of morality. Kant famously explained that all persons and societies share an overarching moral duty to respect the innate dignity of every human being no matter what sacrifice that may entail. Kantian ethics clarifies why moral abidance is more important than life itself. Because it is the superior moral theory that the Founders sought, Kant’s “dignity principle” must delimit the Constitution which, as explicated herein, is the legal iteration of the Declaration. This article’s concluding discussion of the Constitution, particularly due process precedents, explains why the Kantian approach - sacrifice and honor - debunks the Constitution of necessity, proving that the Constitution is a suicide pact.
Revision/Failed Metacarpophalangeal Joint Arthroplasty

Treatment of patients with failed metacarpophalangeal (MCP) arthroplasty is challenging. Indications for revision arthroplasty are based on progressive loss of function, increased pain, and deformity. In such patients, radiographs demonstrate broken or deformed implants, ulnar drift, and often palmar subluxation of the proximal phalanx. Arthrodesis and resection arthroplasty can be utilized when revision arthroplasty is not a possibility. Regardless of the treatment for failed arthroplasty, patient outcomes are generally inferior to primary arthroplasty.
Understanding quantization

The metric known to be relevant for standard quantization procedures receives a natural interpretation and its explicit use simultaneously gives both physical and mathematical meaning to a (coherent-state) phase-space path integral, and at the same time establishes a fully satisfactory, geometric procedure of quantization.
Statistical analysis factor screening of soybean oil and polymer modified asphalt blending using master batching technique

Abstract The use of multiple additives in asphalt leads to a much more complicated analysis of the rheology. In this research a master batching technique was used where a high SBS polymer concentration was created before diluting and blending in other additives, including a soybean derived polymer and rejuvenator. The order of additions was investigated using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the impact of the dosage levels was investigated using a 2k factorial design. The model shows that SBS polymer has the largest impact on all rheological properties, while the soybean derived additives improve the low temperature performance.
Interface Phonon Assisted Γ-X Transitions in GaAs-AlAs Structures

Interface phonons are observed in photoluminescence in Γ-X transitions in GaAs-AlAs structures. These data are compared with the dielectric continuum model for interface phonons. In particular, the dielectric continuum model for interface longitudinal-optical phonons is used in conjunction with a Kronig-Penney model for short-period polar-semiconductor superlattices to define the role of interface longitudinal-optical phonons in affecting phonon-assisted Γ-X transitions in semiconductor superlattices. Experimental results verify the predictions for superlattice parameters for which interfacephonon--assisted Γ-X transitions are expected.
Detection of Carbon in Hydrocarbon Conversion Ni1−xCux-Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9 Catalysts Using a Thermogravimetric Technique

Abstract Thermal behavior of hydrocarbon conversion Ni1−xCux-Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9 catalysts have been investigated under oxidizing and reducing atmospheres. A method based on a thermogravimetric technique of deposited carbon evaluation has been developed. Carbon deposited on the catalytic surface during methane cracking can be removed from the catalysts by gasification in air at temperatures <650°C.
Juvenile hormone molecular actions and interactions during development of Drosophila melanogaster.

Publisher Summary This chapter summarizes the understanding of the molecular mechanism of juvenile hormone (JH) action in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. It details the growing evidence that JH acts primarily at the level of gene expression and does so in apparently two different ways—directly, as a transcriptional regulator of JH ‘‘target genes,’’ and indirectly, as a suppressor of 20‐hydroxyecdysone (20E)‐dependent transcriptional regulation. As Drosophila has emerged as a model genetic system for the analysis of insect hormone action, the chapter particularly emphasizes on the analysis of mutants that have proved useful for acquiring understanding of insect hormone action during development and reproduction. 20E and JH also have important functions in the adult, promoting both reproductive maturation and the stereotyped patterns of mating behavior. The chapter discusses the features of the three hormones that are relevant for understanding of JH function. The regulatory interplay between JH and 20E defines the outcome of each developmental transition in the insect life cycle. 20E initiates each transition from larva‐to-pupa‐to‐adult, and JH determines the nature of the transition. In Drosophila, at the end of the third instar, 20E acting in the absence of JH causes dramatic changes in the genetic programs leading to pupariation, and the BR‐C gene is known to play a key role in this process.
Using Simulation and Data Envelopment Analysis to Compare Assembly Line Balancing Solutions

This paper presents a technique for comparing the results of different assembly line balancing strategies by using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Initially, several heuristics--which can be thought of as assembly line balancing strategies--were used to solve seven line-balancing problems. The resulting line balance solutions provided two pieces of information that were of particular interest: the number of workers needed and the amount of equipment needed. These two items were considered inputs for DEA. The different line balance solutions were then used as layouts for simulated production runs. From the simulation experiments, several output performance measures were obtained which were of particular interest and were used as outputs for DEA. The analysis shows that DEA is effective in suggesting which line balancing heuristics are most promising.
Benchmarking and standardization of intelligent robotic systems

From mundane and repetitive tasks to assisting first responders in saving lives of victims in disaster scenarios, robots are expected to play an important role in our lives in the coming years. Despite recent advances in mobile robotic systems, lack of widely accepted performance metrics and standards hinder the progress in many application areas such as manufacturing, healthcare, and search and rescue. In this paper, we outline the importance of the development of standardized methods and objective performance evaluation/benchmarking of existing and emerging robotic technologies. We provide a survey of significant past efforts by researchers and developers around the globe and discuss how we can leverage such efforts in advancing the state-of-the-art. Using an example of designing a ‘standard’ evaluation toolkit for robotic mapping, we illustrate some of the problems faced in developing objective performance metrics whilst accommodating the requirements and restrictions imposed by the intended domain of operation and other practical considerations.
Papain-induced changes in rabbit cartilage; alterations in the chemical structure of the cartilage matrix.

Some biochemical aspects of the collapse of the rabbit ears produced by the intravenous injection of papain have been studied. A marked depletion of chondromucoprotein (M.C.S.) and a reduction of the S35 content of cartilage matrix were found to coincide with the gross and histologic changes in the cartilage. At the same time there was a marked increase in the amount of S35 in the serum and an increase of S35 and glucuronic acid excreted in the urine. Alteration in the composition of the M.C.S. remaining in the cartilage of the papain-injected animals was detected. The findings indicate that the collapse of the rabbit ears is due to loss of chondromucoprotein from cartilage and reduction of chondroitin sulfate in the chondromucoprotein that remains. All these changes were reversed in recovery.
High-speed imaging for flash radiography using PIN diodes

A high speed readout imaging system utilizing a commercial flash x-ray machine and miniature x-ray detectors has been developed. This system was designed to operate in the environment near a nuclear detonation where film or camera imaging cannot be used. The temporal resolution of the system is set by the 20 nanosecond FWHM of the x-ray pulse. The spatial resolution of the system was determined by the size and close packing of the PIN diodes used as the x-ray detectors. In the array used here, the PIN diodes have an active area of 2 mm in diameter and were placed 3.8 mm center to center. Computer-generated images using algorithms developed for this system are presented and compared with an image captured on film in the laboratory.
Electron photodetachment spectroscopy of solvated anions. A probe of structure and energetics

Abstract Electron photodetachment of solvated anions of the form ROHF - has been undertaken. Observation or non-observation of photodetachment provides information about the location of the bridging proton, i.e. whether the complex has the structure ROH·F - or RO - ·HF. Where photodetachment is observed, the experimental detachment threshold energy yields the solvation energy for the corresponding free anion.
Thermal Effects Due to Surface Films in Sliding Contact

The present work examines theoretically the influence of surface coatings on the temperatures produced by friction due to sliding contact. A generalized thermal model is developed which incorporates three-dimensional, transient heat transfer between layered media with thermal coupling at multiple, interacting contact patches. A solution technique based on a variation of the boundary element method if developed and utilized. The method allows for the solution of the distribution of frictional heat and the resulting temperature rise in an accurate yet numerically efficient manner
Expression of molecular markers for bone formation increases during experimental acute otitis media.

Bony tissues are integral parts of the function of the middle ear and the protection of adjacent vital structures. To explore the reaction of middle ear bone to acute otitis media, rats were challenged with Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae. Local changes were monitored for up to 1 month. After reverse transcription, competitive polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the expression levels of two molecular markers of bone formation, osteocalcin and procollagen I, and the two cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, in the bone. Middle ear bone responded rapidly to bacterial challenge, and the reaction depended upon the causative agent. On day 1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha transcripts were detected in the bone from all middle ears. After a short period of decreased expression of osteocalcin, during which the otitis diagnosis could not be made clinically, the levels of bone formation markers increased dramatically. The maximum levels of these markers were reached on days 6 and 14 for animals challenged with H. influenzae and pneumococci, respectively. Infections induced by pneumococci had a longer duration, and after the initial phase the production of osteocalcin and procollagen transcript were significantly higher in the pneumococcus-infected animals. The results indicate that even in an uncomplicated infection, the bone of the bulla reacts to an acute otitis media with a short period of inhibited osteoblast activity followed by a longer period of new bone formation.
An Alleged Difficulty Concerning Moral Properties

There are two conditions for the truth of moral judgements that seem to preclude the view that such truth consists in a correspondence with states of affairs involving moral properties. Loosely, the conditions are these: (i) Moral properties cannot vary over time for a given object or action, nor can they differ between distinct objects or actions, unless the natural properties of the objects or actions in question also vary or differ. But (2) the natural properties of an object or action do not necessarily determine the moral properties of that object or action. Blackburn sharpens these conditions considerably and defends them, but the difficulty they give rise to is this: Since the natural properties of an object do not necessarily determine its moral properties, it is puzzling that their persistence should guarantee the persistence of the moral properties, and that their duplication should guarantee the duplication of the moral properties. There seems to be no explanation of the guaranteed persistence or duplication available to the realist. And, indeed, the second condition seems to suggest that the persistence or duplication would not be guaranteed. According to Blackburn's own emotivist view of the truth of moral judgements, the conjunction of these conditions seems not to be problematic. People hold moral attitudes towards objects and actions in virtue of the natural properties of the objects and actions. Since different people may have different standards of evaluation,
Studies of Extracellular and Intracellular Antimicrobial Activity of Povidone-iodine: An Alternative Prophylactic Regimen of Ophthalmia Neonatorum? 1490

Results of recent studies support the clinical efficacy of providone-iodine as a new prophylactic regimen for ophthalmia neonatorum (Isenberg et al, N Engl J Med 1995; 332:562). The present study was performed to better define the antimicrobial action(s) of povidone-iodine, i.e., dosage, time, plasma membrane penetration and toxicity. A series of experiments were performed with an in vitro tissue culture cell system employing human conjuctival and rabbit corneal cells using S. aureus (SA), P. aeruginosa (PA) and N. gonorrhoeae (GC) as test organisms. Assays of extracellular bacterial adherence and intracellular penetration were performed using 1 to 6×106 organisms/ 8×104 tissue culture cells. Effects of 0.5%, 1%, 5%, 7.5% and 10% povidone-iodine on killing of both extracellular and intracellular organisms were measured at 5, 10, and 20 minutes using ciprofloxacin (0.3%) as a methodologic control. The antimicrobial% concentration of povidone-iodine needed for complete killing of extracellular organisms varied with each organism, i.e., GC 1%, SA 5%, PA 10%. Killing of intracellular organisms required greater concentrations of povidone-iodine and was related to the number of intracellular organisms, i.e., SA 4×104 @ 1% vs 1×105 @ 10%; PA 1×103 @ 1% vs 1×104 ± killing @ 10%. Maximal killing of each test organism occurred by 10 minutes and no toxicity was observed in tissue culture cells up to 60 minutes of povidone-iodine treatment. Ciprofloxacin showed less antimicrobial activity than povidone-iodine. Collectively, these results suggest that there is not only a concentration-dependent antimicrobial activity of povidone-iodine, with greatest killing at higher concentrations, but also an organism-specific sensitivity, i.e., GC > SA > PA. Moreover, the results of these studies support the distinct advantages of povidone-iodine prophylaxis for ophthalmia neonatorum over most antibiotics based upon its ability to kill intracellular organisms in addition to its stability, low cost, and its refractoriness to the development of resistance.
Chloroacetate catalysis of esterification cross-link finishing of cotton fabrics for durable press

Chloroacetate salts have been evaluated as catalysts for durable press finishing of cotton by polycarboxylic acids. These salts are promising as replacement catalysts for phosphorus-containing salt...
Design of a dust tower for suppression of airborne particulates for iron making

Abstract Proper characterization of a dust suppressant represents a significant challenge. There has been confusion on what makes an effective dust suppressant. Many have argued that a dust suppressant must wet the material effectively and rapidly to control airborne dust. As a result, dust suppression studies have been heavily dependent upon laboratory wetting experiments such as contact angles, fine particle engulfment rates, and particle bed experiments to characterize dust suppressants. It has been believed that an effective dust suppressant should produce a low contact angle, and engulf particles rapidly thereby wetting the surface effectively and reducing airborne dust levels. However, these methods only characterize how the suppressant wets a given material, which does not directly correlate to the ability to suppress dust. Furthermore, a clear correlation between wetting enhancement and dust suppression has not been demonstrated. In order to address this gap, a novel dust tower was constructed which provided direct material dustiness measurements and allowed for a more realistic evaluation of dust suppressant effectiveness. This unit was able to clearly distinguish differences in dustiness that resulted from treatment of iron ore pellets with several different dust suppressant chemicals.
IASSim: a programmable emulator for the princeton IAS/Von Neumann machine

In this paper, we describe a programmable emulator for the Princeton IAS/Von Neumann machine. The emulator is historically accurate, preserving the quirks and eccentricities of the machine. It is also user-friendly and robust, suitable for undergraduate architecture and programming classes as a teaching tool. Users can write non-trivial programs in IAS assembly code or machine code. We present some examples here, and discuss assignments from its first use in two undergraduate classes. IASSim is a Java application publicly available at no cost.
Influence of grating shapes on beam profiles for right-angle guided-wave diffraction.

We present simulation results on the influence of grating shapes on diffracted beam profiles for right-angle diffraction. The first-order two-dimensional coupled-mode equations are solved numerically by using the finite-difference method for As2S3 waveguide surface-relief gratings on titanium-indiffused planar waveguides. The simulation results show that square or rectangular gratings result in a distorted profile for the diffracted beam and that truncated grating shapes significantly improve the output beam quality.
Extraction of [14CI vitamin a from rat liver and kidney during processing for transmission electron microscopy

The retention of radio isotope-labekd vitamin A during processing for electron microscopy was investigated using the livers and kidneys of vitamin A deficient rats. [15-14C]Retinol (3μCi/animal) was administered by esophageal intubation to male rats which had been maintained on a vitamin A deficient diet for five or sir weeks postweaning. Glutaraldehyde- or osmium-fixed tissue was processed by three methods: a) routine (a graded series of ethanols, propylene oxide and epoxy), b) rapid (75% and 95% ethanol with three changes of epoxy), or c) water-soluble embedding (70% and 80% hydrorypropyl methacrylate). Water-soluble embedding retained the highest percentage of label in the tissue (liver: 96.31%; kidney: 98.68%). Inclusion of osmium tetroxide in the processing sequence and minimal exposure of tissue to lipid solvents were necessary for good retention of labeled vitamin A in tissues.The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the author and are not to be construed as official or ...
Periphyton production in an Appalachian river

Periphyton primary production was measured by 14C uptake on natural substrates in two sections of the New River, Virginia, U.S.A. Production ranged from 6.71 ± 0.43 mg C g−1 h−1 in summer to 1.47 ± 0.22 mg C g−1 h−1 in late autumn in the hardwater reach and from l.90 ± 0.10 mg C g−1 h−1 to 0.12 ± 0.08 mg C g−1 h−1 in the softwater reach. Production in the hardwater reach was 3–5 times greater than in the softwater reach and significantly correlated with dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentration (r2 = 0.506). No significant correlation was found between periphyton production and photosynthetically active radiation (PhAR). Extrapolation of periphyton production to a 135 km reach of the New River yielded an estimated annual input of 2 252 T AFDW from this source. Estimates of allochthonous (excluding upstream contributions) and aquatic macrophyte inputs to this same reach were 64 T AFDW and 2 001 T AFDW, respectively. While periphyton is not a large source of organic matter, its high food quality and digestibility make it an important component of the New River energy dynamics.
Pituitary site of action of endothelin: selective inhibition of prolactin release in vitro.

Abstract Endothelin-3 (ET-3) inhibited in a dose-dependent, significant fashion prolactin release from cultured anterior pituitary cells (ovariectomized female and intact male rat donors, ED50-5X10−9 M). ET-3 in log doses ranging from 10−11 to 10−6 M did not alter significantly the release of luteinizing hormone, growth hormone or thyroid stimulating hormone. The inhibitory effect of ET-3 (rat, human) was specific for that molecule since ET-1 (porcine, human) was ineffective and was not due to an action on the dopamine receptor since the inhibitory action was still expressed in the presence of 100 nM domperidone. These data further suggest a role for neuropeptides of the posterior lobe in the control of lactotroph function.
The impact of fertilizer application techniques on nitrogen yield from two tillage systems

Abstract Simulated rainfall was used on experimental plots to study the effects of surface and subsurface fertilizer application methods on N yields from no-till and conventional tillage systems. Approximately 100 mm of simulated rainfall with an intensity of 50 mmh −1 was applied to 12 experimental field plots. Two fertilizer application methods, surface application and subsurface application, were investigated for no-till and conventional tillage systems. The no-till system was found to be very effective in reducing runoff and sediment losses. No-till reduced sediment loss and total runo volume by 91–95% and 48–54%, respectively. Observed N yield was highest when fertilizer was surface applied in conventional tillage, and lowest when the fertilizer was incorporated in the no-till system. The effectiveness of no-till for N yield reduction ranged from 50% for NO 3 -N to 96% for TN sed compared with conventional tillage. Nitrogen yield in runoff from no-till plots was comparable to that from control plots (no fertilizer application) and significantly lower than that from conventional tillage plots. From the results of this study, it was concluded that compared with surface application, subsurface application of fertilizer is very effective for N yield reduction in runoff and is therefore recommended as an effective measure of controlling the nonpoint source pollution of surface waters.
Continuous-time estimation of A change-point in a poisson process

A maximum likelihood point estimate and a Bayesian-based interval estimator are derived for a change-point, τϵ(O, T), in a Poisson process. The procedures areevaluated through simulation studies and application to the British coal-mining disaster data. The procedures are freely available for use over the World Wide Web at www.stat sc. edu/rsrch/gasp/.
Current and capacitance transient responses of MOS capacitor. I. General theory and applications to initially depleted surface without surface states

The general theory of high frequency capacitance and current transients under arbitrary applied voltage transient is developed which includes both surface states and nonuniform spatial distribution of bulk generation—recombination centers. It is then applied to the special case of initially depleted surface without surface states and with a constant bulk center concentration. Experimental examples are given using gold doped Si devices to illustrate the evaluation of the concentrations of the gold centers and majority shallow level impurity and of the thermal emission rates of trapped electrons and holes at the gold centers in the surface space charge layer. Eine allgemeine Theorie der Hochfrequenzkapazitanz und der Anderung des Stromes als Funktion der Zeit bei Anlegen einer beliebigen, zeitabhangigen Vorspannung wird abgeleitet. Sie berucksichtigt sowohl Oberflachenenergieniveaus als auch eine raumliche Verteilung der Generations—Rekombinationszentren im Innern des Kristalls. Die Theorie wird dann auf den speziellen Fall der ursprunglich von Ladungstragern entleerten Oberflache ohne Oberflachenenergieniveaus mit einer konstanten Konzentration der Generations—Rekombinationszentren im Innern des Kristalls angewandt. Als experimentelles Beispiel wird die Konzentration der Goldzentren, die Konzentration der flachen Verunreinigungen und die thermischen Emissionsraten von Elektronen und Lochern, die im Raumladungsbereich an der Oberflache in Goldzentren eingefangen sind, bestimmt.
Historians on the Autobiographical Frontier

BROWSING IN A BOOKSTORE IN 1991, at the start of a sabbatical year in Europe, I came across a volume entitled Essais d'ego-histoire, a collection of autobiographical essays by several leading contemporary French historians.' Perhaps because my sabbatical was providing me with a chance to ponder the direction of my own career, this discovery piqued my curiosity. Informally, we academic historians spend a great deal of time reliving high and low points of our professional lives and speculating about the connection between work and personal experiences in the lives of our colleagues, but I had not previously encountered a contemporary historical scholar's personal memoir. To be sure, I knew of the existence of Edward Gibbon's Memoirs, and I had once read The Education of Henry Adams. But those two texts belong to another age. Their authors were independent men of letters, rather than modern professionals employed, as most of us are, in large bureaucratic institutions. Their autobiographies have long been part of the canon of literary classics, their status so lofty that it deters imitation rather than encouraging it. What had inspired these contemporary historians to write about their lives? Did their memoirs have any broader implications for the understanding of the past, or for the understanding of the art of autobiography itself? It did not take me long to discover that the appearance of Essais d'ego-histoire was not an isolated phenomenon. By the mid-1990s, new examples of autobiographical writing by historians were appearing faster than I could read them. I also learned, however, that these texts enjoy a dubious status in our profession. Such publications are rarely reviewed in scholarly journals, for example. In some ways, this dismissive attitude is curious. Autobiography obviously bears a strong resemblance to history: both are reconstructions of past events, usually in the form of a chronological narrative. The similarities between autobiography and history run deeper than this, however. Not only do autobiographers and historians both claim to give factually accurate reconstructions of the past, they also share the retrospective double vision