cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Problematic Exclusions: Analysis of the Clean Air Act’s Exceptional Event Rule Revisions

In 2016 the EPA revised the Exceptional Events Rule of the Clean Air Act (CAA) making important changes to what types of air quality events are considered exceptional. The rule allows “exceptional”...
Abstract MP22: Social Isolation, Social Support, And Cognitive Decline: The Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities Study

Introduction: Recent evidence supports relationships between social engagement and cognitive function, but the importance of social engagement decades before the onset of cognitive impairment is le...
Should Women Win More Often than Men? The Roots of Electoral Success and Gender Bias in U.S. House Elections

Extensive research shows that when women run for Congress, they win as often as men. We find that these gender neutral electoral outcomes mask important differences between men’s and women’s candidacies. Analyzing new data on non-incumbent candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives from 1984 to 2010, we show that women in both parties are more qualified than men. In addition, Democratic women raise more money and run in more politically favorable districts than their male counterparts do, enhancing their viability and chances of success. When these advantages are included in multivariate models predicting victory, Democratic women are actually somewhat less likely to win than Democratic men. Republican women, by contrast, have fewer advantages than Democratic women, and they are less likely to win than men at the bivariate level and in models that include their advantages and disadvantages as multivariate controls, revealing important partisan differences in women’s candidacies.
Will radioiodine be useful in treatment of breast cancer

Expression of a sodium iodide transporter by the thyroid gland causes iodide accumulation, and radioactive iodide is an effective treatment for thyroid cancer. The identification of a similar transporter in mammary tissue indicates that this approach might also be used to treat breast cancer (pages 871–878 ).
Redefining genderswap fan fiction: A Sherlock case study

Using BBC Sherlock (2010–) fan fiction as case study, this article looks at how fans use and understand such concepts as biological sex and gender in genderswap fan fiction, arguing that the label often minimizes the importance of the physical body in determining gender identity. The label genderswap, most often used to describe stories where characters have become differently sexed, reflects and reinforces common cultural misunderstandings about differences between sex and gender. By teasing out definitions of genderswap, sex, gender, cisgender, and transgender, the article analyzes what genderswap includes and excludes from discussions of gender and identity within contemporary fan fiction, ultimately arguing for a broader conceptual understanding that grounds the genre within contemporary transgender theory.
Caring for patients during challenging clinical encounters.

Rationale, aims and objectives Challenging clinical encounters can often be frustrating and demoralizing not only for clinicians but also for patients. The paper's aims are twofold. The first is to analyse the nature and origins of such encounters. The second is to appraise the CALMER and REBELS models for managing them. Methods After reviewing the medical literature on challenging clinical encounters, a clinical case is briefly reconstructed from it. The reconstructed case is then used to analyse the nature and origins of challenging encounters and to evaluate the two models for handling them. Results The reconstructed clinical case is an apt example for examining and evaluating the medical literature on challenging clinical encounters. In terms of what challenging encounters are and what elicits them, the literature captures their frustrating, demoralizing, demanding and, at times, insufferable dimensions – as well as the role of patients in their origins – as the clinical case also illustrates. With respect to managing them, the CALMER and REBELS models are effective strategies for handling challenging encounters – again, as the clinical case exemplifies. Conclusions Although the clinical case supports the medical literature on challenging clinical encounters, the literature fails to provide an adequate account of their nature and origins. Specifically, challenging encounters are a type of dysfunction – not pathophysiological but existential – in a clinical setting, with their origins not only in patients but also in clinicians and health care systems. Finally, based upon the dysfunctional nature of such encounters, revisions of the CALMER and REBELS models are proposed for better managing these encounters.
Freeing the IP Internet Architecture from Fixed IP Addresses

The IP Internet architecture is such that applications must bind fixed IP addresses and ports before any other operations can be executed. These early bindings cause bottlenecks, reliability issues, and force applications and protocols to manage complex lower-layer issues. This poses a big challenge to the future of the IP Internet, given the large and growing numbers of nomadic Internet users, the shift in Internet usage from centralized servers to peer-to-peer content sharing, and the popularity of service replication and virtualization. To address these issues, we introduce and evaluate HIDRA (Hidden Identifiers for Demultiplexing and Resolution Architecture), a novel architecture that creates indirection between layers of any network stack. HIDRA enables sockets and protocols to evolve with the IP Internet by hiding all mobility, multihoming, and multiplexing issues from applications, does not induce significant overhead in the protocol stack, preserves backwards compatibility with today's Internet and applications, and does not require or preclude any additional identifiers or protocols to be used in the protocol stack.
Memoir and performance: social change and self life-writing among men who are gay pornography producers and actors.

SUMMARY Identity may be understood both as a life-story, either told or written as memoir or autobiography, and also as a practice such as producing or acting in gay pornographic film, but always within the context of social and historical change. Study of the memoirs of gay men who have been actors and/or producers of gay pornographic films across three generation cohorts provides an opportunity for understanding the interplay of social change and life circumstances in making gay identity. This perspective on identity is illustrated through the study of the memoirs of three men from different cohorts who have produced and acted in gay pornographic films: Wakefield Poole, born in 1936; Scott O'Hara, born in 1961; and Aaron Lawrence, born in 1971. Differences in style and content of both memoir and practice in gay pornographic films reflect changing social expectations regarding men who have sex with men following the emergence of the gay rights movement and the AIDS epidemic.
Use of T7 RNA polymerase and its mutants for incorporation of nucleoside analogs into RNA.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the incorporation of nucleoside analogs into RNA by using T7 RNA polymerase and its mutants. The single-subunit RNA polymerases encoded by the T7 and Sp6 bacteriophage are widely used for preparing RNAs by in vitro transcription for a variety of applications. In studies, a mutant of T7 RNA polymerase (RNAP) was identified that readily incorporates nucleotide monophosphates (NMPs) bearing noncanonical groups at the ribose 2´-position into RNA. This mutant makes it facile to prepare 2´-modified RNAs for structural and structure–function studies, as well as for other applications. Modifications in the standard reaction conditions used for transcription with wildtype T7 RNAP further increase the utility of the mutant enzyme for preparing nucleic acids in which most or all of the 2´-hydroxyls are replaced by noncanonical substitutents. The mutation changes active site tyrosine-639 to phenylalanine. Tyrosine-639 is near the C terminus of an α-helix, which corresponds to helix O in the homologous DNAP I enzyme. Both structural and structure–function studies have identified the C-terminal region of this conserved structural element as important in binding the ribose moiety of the nucleotide triphosphate (NTP) and in ribose 2´ and 3´ group discrimination in this superfamily of homologous DNA polymerases (DNAPs) and RNAPs.
Novel Entry to the Tricyclic Core of Stemofoline and Didehydrostemofoline.

Abstract A novel approach to the tricyclic core of the Stemona alkaloids stemofoline and didehydrostemofoline has been discovered that features an intramolecular (3+2) dipolar cycloaddition of an unactivated carbon–carbon double bond with an azomethine ylide; the azomethine ylide was generated by an unprecedented reaction that occurred during a Swern oxidation of an α-(N-cyanomethyl)-β-hydroxy ester. In separate experiments, the efficacy of introducing the requisite oxygen functionality at C(8) and the 1-butenyl side chain at C(3) was established.
MSN 9: new user-centered desirability methods produce compelling visual design

The MSN User Experience Team developed new user-centered methods to provide structured user input on the visual design of the newly-released MSN Explorer, an integrated software package. In the final product, users rated "appearance" above all of the product's features. This case describes how the MSN User Experience Team derived a design direction to set the most appropriate pace of visual change for millions of users with widely variant preferences. It discloses how these new methods maximized the product's visual appeal to the widest segment of the potential user base. The methods included design mark-up, a semantic design-description task, a statement rating task, a semantic desirability group card sort task, and a modified focus group discussion. This case documents the value of these new methods in predicting user reaction to visual design. Lessons learned from this collaboration are discussed from three perspectives: user experience management, design and usability.
New Approaches for Characterizing Sensor and Other Modern Complex Materials

Advances in understanding of sensor and other modern complex materials are often enabled by new research tools. This paper highlights three capability development themes used to identify new research tools to be provided to users of the U. S. Department of Energy’s Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory. These capability development directions address the importance of dynamic measurements in realistic environments, the need for increased resolution in three dimensional analyses as well as the importance of linking theory and experiment. Capability development involves expanding the range of operation for a number of important techniques, developing and applying new capabilities, and advancing methods of data processing. Examples of current developments are provided including those related to magnetic resonance, x-ray diffraction, application of a focused beam capability to fuel cell aging, and near real time analysis of XPS spectra.
Separating the “Sinner” from the “Sin”: Religious Orientation and Prejudiced Behavior Toward Sexual Orientation and Promiscuous Sex

This study extends research on the relationship between religious orientation, sexual prejudice, and antipathy toward value-violating behaviors. If intrinsic religion leads individuals to “love the sinner but hate the sin,” homosexual sexually promiscuous targets should be treated similarly to heterosexual promiscuous targets. One hundred female introductory psychology students were provided the opportunity to help two students. They had no information about the first student. The second student disclosed through a note that she was gay or said nothing about sexual orientation, and further stated that she was sexually promiscuous or celibate. Participants scoring high in intrinsic religiousness helped the disclosing student less when she revealed she was sexually promiscuous, but did not help a gay discloser less than a straight discloser. High intrinsic scores seemed to be related to antipathy toward the value-violation, but not toward the gay person as an individual.
Impacts of vegetation and groundwater dynamics on warm season precipitation over the Central United States

becomes more discernable after 1 month. The model results suggest that the landatmosphere feedback is an important mechanism for summer precipitation over the Central United States. Vegetation growth and groundwater dynamics play a significant role in enhancing the persistence of intraseasonal precipitation in regional climate models. Their combined effects act to favor a stronger land-atmosphere feedback during the summer season. The simulated diurnal cycle of precipitation is improved by the WRF model with the augmented Noah LSM. Moreover, we found that the coupling between the soil moisture and the lifting condensation level (LCL) is enhanced by adding the two components to the WRF model. The impact of groundwater is significant when the soil moisture is relatively dry. This study suggests that incorporating vegetation and groundwater dynamics into a regional climate model would be especially beneficial for seasonal precipitation forecast in the transition zones.
The cyclotron production of carrier-free 77Br via the 79Br(p,3n)77Kr→77Br reaction using a liquid target and on-line extraction

Abstract In this investigation, 77 Br was produced with a 40 MeV proton cyclotron. 77 Br emits a 240 keV photon and has a half life of 56 h. In this method a p,3n reaction on 79 Br produces 77 Kr which decays with a 1.2 h half life to 77 Br. A 40 MeV proton beam is incident on a NaBr or LiBr solution through which helium is flowed to extract 77 Kr gas. The mixture is moved through a trap cooled in liquid nitrogen where the 77 Kr freezes and is allowed to decay to 77 Br. Eight production runs were performed with produced activities of 40, 104, 180, 679, 1080, 685, 762, and 118 μCi respectively.
C*-algebras of almost periodic pseudo-differential operators

Our basic goal is to develop an index theory for almost periodic pseudo-differential operators on R ~. The prototype of this theory is [5] which has direct application to the almost periodic Toeplitz operators. Here, we s tudy index theory for a C*-algebra of operators on R ~ which contains most almost periodic pseudo-differential operators such as those arising in the s tudy of elliptic boundary value problems for constant coefficient elliptic operators on a half space with almost periodic boundary conditions. Our program is as follows: We begin with a discussion of a C*-algebra with symbol which contains all of the classical pseudo-differential operators on R ~. Precisely, if A is a bounded operator on L2(R ~) and 2 ER ~, let e~(A) denote the conjugate of A with the function e *~'x acting as a multiplier denoted e~. We first s tudy the C*-algebra of those A for which the function 2~+e~(A) has a strongly continuous extension to the radial compactification of R ~. The restriction of this function to the complement of R ~ then gives the usual (principal) symbol a(A) when A is a pseudo-differential operator of order zero (of a suitable type). We characterize the Fourier multipliers in this algebra and the image of the symbol map. We give sufficient conditions for the usual construction of a pseudo-differential operator as well as one of Friedrichs' constructions to give an element of this algebra. In particular, the lat ter gives a positive linear right inverse for the symbol m a p a t least when the symbol is sufficiently smooth. I n fact, we show in w 3 tha t the Friedrichs map is a right inverse to the symbol map in the almost periodic case. We expect this to be true in the general case also.
“EXPLICATION DE TEXTES” AND ITS ADAPTATION TO THE TEACHING OF MODERN LANGUAGES

EXPLICATION DE TEXTES is little known in this country.' Some think it consists merely in looking for sources and collecting variants; many mistake it for empty talk and conversation drill; and the first impression of students generally is that a new torture has been invented. The truth is that it is nothing but a method of scientific research and accurate literary interpretation apropos of a text chosen for its significance or its beauty or both. The purpose of this article is to show what emphasis the French put on it in their academic curricula; to give an idea of its aim and value through its different varieties; and to propose an adaptation of it to the specific needs of the American student in modern languages. A striking fact when one turns the pages of a programme d'etudes for the Lycee is the absence of literature courses. It had not always been so; but at last
Application of Exopolysaccharide-Producing Cultures in Reduced-Fat Cheddar Cheese: Composition and Proteolysis*

Proteolysis during ripening of reduced fat Cheddar cheeses made with different exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing and nonproducing cultures was studied. A ropy strain of Lactococcus lactis ssp. cremoris (JFR1) and capsule-forming nonropy and moderately ropy strains of Streptococcus thermophilus were used in making reduced-fat Cheddar cheese. Commercial Cheddar starter was used in making full-fat cheese. Results showed that the actual yield of cheese made with JFR1 was higher than that of all other reduced-fat cheeses. Cheese made with JFR1 contained higher moisture, moisture in the nonfat substance, and residual coagulant activity than all other reduced-fat cheeses. Proteolysis, as determined by PAGE and the level of water-soluble nitrogen, was also higher in cheese made with JFR1 than in all other cheeses. The HPLC analysis showed a significant increase in hydrophobic peptides (causing bitterness) during storage of cheese made with JFR1. Cheese made with the capsule-forming nonropy adjunct of S. thermophilus, which contained lower moisture and moisture in the nonfat substance levels and lower chymosin activity than did cheese made with JFR1, accumulated less hydrophobic peptides. In conclusion, some EPS-producing cultures produced reduced-fat Cheddar cheese with moisture in the nonfat substance similar to that in its full-fat counterpart without the need for modifying the standard cheese-making protocol. Such cultures might accumulate hydrophobic (bitter) peptides if they do not contain the system able to hydrolyze them. For making high quality reduced-fat Cheddar cheese, EPS-producing cultures should be used in conjunction with debittering strains.
A review of the mechanical properties of B2 compounds

The mechanical properties of B2 compounds are reviewed and their major features outlined by citing specific examples. B2 compounds exist in a wide range of alloy systems and thus exhibit many different types of mechanical behavior. Generally, the mechanical properties of B2 alloys depend strongly on the concentrations of constitutional defects; that is, on the constitutional vacancies and antisite atoms present, and hence on the composition. For disorderable compounds, the mechanical properties also depend strongly on the degree of order.
Adriamycin-induced hepatic and myocardial lipid peroxidation and DNA damage, and enhanced excretion of urinary lipid metabolites in rats.

Adriamycin produces clinically useful responses in a variety of human cancers including lymphomas, leukemias, and solid tumors. However, the toxicity of adriamycin has limited its usefulness. Iron-catalyzed free radical reactions as the peroxidation of membrane lipids, inactivation of critical enzymes, and the inhibition of DNA, RNA and protein synthesis in heart, liver and kidney have been implicated in the toxicity of adriamycin. In order to further assess the role of oxidative stress in the toxicity of adriamycin, the effects of adriamycin were examined on the urinary excretion of lipid metabolites at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h post-treatment, and on myocardial and hepatic lipid peroxidation and nuclear DNA single strand breaks at 24 h post-treatment following single oral and intravenous (i.v.) doses of 10 mg/kg adriamycin. Urinary malondialdehyde (MDA), formaldehyde (FA), acetaldehyde (ACT) and acetone (ACON) excretion was significantly increased at all time points examined. Following the oral administration of adriamycin, maximum excretion of MDA, FA, ACT and ACON of 6.2-, 2.7-, 3.7- and 2.2-fold relative to control values, respectively, occurred 24 h after treatment. However, following the i.v. administration of adriamycin, greatest increases in excretion of MDA, FA and ACT reaching 6.9-, 3.3- and 6.3-fold relative to control values, respectively, were observed 6 h after treatment, while the greatest increase in ACON excretion of 4.2-fold relative to control values occurred 12 h post-treatment. Following oral and i.v. administration of adriamycin, significant increases were observed in myocardial and hepatic lipid peroxidation in mitochondrial and microsomal membranes, and myocardial and hepatic nuclei DNA single strand breaks 24 h after treatment. The results indicate that adriamycin administration induces myocardial and hepatic lipid peroxidation which may be responsible for enhanced excretion of urinary lipid metabolites as a result of membrane damage, and also induces enhanced DNA damage. These effects may be due to adriamycin-induced production of reactive oxygen species.
The Palestinian refugees: an uprooted community seeking repatriation.

The two million and a half Palestinians can be classified as either refugees outside their country Palestinians under occupation or refugees under occupation in their own country. About 600000 are living in camps; 313000 are accorded second class citizenship in Israel; and about one million are under occupation in the West Bank and Gaza. The rest whether established or not are living like all other Palestinians in a state of exile and uprootedness. To some the existence of Palestinian refugees is a legend; to several nations associations and groups the Palestinians are mere abstract numbers. To themselves the Palestinians are an uprooted community who see repatriation as the only solution to their problem. In this paper an attempt will be made to discuss the Palestinian refugees problem which arose as a result of the 1947-48 and 1967 wars and the socioeconomic background and the conditions under which the refugees have been living the reasons for their exodus the obstacles to their repatriation and their prospects for the future. The author will rely on United Nations documents and Arabic and Israeli sources but most essentially on two sociological surveys in which he participated. (excerpt)
LC-MS-based metabolomics in profiling of drug metabolism and bioactivation

Abstract Since metabolism significantly affects drug safety and efficacy, determining the metabolic profile of a drug is a critical part of drug development. The application of an LC–MS-based metabolomic approach has gained more widespread use in identifying drug metabolites, developing metabolic maps and lending clues to mechanisms of bioactivation. Thus, the LC–MS-based metabolomic approach is a powerful tool for profiling of drug metabolism and bioactivation.
Challenges and opportunities for future non-volatile memory technology

Abstract Recent progress made in new non-volatile semiconductor memory materials such as chalcogenide, binary metal oxides, perovskites, ferromagnetics, ferroelectrics, organic materials and carbon based materials is quite exciting and will open new horizon for the future terabit memory era. It is, however, interesting to note that most of such new non-volatile memory operation can be described by a “change of resistance” of materials. For instance, phase change memory depends upon the change of resistivity based upon whether the material is amorphous or crystalline, but the function of resistive switching memory family, often called ReDox, RRAM, ReRAM, CBRAM, is ascribed to motion of either ions or vacancies resulting in creation of nanoscale conductive path inside of the material. Here we can clearly see a new paradigm, as opposed to traditionally accepted notion of semiconductor device operation where only electrons and holes contribute to current and charge storage in structurally stable crystal lattice, is now emerging; and non-volatile memory functionality is contributed by the structural changes of the material itself coupled with motion of electrons and holes or even include such state variables as spin involved. This creates an enormous challenge to our technical community in terms of needs for cross-boundary collaborations of multi-disciplinary expertise and knowledge base.
Crystal structure of a novel dimeric form of NS5A domain I protein from hepatitis C virus

A new protein expression vector design utilizing an N-terminal six-histidine tag and tobacco etch virus protease cleavage site upstream of the hepatitis C virus NS5A sequence has resulted in a more straightforward purification method and improved yields of purified NS5A domain I protein. High-resolution diffracting crystals of NS5A domain I (amino acids 33 to 202) [NS5A(33-202)] were obtained by using detergent additive crystallization screens, leading to the structure of a homodimer which is organized differently from that published previously (T. L. Tellinghuisen, J. Marcotrigiano, and C. M. Rice, Nature 435:374-379, 2005) yet is consistent with a membrane association model for NS5A. The monomer-monomer interface of NS5A(33-202) features an extensive buried surface area involving the most-highly conserved face of each monomer. The two alternate structural forms of domain I now available may be indicative of the multiple roles emerging for NS5A in viral RNA replication and viral particle assembly.
Dynamics of prostate cancer cell invasion studied in vitro by NMR microscopy.

Understanding the dynamics and pathogenesis of invasion is vital for developing strategies to prevent cancer metastasis. Conventional invasion assays provide information for a single time point. NMR microscopic imaging as used in the current study to measure cell invasion in vitro provides a nondestructive method for scoring cell invasion thus offering a unique possibility to study this process dynamically. An additional advantage is that cells can be retrieved for metabolic and physiological characterization. Two prostate cancer cell lines, DU-145 and Mat-Ly-Lu, preselected for differences in invasive behavior, were studied. Cells were seeded in 12-mm culture plate inserts containing a 15-microm-thick porous membrane with 3.0 microm pore size that was coated with a 100 microm Matrigel layer. Cell invasion in the Matrigel layer was obtained from the profile of intracellular water measured with diffusion-weighted 1D imaging. Additional experiments were also performed with confocal microscopy to validate the NMR results. Significant differences were detected between the invasive behavior of DU-145 and Mat-Ly-Lu cells. The obtained results show that NMR microscopy can be used to dynamically study invasion by cancer cells. The noninvasive nature of NMR microscopy permits determination of cell migration dynamically for any given sample, which is especially important if cell availability is limited to the unique sample, such as for biopsy specimens. Magn Reson Med 42:277-282, 1999.
Potentiation of the actions of acetylcholine, epibatidine, and nicotine by methyllycaconitine at fetal muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Methyllycaconitine (MLA) is a norditerpenoid alkaloid found in high abundance in toxic Delphinium (larkspur) species. It is a potent and selective antagonist of α(7)-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, but has not been well investigated for activity aside from receptor antagonism. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of MLA alone and in combination with acetylcholine, epibatidine, nicotine, and neostigmine for actions other than receptor antagonism in TE-671 cells expressing (α(1))(2)β(1)γδ nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Ligand activity was assessed through measurements of membrane potential changes in TE-671 cells using a fluorescent membrane potential-sensitive dye and normalized to the maximum response to epibatidine (10μM). MLA was ineffective in changing cell membrane potential in the absence of other receptor agonists. However at nanomolar concentrations, it acted as a co-agonist to potentiate TE-671 cell responses to acetylcholine, epibatidine, nicotine, and neostigmine. These results suggest that the poisoning of cattle by norditerpenoid alkaloids found in larkspur may be more complex than previously determined.
14 MeV Neutron Activation Analysis of Geological and Lunar Samples

14 MeV neutron activation analysis (NAA) is ideal for accurately determining Oxygen and Silicon contents in geological and lunar materials. It is fast, nondestructive, economical, and can be used on a routine basis in a laboratory. Although 14 MeV NAA is particularly suited to light elements, its use has been extended to measure other elements as well such as Aluminum, Magnesium, Iron, Calcium, Titanium, Strontium, Nickel, Yttrium, Zirconium, Niobium and Cerium. Thus, the use of 14 MeV neutrons is of considerable importance in NAA. The disadvantages of the method are that interference reactions are common because of high neutron energy; the flux is nonuniform in longer irradiation due to depletion of the target in the neutron generator. Overall, 14 MeV NAA is ideal for short irradiations and when supplemented with thermal NAA provides the maximum elemental information in small aliquants of geological and lunar materials.
Right and left ventricular compliance in experimental acute and subacute trypanosomal myocarditis.

In order to elucidate the dominance of right ventricular failure in South American trypanosomal myocarditis (Chagas's disease), postmortem ventricular pressure—volume relationships were studied in eight C3H mice with acute experimental myocarditis due to Trypanosoma cruzi and in nine healthy control animals, as well as in seven animals with myocarditis in the subacute stage and eight controls. Pressures and volumes of right and left ventricles, isolated at thoracotomy, were measured within 35 min after death during simultaneous infusion of saline into right and left ventricles. Compliance, defined as the slope of the pressure-volume curve (ΔV/ΔP), was plotted against ventricular pressure over the range from 5 to 20 mm Hg. In the normal and myocarditic C3H mice, right ventricular compliance was always greater than left ventricular compliance. Right ventricular distensibility was maximal during the acute stage of myocarditis and decreased subsequently. Left ventricular distensibility remained unchanged during acute myocarditis, but increased significantly in the subacute stage. It is postulated that the dominance of right ventricular failure in Chagas's disease may be the result of a vicious cycle among inflammation and necrosis, increased compliance with dilatation and increased wall tension in the right ventricle, while the left ventricle remains less compliant.
Elastomer-gasoline blends interactions. I: Effects of methanol-gasoline mixtures on elastomers

ABSTRACT The effects of methanol/gasoline mixtures on swell properties and tensile properties of selected automotive elastomers were investigated. Two gasolines with aromatic contents of 30% and 50% were used in the investigation. Equilibrium swell measurements and tensile measurements were conducted using ASTM standard procedures. The results show that although few elastomers were affected drastically by pure gasoline (e.g. natural rubber) and a few by methanol (e.g. fluorocarbon elastomer) most of the elastomers were more severely affected by mixtures of the gasoline and methanol rather than the pure components. Presence of higher aromatic content in the methanol/gasoline mixtures led to additional deterioration of properties. The data on all elastomers except the fluorocarbon can be explained in terms of the solubility parameter concept. Ultimate tensile and ultimate elongation values of elastomer networks were found to be quantitatively related by simple linear equations to the volume fraction of rubber in the swelled networks. They were also found to fit equations derived for equilibrium stress-strain relationships.
Technological Challenges In the Development of AHS

Abstract The objective of an Automated Highway System (AHS) is to enhance user comfort, convenience and safety with vehicle and highway automation. In a broad sense vehicle and highway automation has been an ongoing process with many improvements in vehicles and infrastructure introduced over the years, such as vehicle cruise control and roadway traffic signal sequence control. In a narrower definition, the introduction of vehicle and highway automation will reduce the role of drivers to various degrees. The development of an AHS is likely to be controversial for many years and will have far-reaching ripple effects. The AHS is very influential since it relates closely to the daily lives of people. Although it may become only an optional type of transportation, the success of the AHS development can cause significant changes in the way people travel. In this paper, we discuss the technical aspects of vehicle and highway automation for an AHS and will try to identify the critical challenges to bring an AHS ...
Excess long-term mortality in patients with new-onset atrial fibrillation following coronary artery bypass grafting.

In a recent report, Villareal et al. ([1][1]) presented compelling data in support of an independent association between new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and excessive long-term mortality up to 1,400 days. In the accompanying editorial, Levy and
Will Natural Disasters Accelerate Neighborhood Decline? A Discrete-Time Hazard Analysis of Residential Property Vacancy and Abandonment before and after Hurricane Andrew in Miami-Dade County (1991–2000)

This study examines the impact of an abrupt catastrophic natural disaster on residential property vacancy and abandonment. Using the discrete-time hazard model with parcel-level land-use data in Mi...
The recognition and treatment of vertebral fractures in males with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Summary Objective Males with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at increased risk for developing osteoporosis (OP) with subsequent vertebral compression fractures. Such fractures with resultant increased thoracic kyphotic angle (TKA) may interfere with these patients' already compromised pulmonary function. A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate the recognition and treatment of vertebral fractures in male patients with COPD. Methods The study population included male patients with COPD aged 55 years and older who had a lateral chest X-ray (index film) performed between January 1, 2001 and July 5, 2005. Vertebral fractures and the TKA were determined independently by two different radiologists. One radiologist (reviewer #1) used direct measurement including quantitative morphometric analysis to determine fractures and the TKA, whereas the second radiologist (reviewer #2) used visual inspection only. Inter-reader agreement for vertebral fractures and TKA was assessed. The computerized charts were reviewed to determine the initial recognition of vertebral fractures and the subsequent therapy. Logistic regression was employed to determine significant risk factors for vertebral fractures in this male population. Results Three hundred and fifty male study subjects and their index lateral chest X-rays were reviewed. Ages ranged from 52 to 90 and 9/350 (2.6%) of the study subjects had vertebral fractures identified on the initial radiology report. None of these nine patients were subsequently treated with anti-osteoporotic agents other than calcium and vitamin D, and two of them had a follow-up central bone density. Reviewer #1 measured 361 fractures in 181 subjects and determined the mean TKA to be 31.43 (±8.62) degrees. Reviewer #2 identified 27 fractures in 19 subjects and with an estimated mean TKA of 24.84 (±8.53) degrees. There was little inter-observer agreement with vertebral fractures (kappa = 0.07), but there was a strong positive correlation with the TKA (r = 0.79). There was a weak to moderate correlation with the TKA and the presence of vertebral fractures (r = 0.26). Significant risk factors for vertebral fractures included smoking status (odds ratio 1.84 [1.08–3.15]) and age (odds ratio 1.06 [1.03–1.09] for each year increase in age). Conclusion A large number of vertebral fractures in males with COPD goes undiagnosed. In those patients with diagnosed vertebral fractures, follow-up therapy is under-utilized. When analyzing lateral chest X-rays for vertebral fractures, visual inspection alone without direct measurement may not be an adequate technique for identifying fractures.
Alternative splicing and developmental regulation of glutathione transferases in Culex quinquefasciatus Say.

Abstract We identified and characterized an alternatively spliced gene that encodes delta glutathione transferases (GSTs) (CqGSTdelta1) in Culex quinquefasciatus. CqGSTdelta1 contains six exons that produce four mature GST transcripts, each sharing exons 1 and 2, and containing a different exon 3 variant (exons 3A, 3B, 3C, or 3D). The exon/intron composition of CqGSTdelta1 showed high similarity with the delta GST genes adgst1AS1 and aggst1α identified from Anopheles dirus and Anopheles gambiae, respectively. Thus, alternative splicing in delta GSTs possibly occurred before the divergence of the Anopheles and Culex mosquitoes. Gene expression analysis clarified that CqGSTd1-1 and CqGSTd1-4 are constitutively and highly expressed in the larvae, pupae, and adults, while CqGSTd1-2 and CqGSTd1-3 are suppressed at all developmental stages, except the pupal stage. Thus, at least two factors may be associated with the transcriptional regulation of these genes. Microarray analysis revealed that none of the genes were overexpressed in a DDT-resistant Cx. quinquefasciatus strain.
Authentication Bypass and Remote Escalated I/O Command Attacks

The Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) is a widely used Open DeviceNet Vendors Association (ODVA) standard [14]. CIP is an application-level protocol for communication between components in an industrial control setting such as a Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) environment. We present exploits for authentication and privileged I/O in a CIP implementation. In particular, Allen Bradley's implementation of CIP communications between its programming software and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) is the target of our exploits. Allen Bradley's RSLogix 5000 software supports programming and centralized monitoring of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) from a desktop computer. In our test bed, ControlLogix EtherNet/IP Web Server Module (1756-EWEB) allows the PLC Module (5573-Logix) to be programmed, monitored and controlled by RSLogix 5000 over an Ethernet LAN. Our vulnerability discovery process included examination of CIP network traffic and reverse engineering the RSLogix 5000 software. Our findings have led to the discovery of several vulnerabilities in the protocol, including denial-of-service attacks, but more significantly and recently the creation of an authentication bypass and remote escalated privileged I/O command exploit. The exploit abuses RSLogix 5000's use of hard-coded credentials for outbound communication with other SCADA components. This paper provides a first public disclosure of the vulnerability, exploit development process, and results.
A novel terahertz power meter using metamaterial-inspired thin-film absorber

A novel power meter operating from 0.1 to 0.2 THz is presented. The power meter has utilized a thin-film metamaterial inspired absorbing layer. This absorber has the desired characteristics such as ultra-wide bandwidth and strong absorption. In a bolometer-like measurement setup, it functions as a wideband high-responsivity THz detector. The absorbing layer consists of a low loss thin dielectric membrane onto which a two-dimensionally periodic, thin metallic layers is patterned. The measured absorption coefficient is above 0.75 at 220GHz range.
Ice particle growth in the presence of nitric oxide

[1] An experimental study was undertaken to examine the effects of nitric oxide (NO) on ice crystal growth. This study focused on growth rates and ice crystal habit. A chamber was used to grow ice at controlled temperature and supersaturation, and images of ice crystals were obtained using a video camera. Ice crystals grow more quickly when NO concentrations are elevated above background to 370 and 710 ppb and lengthen (c-axis growth) more quickly than they thicken (a-axis growth). The results have implications for ice crystal growth in thunderstorms and may aid in determining whether an air parcel in a thunderstorm originated from an electrically active region.
The pattern of 72-kDa heat shock protein-like immunoreactivity in the rat brain following flurothyl-induced status epilepticus

Abstract The inducible 72-kDa heat shock protein (HSP72) is a highly conserved stress protein that is expressed in CNS cells and may play a role in protection from neural injury. We used a monoclonal antibody to HSP72 and immunocytochemistry to localize HSP72 in the rat brain 24 h following either 30 or 60 min of fluorothyl-induced status epilepticus. Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized with halothane, paralyzed, and ventilated, and remained normotensive and well oxygenated for the duration of the seizures. Seizure activity was quantified via analysis of the scalp EEG pattern. HSP72-like immunoreactivity (HSP72-LI) was induced in specific brain regions in a graded fashion that correlated, in part, with the duration and degree of seizure activity. Milder seizures produced HSP72-LI limited to layers 2 and 3 of frontoparietal cortex, dentate hilus cells, and CA3 pyramidal neurons. More extensive seizures led to HSP72-LI in layers 2,3 and 5 of frontoparietal and visual cortex, dentate hilus cells, CA1 and CA3 pyramidal neurons, and certain thalamic and amygdaloid nuclei. These are similar to many, but not all, of the brain regions known to be injured with this model. No HSP72-LI was observed in sham-treated controls or fluorothyl-treated animals whose seizures were controlled with pentobarbital. HSP72-LI thus localizes to certain regions of seizure-induced injury, and may provide a sensitive method of detecting neuronal ‘stress’ or injury relatively soon after status epilepticus. Whether or not HSP72 synthesis plays a protective role in the pathogenesis of seizures, or is only a marker for cell injury, remains to be determined.
CFRP confinement of bridge columns damaged by premature concrete deterioration: a case study in Texas

In 1998, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) identified two concrete distress mechanisms occurring on its bridge over Lake Ivie in the west central part of the state: alkali – silica reaction (ASR) and delayed ettringite formation (DEF), collectively referred to by TxDOT as premature concrete deterioration (PCD). The agency sponsored two research projects to investigate the problem. One focused on determining the remaining capacity of PCD-damaged concrete members with a case study of the Lake Ivie bridge and the other assessed treatments that could be applied to members with PCD damage. Based on findings of the study, TxDOT applied a system that waterproofed the damaged columns and then confined them using resin-bonded carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) fabric strips. This paper describes the efforts of TxDOT to mitigate PCD damage for its Lake Ivie bridge.
New Opportunities in the Treatment of Cognitive Impairments Associated With Schizophrenia

The cognitive deficits so characteristic of patients with schizophrenia are largely responsible for the poor functional outcome apparent in this patient population and are not ameliorated by existing antipsychotic drugs. The critical unmet need for treatments for the cognitive impairments associated with schizophrenia has been addressed in a series of federally funded initiatives, beginning with Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) and continuing with Cognitive Neuroscience Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (CNTRICS). As reviewed here, these programs have set the stage for an expansion of basic and clinical cognitive neuroscience research to support the discovery and development of cotreatments to be used in conjunction with antipsychotic medications in the treatment of specific cognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia.
A Shift in Media Credibility Comparing Internet and Traditional News Sources in South Korea

This study surveyed politically interested online users to examine how they perceive the traditional news media, their online counterparts and independent web-based newspapers, as well as exploring which factors influenced credibility of online sources during the 2004 general election in South Korea. Independent web-based newspapers were considered more credible for political information than either traditional media or their online counterparts. Reliance on online and traditional sources tended to be stronger predictors of credibility of online sources and political variables, such as campaign interest, political involvement and voting, also turned out to be significant predictors. Based on the findings, a shift in media credibility in Korea is discussed.
Preparation of high solids content poly(n‐butyl acrylate) latexes through miniemulsion polymerization

An approach to prepare high solids content latexes (> 50 wt %) is presented. The approach is based on a two-stage polymerization where in the first stage low-to-medium solids content seed latexes with a broad particle-size distribution (PSD) were prepared by semicontinuous miniemulsion polymerization. In the second polymerization stage, the solids contents of the latexes prepared in the previous step were increased to 60–70 wt % using relatively low emulsifier concentrations. The approach was used successfully to prepare fluid- and coagulum-free poly(n-butyl acrylate) latexes up to solids contents of 61 wt % using an emulsifier (sodium lauryl sulfate) concentration of 0.5 wt % based on a monomer. Nonfluid (pastelike) latexes having solids contents higher than 61 wt % were also prepared using this method. As a result, some guidelines related to the required particle-size distribution to produce fluid latexes of higher solids contents are also presented. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 64: 1797–1809, 1997
What is conservatism? Some signposts in the wilderness

Abstract Attempts to define conservatism have hitherto steered an uncertain, zig‐zag course between over‐specificity and over generalization. The difficulty inheres in the very nature of what thinkers, unquestionably regarded as conservative, have argued. Their emphasis on developmental continuity within particular societies without reference to genesis or telos yields a protean body of ideas which changes according to circumstances. This paper suggests a variation of the configurationalist approach, focusing on situations such as the conquest of the ‘Wild West’, or the new states of modern times, where conservatives have been forced to design a society de novo: to consider elementary basic principles, as well as history and tradition in terms of the ‘specious present’. The analysis of conservatism in such conditions may hopefully serve the heuristic purpose of clarifying the essential attributes of conservatism uncolored by particular contexts.
Missing the Boat with Technology Usage in Early Childhood Settings: A 21st Century View of Developmentally Appropriate Practice.

Technology use permeates virtually all aspects of twenty-first century society, though its integration in early childhood settings and recognition as a developmentally appropriate practice remains problematic. A position is taken that education professionals may be ‘missing the boat’ by not embracing technology usage as a developmentally appropriate practice. Concerns are presented that both preservice education and inservice professional development require substantial improvement if early childhood education professionals are to both recognize the role of technology in developmentally appropriate practice and develop skills in using it in classroom settings.