cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Plant-Available Nitrogen from Poultry Manure as Affected by Time of Application

Appropriate poultry manure management is essential to ensure maximum crop N utilization and reduce risk of negative environmental impact. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of three application times (late fall, winter, and spring pre-plant) on N availability from two sources of poultry manure [chicken (Gallus domesticus) and turkey (Melleagris gallopavo)] for corn (Zea mays L.) production. Manure was applied based on total N, intending to supply 84 and 168 kg total N ha -1 . Urea fertilizer was applied at the same time as the manure at six rates (0,34,67,100,134,168 kg N ha -1 ).Soil classification used for the study was primarily Clarion (fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Hapludolls) and Nicollet (fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Aquic Hapludolls). Effect of application timing was determined by response in grain yield, grain N uptake (GNU), leaf chlorophyll meter (CM) reading, and soil N03--N measured in early June. Soil NO 3 - -N concentrations were greater for manure and fertilizer N applied in spring compared with fall and winter application, but the same for both poultry manure sources. Grain yield, GNU, and CM reading response to manure N were not different among either poultry manure sources or application timings. Furthermore, estimated manure plant N availability was not different among poultry manure sources or time of application. Overall first year crop-available N from poultry manure, based on fertilizer N equivalence, using grain yield, GNU, and CM readings was estimated at 43 to 53% of total N. The supply of available N to corn was not affected by poultry manure application timing despite different lengths of time to crop uptake or delayed incorporation with winter application.
Validation of a mathematical model of gene transcription in aggregated cellular systems: application to l1 retrotransposition.

We present a methodology aimed at partial validation and accuracy–precision assessment of a mathematical model of gene transcription at the cellular level. The method is based on the analysis of time-series measurements aggregated over a large number of cells. Such measurements are typically obtained via reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) experiments. The validation procedure presented herein uses as an example data on L1 retrotransposon gene in HeLa cells. The procedure compares model predicted values with the RT-PCR data for L1 by means of the standard Bayesian statistical techniques with the help of modern Markov-Chain Monte-Carlo methodology.
MO-F-BRB-04: Fast Estimation of Secondary Particle Therapy Dose Using a Modified Track Repeating Method

Purpose: Charged particle beams are of great interest, because they can achieve highly conformal radiationdose distributions. Despite this, some scattered radiation is inevitably present outside of the target volumes, and is of concern because of risks such as radiogenic cancer. Accurately calculating the secondary dose in regions far from the target volume is very difficult due to extremely low particle fluence and the effect of heterogeneities on particle ranges, making calculations possible only with CPU‐week long Monte Carlo runs. By using a modified track repeating method, we demonstrate fast and accurate estimation of secondary dose appropriate for clinical use. Methods: Primary and secondary particle track databases (including protons, electrons, photons,neutrons, and positrons) were generated with the Geant4 Monte Carlo toolkit. Several new strategies were developed or employed to improve the performance of non‐ primary particle propagation, including: (1) processing the databases such that only primary tracks producing deep penetrating photons or neutrons were kept and particles falling below transport thresholds were discarded, (2) a search algorithm that can locate a sub‐track for a given energy in constant time, (3) multiplying photon and neutron tracks during propagation and scoring using particle ‘splitting1. Results: Performance and accuracy were benchmarked against full Monte Carlo calculations (Geant4 and FLUKA). Filtering out tracks that did not produce deep penetrating photons or neutrons did not affect the accuracy of the secondary dose calculation. Preliminary performance analysis indicated 60– 100X speed up over Fluka and 700–1000X speed up over Geant4 with well maintained accuracy. Conclusions: Estimation of secondary dose from particle therapy has so far been largely an academic exercise. This method for fast estimation of secondary dose brings patient / plan specific information within reach, allowing clinicians to make informed decisions on the potential long‐term risks associated with specific dose delivery plans. Partial funding from NSF grant CBET‐0853157.
Initial simplicial complexes of prime ideals

Abstract We provide a two-parameter family of examples of irreducible projective algebraic varieties whose initial complexes (in the sense of [M. Kalkbrener, B. Sturmfels, Adv. Math. 116 (1995) 365–376]) have the maximum number of simplices given the dimensions of the variety and of its ambient projective space. This shows that irreducibility fails to be preserved in the worst possible fashion by the operation of passing to the Stanley–Reisner variety of the initial complex.
PHOTOCHEMICAL AND SPECTRAL PROPERTIES OF A PARTICULATE MODEL SYSTEM OF CHLOROPHYLL WITH AMPHIPHILES PREPARED FROM HISTAMINE

— In the photosynthesis model system described, chlorophyll a at an interface photosensitizes the transfer of hydrogen equivalents from a hydrocarbon phase to an aqueous phase. The hydrocarbon phase, to which chlorophyll is adsorbed, consists of polyethylene particles swollen with tetradecane. The particles are also charged positive by co-adsorption of dodecylpyridinium iodide. Furthermore, chlorophyll is ligated with the imidazole function of one of several amphiphiles derived from histamine, which may or may not contain a reducible nitroaromatic group that can serve as primary electron acceptor from photoexcited chlorophyll. The fluorescence quantum yield of chlorophyll on these particles is diminished by self-association of the pigment and by reaction with an oxidizing amphiphile; in the latter case, the quantum yield is correlated with the one-electron redox potential of the amphiphile. Fluorescence-lifetime analysis reveals that most excited singlet states of chlorophyll are quenched rather quickly, and that most of the fluorescence comes from a small fraction of chlorophyll with long lifetime. All preparations sensitize the photoreduction of 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) (DTNB) to the water-soluble thiolate by hydrazobenzene. When the amphiphile that ligates chlorophyll is not oxidizing, the quantum yield of photoreduction is unrelated to the fluorescence yield of the particles, but may be related to the degree of self-association of chlorophyll. When the amphiphile that ligates chlorophyll is oxidizing, the kinetics of photoreduction of DTNB require that the electron passes through the primary oxidant to DTNB. Quantum yields for photosensitized reducton of oxidizing amphiphiles in the absence of DTNB have a reversed correlation with redox potential, which can be rationalized in terms of the Marcus theory of electron transfer. All data are most consistently accounted for if the primary photoproduct is an ion pair of chlorophyll and primary oxidant when the latter is available, and a chlorophyll radical ion pair when it is not, both formed by electron transfer from the singlet excited state of chlorophyll.
Vitamin D metabolite-binding proteins in human tissue

Serum and post-microsomal supernatants of human lymphocyte, erythrocyte, skeletal muscle and parathyroid adenoma homogenates were examined for specific binding of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OHD3) and 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25-(OH)2D3). Muscle, lymphocytes and parathyroid adenomata extracts contained a 6-S 25-OHD3-binding protein which was not found in erythrocyte extracts, and which was distinct from the smaller serum transport α-globulin. A cathodal, 1,25-(OH)2D3-binding protein, which sedimented at 3–4 S was also detected in parathyroid tissue. These observations suggest the possibility of direct physiologic interaction between vitamin D metabolites and nucleated human tissues other than intestine and bone.
Control Charts in the Presence of Data Correlation

Traditional statistical process control charts assume that observations are independent and normally distributed about some mean. We investigate the robustness of traditional charts to data correlation when the correlation can be described by an ARMA1,1 model. We compare the performance of the Shewhart chart and the Exponentially Weighted Moving Average EWMA chart to the performance of the Special-Cause Control SCC chart and the Common-Cause Control CCC chart proposed by Alwan and Roberts 1988, which are designed to account for data correlation. We also explore the possibility of putting limits on the CCC chart, in order to predict quality abnormalities. The measure of performance used is the average run length ARL. The results show that the ability of the EWMA chart to detect shifts in the process mean is quite robust to data correlation, while the corresponding individuals Shewhart chart rarely detects such shifts more quickly than the other charts. The SCC and CCC charts are shown to be preferred in most cases when a shift in the process mean exceeds 2 standard deviations. The experimental results can aid practitioners in deciding which chart would be most effective at detecting specified shifts in the process mean given the nature of their particular correlated environments. Two methodologies are utilized to explain the relative performance of the SPC charts compared: the dynamic step response function, and response surface methodology. Such methods not only facilitate a discussion of our results, but also make it possible to predict the relative performance of the charts when the process can be described by a model which is more complex than the ARMA1,1 model.
Reference tools in Second Life®: implications for real life libraries

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an in‐depth discussion of reference tools in the virtual world of Second Life.Design/methodology/approach – A description is given of the scripted functions employed by the author, a community virtual library reference desk volunteer of three years.Findings – The paper finds that each tool can meet the information needs of community virtual library patrons.Originality/value – The paper reveals that reference desk tool programs that run in the virtual world have implications for real world reference desks of the future.
Consequences of current interruption for plasma sheet dynamics

[1] A three-dimensional, fully electromagnetic particle simulation model is used to explore the upper limits to the physical effects which might be produced by the onset of anomalous resistance within the substorm growth phase thin near-Earth current sheet. This is accomplished by blocking a local portion of the cross-tail current at regular intervals of ≈2ωpe−1. The blocking leads to an enhancement of the cross-tail electric field and to the formation of a localized reconnection region. Within the blocking region the in-plane (xz) current system is dominated by the reconnection Hall currents. On the earthward side of the X line, the Hall currents flow into (out of) the ionosphere at higher (lower) latitude, thus forming a coaxial sheet current system. The field-aligned currents that originate from the diversion of the cross-tail current are likewise dominated by the reconnection Hall currents, with the “substorm current wedge” involving only a relatively small fraction of the total field-aligned current. This study suggests that the sudden onset of a very strong anomalous resistance can, in principle, disrupt the near-Earth current sheet and produce a diversion of a portion of the cross-tail current onto an ionospheric closure path. Whether such a current sheet disruption is, in fact, responsible for substorm onset is still unclear.
Novel agents in ovarian cancer.

The standard treatment for epithelial ovarian cancer remains surgical debulking and chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel. However, the majority of patients relapse, and few, if any, achieve a cure. Future advancement in treatment should aim at targeting the biology of the disease, specifically mechanisms critical to tumor initiation and progression. Several Phase I and II clinical trials have identified novel opportunities for therapy. The most promising venues appear to be the antiangiogenic agents and the inhibitors of intracellular signaling. Novel modalities of delivering cytotoxics to tumor cells by exploiting ovarian cancer-specific biomarkers are also being tested, and appear promising. Immunomodulatory agents are being developed for consolidation therapy. Although devoid of the common side effects associated with chemotherapy, the use of targeted agents is associated with specific toxicities, related to the biological processes they block. The main challenge for future successful clinical ...
Synthesis and optical properties of poly[p-phenyleneethynylene)-alt-(m-phenyleneethynylene)]s

Poly[(p-phenyleneethynylene)-alt-(m-phenyleneethynylene)]s (PpPEmPE) derivatives 3 have been successfully synthesized by using Heck-type coupling. The co-polymers contain two different chromophores 4 and 5, which are randomly distributed along the polymer chain. The chemical structure of the co-polymers is characterized, and their optical properties are studied. The results show that the emission of 3 is essentially from the low-energy chromophore 5, resulting from the efficient intramolecular energy transfer.
Partial characterization of rat hepatoma cell-surface glycopeptides possessing concanavalin a receptor activity

Abstract Papain digestion of Novikoff or AS-30D rat hepatoma cells released glycopeptides from the cell surface. That portion of the glycopeptides accessible to Sephadex G-50 was digested with pronase and the component glycopeptides partially resolved by ion-exchange chromatography. Each tumor type yielded two well resolved sialoglycopeptide fractions which possessed concanavalin A receptor activity. The amino acid and saccharide composition of these low molecular weight (3,100 ± 300 daltons) sialoglycopeptides was determined.
Effect of tiapamil on canine myocardial infarct size.

Abstract Limitation of infarct size, using the calcium entry blocker, tiapamil (T), was evaluated in a group of eight dogs during acute and chronic (8 days) myocardial infarction. An equal number of dogs served as the control (C) group. A closed-chest model was used to produce the thrombus by placing a helically-shaped copper wire in the left anterior descending artery (LAD) by catheter technique, under x-ray visualization. Necrotic tissue in serial transventricular sections was delineated by triphenyl tetrazolium chloride and was measured by computer technique, using an IBM-PC interfaced with a digitizing pad, 8 days following occlusion. The mean total amount of necrosis in T animals (9.5%) was significantly less ( p p p
Molecular Diagnosis of Mycobacteria

Tuberculosis is one of the leading infectious diseases in the world and is responsible for more than 2 million deaths and 8 million new cases annually. Because of the slow growth rate of the causative agent Mycobacterium tuberculosis, isolation, identification, and drug susceptibility testing of this organism and other clinically important mycobacteria can take several weeks or longer. During the past several years, many molecular methods have been developed for direct detection, species identification, and drug susceptibility testing of mycobacteria. These methods can potentially reduce the diagnostic time from weeks to days. Currently, two nucleic acid amplification methods, the Enhanced Mycobacterium tuberculosis Direct Test (Gen-Probe) and the Amplicor Mycobacterium tuberculosis Test (Roche Diagnostic Systems), have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for direct detection of M. tuberculosis from clinical specimens. PCR-based sequencing has become commonly used to identify many mycobacterial species. DNA probes have been widely used for species determination of the most commonly encountered mycobacteria. High-density oligonucleotide arrays (DNA microarrays) also have been applied to simultaneous species identification and detection of mutations that confer rifampin resistance in mycobacteria.
A Passive Refillable Intraocular MEMS Drug Delivery Device

This paper presents the first passive implantable microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device for targeted intraocular delivery of therapeutic compounds. In particular, this device addresses the treatment of chronic, difficult to reach diseases that affect the retina including retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. The device is composed of three structural polymethyldisiloxane (PDMS) layers that are irreversibly bonded without the use of any adhesives. These layers form an integrated drug delivery device consisting of a refillable reservoir, tube, check valve, and suture tabs. This device requires a single implantation surgery and is capable of repeated delivery of multiple drugs. Characterization of the refillable reservoir and check valve performance is presented. Preliminary surgical implantation results of a mechanical test structure are also presented.
Apoptosis in macrophages and alveolar epithelial cells during early stages of infection by Legionella pneumophila and its role in cytopathogenicity.

The hallmark of Legionnaires’ disease is intracellular replication of Legionella pneumophila within cells in the alveolar spaces. Cytopathogenicity of this bacterium to the host cell has been well demonstrated, but the mechanisms of host cell death due to infection by L. pneumophila are not well understood. In this study, induction of apoptosis in macrophages and alveolar epithelial cells by L. pneumophila during early stages of infection was confirmed by using multiple criteria, including DNA fragmentation by agarose gel electrophoresis, terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling, surface exposure of phosphatidylserine, and cellular morphology by transmission electron microscopy. Induction of nuclear apoptosis in L. pneumophila-infected macrophages is mediated by activation of the caspase cascade death machinery. We provide genetic and biochemical evidence that L. pneumophila-induced apoptosis in macrophages and alveolar epithelial cells does not require intracellular bacterial replication or new protein synthesis. In addition, extracellular L. pneumophila is capable of inducing apoptosis. Furthermore, induction of apoptosis by L. pneumophila correlates with cytopathogenicity. We conclude that L. pneumophila-induced apoptosis in macrophages and alveolar epithelial cells plays an important role in cytopathogenicity to the host cell during early stages of infection.
Effects of Light and Temperature on Anticipatory Feeding by Broilers

The objective of this research was to determine the effects of daily cycles of light intensity and temperature on anticipatory feeding by broilers. Broilers were maintained on litter in environmental chambers with feed provided for 12 h/d. Feed consumption was recorded by computer every 30 min and summarized for 2- and 24-h periods. In Trial 1, lighting was at 16 lx for 12 h and at 94 lx for 12 h each day. Feed was provided either during the 16- or 94-lx period. Broilers consumed more feed at the onset of feeding and at the end of the feeding period than at other times in both treatments. In Trials 2 and 3, the chamber temperature was cycled such that a 12-h feeding period was provided at either 32 or 16 C. Broilers consumed more feed at the onset of feeding than at other times but did not increase consumption at the end of the feeding period. The results indicate anticipatory feeding is enabled by cyclic lighting intensity but not by cyclic temperature. In Trial 4, the light intensity and temperature were cyclic. Feed was provided during high light intensity and at maximum temperatures. Feed consumption increased when temperature was declining, indicating broilers responded to the reduced temperature. The results show that a period of darkness is not required for anticipatory feeding and that environmental temperatures and lighting typical of curtain-sided broiler houses alter feed consumption patterns.
Are obese plant genomes on a diet

Richard Dawkins' (1976) selfish DNA hypothesis (that the only purpose of DNA is to perpetuate itself) is clearly reflected in the case of repetitive DNA, especially retrotransposons. These ubiquitous, self-replicating DNA elements do not seem to do anything but invade the host's genome (Orgel and Crick 1980; Doolittle and Sapienza 1980). Mutations caused by the activity of retrotransposons may eventually be evolutionarily advantageous, but are more likely to be deleterious for the host organism and thus eliminated from the population (Charlesworth et al. 1994). However, insertions of those elements that do not alter any functional region of the genome may be perpetuated in the population.
Responses of estuarine crab megalopae to pressure, salinity and light: Implications for flood-tide transport

The megalopal larval stage of many estuarine brachyuran crabs appears to return to adult habitats by undergoing rhythmic vertical migrations which result in saltatory up-estuary transport on flood tides. Larval ascent into the water column during rising tides may be cued by changing hydrologic variables. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the responses of field-caught megalopae of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus and the fiddler crab Uca spp. to constant rates of pressure and salinity change under laboratory conditions. For both genera, pressure changes resulted in increased movement (barokinesis) and upward migration in the test chamber, with C. sapidus megalopae having a lower response threshold (2.8×10-2 mbar s-1) than Uca spp. larvae (5×10-2 mbar s-1). Similarly, larvae ascended in response to increasing salinity, with C. sapidus larvae being more sensitive. Larvae were negatively phototactic and failed to respond to pressure increases at light levels above 1.0×1015 and 1.0×1013 photons m-2 s-1 for C. sapidus and Uca spp. megalopae, respectively. Such responses are thought to explain the low abundances of larvae in the water column during daytime flood tides. Nevertheless, threshold sensitivities to increasing pressure for both genera were above levels experienced during floodtide conditions in the field. Similarly, it is unlikely that increasing salinity is sufficient to induce ascent in Uca spp. postlarvae. However, rates of salinity increase during midflood tide typically reach levels necessary to induce an ascent in C. sapidus megalopae. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that fiddler crab megalopae utilize an endogenous activity rhythm for flood-tide transport, while blue crab megalopae rely upon external cues, especially salinity changes, to time their sojourns in the water column.
Couette Flow Heat Loss Model for the Rotary Combustion Engine

A novel model for predicting heat transfer in a rotary engine was formulated and implemented in a zero-dimensional engine performance model. Results were compared with a commonly used intermittent combustion engine heat transfer model and with results from a three-dimensional simulation of flow within a rotary engine. When squish effects associated with fluid motion within the chamber were included, the Couette flow model reproduced peak heat transfer rates and timing for the peak heat transfer rate was better than that of the commonly used heat transfer model.Previously, rotary engine performance models have employed flat plate type heat transfer correlations. These correlations, though useful, do not model the flow physics in the rotary engine faithfully. Rather than flow over a flat plate, flow in the rotary engine was approximated as turbulent Couette flow. The Couette model was altered to account for centre-line velocities higher than half the rotor speed. There are two advantages to using the Couett...
Combining global positioning system and accelerometer data to determine the locations of physical activity in children

National trends indicate that children and adolescents are not achieving sufficient levels of physical activity. Combining global positioning system (GPS) technology with accelerometers has the potential to provide an objective determination in locations where youth engage in physical activity. The aim of this study was to identify the optimal methods for collecting combined accelerometer and GPS data in youth, to best locate where children spend time and are physically active. A convenience sample of 24 mid-school children in Massachusetts was included. Accelerometers and GPS units were used to quantify and locate childhood physical activity over 5 weekdays and 2 weekend days. Accelerometer and GPS data were joined by time and mapped with a geographical information system (GIS) using ArcGIS software. Data were collected in winter, spring, summer in 2009-2010, collecting a total of 26,406 matched datapoints overall. Matched data yield was low (19.1% total), regardless of season (winter, 12.8%; spring, 30.1%; summer, 14.3%). Teacher-provided, pre-charged equipment yielded the most matched (30.1%; range: 10.1-52.3%) and greatest average days (6.1 days) of data. Across all seasons, children spent most of their time at home. Outdoor use patterns appeared to vary by season, with street use increasing in spring, and park and playground use increasing in summer. Children spent equal amounts of physical activity time at home and walking in the streets. Overall, the various methods for combining GPS and accelerometer data provided similarly low amounts of combined data. No combined GPS and accelerometer data collection method proved superior in every data return category, but use of GIS to map joined accelerometer and GPS data can demarcate childhood physical activity locations.
Coprecipitation of thermal lysine-rich proteinoids with polyribonucleotides.

An experimental study was conducted to determine whether the precipitation of thermal proteinoids with homopolynucleotides can serve as a tool for studying the specificities between proteins and polynucleotides. Attention is given to exploring the best means of quantitation of the precipitate and the effect of varying the lysine content and the amount of Mg(2+) on the results. The formation of microparticles was monitored both by turbidity and by the mass of precipitate formed. Only under certain conditions was the turbidity a reliable indication of the amount of precipitate. Increasing concentration of Mg(2+) tended to displace proteinoid from the complex with polynucleotide. The results indicate that the interaction of thermal proteinoids with polynucleotides appears to be a suitable tool for studying specificities of interactions between proteins and nucleic acids.
Rate-Based Construction of Kinetic Models for Complex Systems

A general-purpose rate-based algorithm for the construction of chemical kinetic models for systems with hundreds or thousands of reacting species is presented. The algorithm comprehensively works out the details of the chemistry implied by given reaction rate estimation rules, identifies the species and reactions that are numerically significant, and solves the resulting system of differential equations to compute the concentrations of the significant species as a function of time. A key innovation is a definition and numerical test for the “completeness” of the kinetic scheme. This approach obviates the need to arbitrarily neglect certain species and reactions in order to keep reaction schemes small enough to be manageable and allows chemical kinetic modelers to focus on the chemistry rather than on the computational details. Examples of hydrocarbon pyrolysis and combustion applications are presented, where the computer evaluates the importance of nearly 100 000 reactions in the process of identifying the few hundred species that are kinetically significant. The new algorithm, given reliable rate estimation rules, provides a framework for systematically constructing kinetic schemes including all of the numerically significant species, even for systems involving so many reactions that they could not be handled manually.
The TAD Integrated Crosspoint Array-Application and Performance in Wescom's 501 EPABX

TAD is a mnemonic for threshold-activated diode or telephone access device. It was designed at Wescom for its new 501 telephone electronic private automatic branch exchange (EPABX). A single TAD is a composite p-n-p-n diode. 45 TAD's with associated exclusive path control have been integrated into a 5 × 9 monolithic crosspoint array and packaged in a 16-pin DIP. The 501 matrix is a 150 × 135 rectangular matrix comprising nine 7 × 11 in printed circuit boards with 50 DIP's per board. The significance of the TAD as a replacement for previously used crosspoint switches occurs due to its cost savings and size reduction. For a small EPABX, crosspoint minimization techniques using blocking and/or a multiple stage array are not needed, since a singlestage rectangular array is very practicable. Furthermore, the system architecture is simplified, which results in a further size and price savings for the basic system. The individual TAD is a two-port device which has common marking and transmission terminals. Insertion loss of a fired TAD is 0.1-0.2 dB when terminated in 600 Ω impedances. Voice frequency crosstalk isolation between adjacent paths exceeds 100 dB. Marking of the anode occurs by turning on a current source whose voltage changes from a quiescent 0 V to + 13 V dc while marking of the cathode occurs by activating a current sink whose terminating voltage linearly ramps from +15 V dc to +4 V dc. In a multiplestage application, definite available paths are selectable with a simple system control.
The income-associated burden of disease in the United States

Abstract In this study, we estimate the total burden of disease associated with income in the US. We calculate the relationships between income and life expectancy, health-adjusted life expectancy, annual years of life lost (YLLs), and health adjusted life years (HALYs).We used the 2000 US Medical Expenditure Panel Survey to derive quality of life estimates by income and age, the 1990–1992 US National Health Interview Survey linked to National Death Index data through the end of 1995 to derive mortality risks by income and by age, and 2000 US mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics to derive current mortality estimates for the US population by age-group. The bottom 80% of adult income earners’ life expectancy is 4.3 years and 5.8 HALYs shorter relative to those in the top 20% of earnings. This translates into the loss of 11 million YLLs and 17.4 million HALYs each year. Compared with persons living above the poverty threshold, those living below the poverty threshold live an average of 3.2 million fewer HALYs per year—a difference of 8.5 HALYs per individual between age 18 and death. The income-associated burden of disease appears to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the US.
Direct Synthesis of Silicon Nanowires, Silica Nanospheres, Wire-Like Nanosphere Agglomerates, and Silica-Based Nanotubes and Nanofiber Arrays

For several decades, the vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) process,1,2 where gold particles act as a mediating solvent on a silicon substrate, forming a molten alloy, has been applied to the generation of silicon whiskers. The diameter of the whisker is established by the diameter of the liquid alloy droplet at its tip. The VLS reaction generally leads to the growth of silicon whiskers epitaxially in the direction on single crystal silicon substrates.1-3 Recently, Lieber,4 Lee,5 Yu,6 and coworkers have extrapolated on the ideas entailed in the VLS technique to develop laser ablation of metal containing silicon targets, obtaining bulk quantities of silicon nanowires. More recently, Lee et al.5,7 have shown that oxides play a dominant role in the nucleation and growth of semiconductor nanowires be it by laser ablation, thermal evaporation, or chemical vapor deposition. Lee et al.5 have suggested a new growth mechanism, referred to as oxide assisted nanowire growth, which represents a new approach to nanowire synthesis. Our initial approach8-10 to this problem has involved the application of the techniques of high temperature synthesis to modify the approach of Lee et al. and generate virtually defect free SiO2 sheathed crystalline silicon nanowires and silica (SiO2) nanospheres which can be agglomerated to wire-like configurations impregnated with crystalline silicon nanoclusters. Further controlled condensation can extend this agglomeration to produce nanotubes and nanofiber arrays.
The influence of research scale on bald eagle habitat selection along the lower Hudson River, New York (USA)

As the concepts of landscape ecology have been incorporated into otherdisciplines, the influence of spatial patterns on animal abundance anddistribution has attracted considerable attention. However, there remains asignificant gap in the application of landscape ecology theories and techniquesto wildlife research. By combining landscape ecology techniques withtraditionalwildlife habitat analysis methods, we defined an ‘organism-centeredperspective’for breeding bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) alongthe Hudson River, New York, USA. We intensively monitored four pairs ofbreedingeagles during the 1999 and 2000 breeding seasons, and collected detailedinformation on perch and forage locations. Our analysis focused on threecritical habitat elements: available perch trees, access to foraging areas, andfreedom from human disturbance. We hypothesized that eagle habitat selectionrelative to each of these elementswould vary with the spatial scale of analysis, and that these scalingrelationships would vary among habitat elements. We investigated two elementsofspatial scale: grain and local extent. Grain was defined as the minimum mappingunit; local extent was defined by the size of an analysis window placed aroundeach focal point. For each habitat element, we quantified habitat use over arange of spatial scales. Eagles displayed scale-dependent patterns of habitatuse in relation to all habitat features, including multi-scale andthreshold-like patterns. This information supports the existence ofscale-dependant relationships in wildlife habitat use and allowed for a moreaccurate and biologically relevant evaluation of Hudson River breeding eagle habitat.
Weight Lifting in Women with Breast-Cancer–Related Lymphedema

The proportion of women who had an increase of 5% or more in limb swelling was similar in the weight-lifting group (11%) and the control group (12%) (cumulative incidence ratio, 1.00; 95% confidence interval, 0.88 to 1.13). As compared with the control group, the weight-lifting group had greater improvements in self-reported severity of lymphedema symptoms (P = 0.03) and upper- and lower-body strength (P<0.001 for both comparisons) and a lower incidence of lymphedema exacerbations as assessed by a certified lymphedema specialist (14% vs. 29%, P = 0.04). There were no serious adverse events related to the intervention. Conclusions In breast-cancer survivors with lymphedema, slowly progressive weight lifting had no significant effect on limb swelling and resulted in a decreased incidence of exacerbations of lymphedema, reduced symptoms, and increased strength. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00194363.)
Systematic Delays in Antibiotic Administration in the Emergency Department for Adult Patients Admitted with Pneumonia

Objectives: The authors sought to determine the contribution of delays in care on time to antibiotics for patients admitted from the emergency department (ED) with pneumonia and to identify patients at risk for delayed antibiotics. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients admitted to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) and to Pennsylvania Presbyterian Hospital (Presbyterian) with an admission diagnosis of pneumonia in 2004. Results: A total of 393 patients were included. Ninety percent had antibiotics documented as given in the ED. Eighty-three (43%) of 209 at HUP and 104 (64%) of 161 patients at Presbyterian received antibiotics within four hours. Patients who received antibiotics more than four hours after ED arrival experienced longer waits for radiograph orders (HUP, 54 min [95% confidence interval {CI} = 33 to 76 min]; Presbyterian, 43 min [95% CI = 29 to 58 min]), for radiograph performance (HUP, 21 min [95% CI = 4 to 39 min], Presbyterian, 24 min [95% CI = 8 to 47 min]), for antibiotic orders (HUP, 56 min [95% CI = 38 to 95 min]; Presbyterian, 67 min [95% CI = 33 to 103 min]), and for antibiotic administration (HUP, 28 min [95% CI = 17 to 39 min]; Presbyterian, 30 min [95% CI = 21 to 38 min]). Patients with lower severity scores (p = 0.005) and patients with nonclassic clinical presentations for pneumonia were at increased risk for delayed antibiotics (odds ratio, 2.2; 95% CI = 1.1 to 4.4). Conclusions: Antibiotic delays for patients admitted with pneumonia occur across multiple care processes. Less severely ill patients and patients with nonclassic presentations are at higher risk for delayed antibiotic administration. Hospitals should consider performing a similar analysis to evaluate hospital-specific and patient-specific care delays. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2006; 13:939‐945 a 2006 by the Society for Academic Emergency
Bisphosphonates Are Associated With Reduced Risk of Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background & Aims Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide. Several preclinical and observational studies have shown that bisphosphonates may have chemopreventive effects against CRC. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of all studies evaluating the effect of bisphosphonates on the risk of CRC. Methods We conducted a systematic search of Medline, Embase, and Web of Science through August 2012 and manually reviewed the literature. Studies were included if they met the following criteria: (1) evaluated and clearly defined exposure to bisphosphonates, (2) reported CRC outcomes, and (3) reported relative risks or odds ratio (OR) or provided sufficient data for their estimation. Summary OR estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using the random-effects model. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed with the Cochran's Q and I 2 statistic. Results We analyzed data from 6 population-based observational studies reporting 20,001 cases of CRC in 392,106 patients. A meta-analysis of these studies showed a statistically significant 17% reduction in CRC incidence with bisphosphonate use (unadjusted OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.76–0.90), with borderline heterogeneity across studies (Cochran's Q, P = .16; I 2 = 37%). This effect persisted after correcting for multiple covariates in individual studies (adjusted OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.74–0.98). When the analysis was restricted to women only, use of bisphosphonates was associated with a 16% reduction in CRC incidence, which bordered on statistical significance (n = 5 studies; adjusted OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.70–1.01). This chemopreventive effect of bisphosphonates was observed for proximal and distal colon cancers, as well as rectal cancer, independently. Conclusions Based on meta-analysis, bisphosphonate use is associated with a modest, but statistically significant, reduction in CRC risk.
Rubber Hands Feel the Touch of Light

Two experiments involving a total of 220 subjects are reported. The experiments document that “stroking” a false hand with the bright beam of light from a laser pointer can produce tactile and thermal sensations when the hand can be seen as one's own. Overall, 66% of subjects reported somatic sensations from the light. Felt hand location was recalibrated toward the location of the false hand for those subjects who felt the light. Moreover, the proprioceptive recalibration from the laser experience was comparable to that produced by actual coordinated brushing of the false hand and of the unseen real hand after 2 min of stimulation. The illusion may be experienced on one's real hand as well. The results are discussed in terms of multisensory integration.
Whiteboards that compute: A workload analysis

A whiteboard that automatically identifies drawn strokes, interprets them in context, and augments drawn images with computational results, such as solutions to mathematical equations or results of circuit simulations, is a surprisingly realistic goal for systems architects. In this paper we describe the state of this emerging domain and argue that technical trends will make this a particularly attractive workload in the future. We provide a preliminary characterization of the critical loops that exist within one state of the art system, currently undergoing development, and we attempt to quantify the workloads that whiteboard-sized devices are likely to face in the future. While this work is by no means a typical workload characterization paper, given the shift in programming models that we are about to endure, it is now more important than ever before to identify and understand those applications that have the potential to drive our industry forward.
Parallel algorithms in control theory

The author presents two parallel algorithms for the eigenvalue assignment problem along with details of implementations of these algorithms both on shared-memory and on distributed-memory parallel computers. A brief mention is also made of a parallel algorithm for the multi-input observer matrix equation. Some actual computational speed-up results of these algorithms on Alliant FX/8 and CRAY Y-MP are reported. >
Examples of Unsustainable Tourism in Middle East

Tourism industry is growing at phenomenal rates and in most cases this growth is associated with irreversible damages to the environment and tourist attractions. It is crucial for the tourism industry to grow sustainably in order to reduce these adverse effects. This paper tries to introduce different examples of unsustainable expansion of tourism industry and the effects of these activities on environment and tourist attractions. The paper discusses disparate examples ranging from natural tourist attractions to historical tourist attractions.
Stimulating intestinal afferents reflexly activates cardiovascular system in cats

Capsaicin and bradykinin stimulate afferents from certain viscera to reflexly activate the cardiovascular system; however, whether these agents evoke similar reflex responses when applied topically...
Editorial — The Economics of Climate Change and Water: An Introduction to the Special Issue

This special issue consists of contributions to research on various aspects of the relationships between climate change and water. It includes a framework to assess the costs of developing policies to control disasters caused by water system as a result of climate change, frameworks that incorporate hydrological and economic considerations to and for developing policies to adjust to drought conditions and shortages in both ground and surface water systems, a framework to assess the cost of climate change to urban water users and another one to assess water quality constraints in selecting biofuel policies to mitigate climate change. The various chapters combine theory and empirical contributions with applications in several regions. The literature on water and climate change is work in progress and this special issue adds to it and identifies direction for future research. There is a large body of research on the economics of climate change: its impact and strategies to address it. Humanity’s responses to climate change may include adaptation of various types and mitigation through a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Economic research has aimed to estimate the impact of climate change under various responses, to predict and evaluate adaptation and mitigation strategies, and to design policy interventions at various levels to improve human response to climate change.
The Challenges of Leaning Forward: Commentary on an article by Vaibhav Kanawade, MD, et al.: "Predictability of Acetabular Component Angular Change with Postural Shift from Standing to Sitting Position".

Accurate acetabular component positioning is important in total hip arthroplasty to maximize an impingement-free range of hip motion. Premature impingement can contribute to edge-loading, altered joint-loading patterns, or a higher risk for prosthetic dislocation. While a safe zone for acetabular component placement as proposed by Lewinnek et al.1 has been generally accepted as a target for limiting the risk of prosthetic dislocation, its application requires the consideration of two measurements—inclination and anteversion—obtained from orthogonal radiographs, rather than a single measure of a three-dimensional component position. Some contemporary studies have raised questions about the ability of surgeons to reliably implant the acetabular component within this safe zone2-4. Other studies have drawn attention to the impact of changing pelvic position on the radiographic appearance of acetabular inclination and anteversion with their associated potential to affect acetabular component positioning during hip arthroplasty procedures5-7. In their study, Kanawade et al. combined clinical and experimental observations to extend our understanding of the impact of pelvic positional change on acetabular spatial orientation. Changes in pelvic tilt and acetabular orientation angle (ante-inclination) were …
Computationally Determining the Flight Regimes for Blunt Bodies

This paper computationally determines the regions of applicability of the perfect gas model and the chemical equilibrium air model over a range of pressures and altitudes. The CFD (computational fluid dynamics) code used to carry out this study was AVUS (Air Vehicles Unstructured Solver) which is a parallel, unstructured flow solver developed by the Computational Science Branch of the Air Vehicles Directorate of AFRL (Air Force Research Laboratories). With this version of AVUS the regions of applicability of the calorically perfect gas and chemical equilibrium air models will be found by comparing the results. The divisions between the dierent regions will be based on output parameters from the CFD analysis. Future work will focus on finding the dividing line between the chemical equilibrium air model and the chemical nonequilibrium model with both thermal equilibrium and thermal nonequilibrium.
LIGA-Fabricated Meso Scale Foil Gas Bearings for Palm-Sized Microturbomachinery

Palm-sized mesoscale microturbomachinery (100∼200W) have broad potential applications in micro power generation areas, such as air/hydrogen management system for low temperature fuel cells, palm-sized micro gas turbines for unmanned air vehicles, robots, very small solid oxide fuel cells, micro power generations for space micro/nano satellites, etc. This paper reports recent progress on design, manufacturing of mesoscale (bearing diameter of 5mm) foil gas bearings applicable to the mesoscale microturbomachinery. With self-generated preload of 0.4N to the bearing, the mesoscale foil gas bearings were predicted to be stable up to the maximum simulated speed of 600,000 rpm. Manufacturing processes involved UV and X-ray lithography, electroplating, and precision forming. Test rigs were designed and constructed for performance tests of the manufactured mesoscale gas bearings.Copyright © 2008 by ASME